Pro-reparations progressive Democrat who wants ICE abolished mounts long shot Senate bid to succeed McConnell
Former Kentucky state Representative Charles Booker has officially launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate, aiming to succeed long-time Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who has announced that he will not seek re-election. As a progressive Democrat, Booker has built his platform around ambitious policies such as “Medicare for All,” the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and initiatives to combat generational poverty and structural racism. In his campaign announcement, he emphasized the need for bold systemic changes, including a proposal dubbed “40 for 40,” which guarantees a minimum annual salary of $40,000 for anyone working a 40-hour week. These proposals reflect Booker’s commitment to progressive ideals and his vision for a more equitable society.
Despite his passionate advocacy for these policies, Booker’s path to the Senate is fraught with challenges. Kentucky has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in the 21st century, and Booker’s previous attempts have not yielded success. He lost the Democratic primary in 2020 to Amy McGrath, who subsequently lost to McConnell in the general election. In 2022, Booker faced off against incumbent Republican Senator Rand Paul and was decisively defeated. With McConnell’s departure, the political landscape in Kentucky could shift, but Booker’s progressive platform may still face skepticism in a state that has leaned Republican for decades. As he embarks on this third Senate run, the stakes are high not just for Booker but for the future of the Democratic Party in Kentucky, as it seeks to reclaim a foothold in a state dominated by Republican leadership.
Booker’s campaign reflects a broader trend within the Democratic Party, as progressive candidates push for transformative policies that resonate with younger voters and those disillusioned with traditional politics. His bold statements on social justice and economic equity aim to galvanize support, but whether these ideals can translate into electoral success remains uncertain. As the race unfolds, all eyes will be on Kentucky to see if Booker’s vision can inspire a shift in voter sentiment and lead to a Democratic resurgence in the Senate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxEut3F6FcE
Former
Kentucky
state Rep. Charles Booker — a progressive Democrat who has advocated far-left policies, including “Medicare for All” and the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — has launched a U.S. Senate bid to succeed outgoing Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who announced earlier this year his current term will be his last.
“Now more than ever, we need leadership that is committed to the work of ending generational poverty and uprooting structural racism, delivering on system-changing policies like Medicare for All, Universal Basic Income, Reparations, and Universal Childcare,” Booker asserted in part of a lengthy statement on his
campaign website
.
“We need leadership that will drive the charge for bold policies like 40 for 40, so that anyone working a 40-hour work week will make a guaranteed minimum of $40,000 a year,” he declared.
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Booker declared in an X
post
last month that “ICE really does need to be abolished.”Â
In another post, he
wrote
, “It really is a damn shame that we still don’t have universal healthcare in the U.S. of America. We need Medicare for All.”
His latest bid may be a long shot. Kentuckians have not had a Democrat
representing them
in the Senate so far during the 21st century.
It is Booker’s third run for
Senate
.
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In 2022, Booker was decisively defeated by incumbent Republican Sen.
Rand Paul
.Â
Booker lost the 2020 Democratic U.S. Senate primary in the Bluegrass State to Amy McGrath, who lost to incumbent Republican
Sen. McConnell
in the general election later that year.Â
McConnell, 83, has served in the Senate since 1985.Â
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In September, Booker
announced
, “For over two years, I have had the distinct honor of serving the people of Kentucky in the office of Governor Andy Beshear.Â
“I am humbled and excited to announce that today was officially my last day.”
The Booker campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
