Charles Booker

Booker grew up in Louisville's West End, and his Ballotpedia survey says he experienced homelessness and rationed insulin as a Type 1 diabetic.[2] He earned a B.S. in political science in 2007 and a J.D. in 2010, both from the University of Louisville, and says he was the first in his family to graduate from college and law school.[2] His career included work as an education and equity policy analyst with the Louisville Urban League, manager of neighborhood initiatives with the Louisville Independent Business Alliance, division director of administrative services with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and director of development of 1619 Flux.[2]

Booker represented District 43 in the Kentucky House of Representatives from January 2019 to December 2020 and did not run for re-election in 2020.[2] His committees included Natural Resources and Energy, Economic Development and Workforce Investment, and Judiciary, and his campaign website says he helped lead the fight for Breonna's Law.[2][5] He ran in the June 23, 2020 Democratic U.S. Senate primary and lost to Amy McGrath, 45.4% to 42.6%; afterward he founded Hood to the Holler, a grassroots organization, according to his Ballotpedia survey.[2] He was the Democratic nominee in 2022 and lost to Sen. Rand Paul, 61.8% to 38.2%.[2][3]

Booker won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary for the seat of retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell with 46.8% of the vote, ahead of McGrath (35.9%), Pamela Stevenson and others.[2][3] His campaign website says he is a father of two daughters.[5] During the campaign, his website listed affordability, health care and fighting corruption in Washington among its policy priorities.[2][5] He received 42.9% of the vote to Andy Barr's 55.0%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]