Charles Booker

Charles Booker grew up in West Louisville, Kentucky, and describes himself as a lifelong Kentuckian; his campaign says he grew up rationing insulin. He was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, where his campaign says he worked on health care access, criminal justice reform and economic issues and helped lead the push for Breonna's Law. In 2020 he sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and narrowly lost the primary to Amy McGrath. In 2022 he was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate and lost the general election to Republican Sen. Rand Paul by about 23 points. In 2026 he ran for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mitch McConnell and won the May 19 Democratic primary in a rematch with McGrath, taking 46.8 percent to her 35.9 percent, with Pamela Stevenson at 6.2 percent. He faces Republican Rep. Andy Barr, who won his primary with 60.5 percent over Daniel Cameron, on November 3.