My name is Charles Booker, and I’m running for the U.S. Senate to represent Kentucky against Rand Paul.
Our primary election is coming up and I know there are a lot of new folks who just joined our team – so I wanted to reach out to introduce myself. 👋
As a born-and-raised Kentuckian, running for this seat isn’t just politics to me. It’s a very personal decision, and I want to share with you a bit about my story and why I’m the best person to fight for you and your family. My story is Kentucky’s story. It’s a story of perseverance, faith, and overcoming impossible obstacles.
I’m proud to share my story with you today. But before I get to that, I have a favor to ask:
I hope you can chip in $10 or anything you can to help us raise $10,000 today. We’re only weeks away from our primary, and we want this campaign to be in the strongest place possible.
As a part of this campaign, here are 10 things I want you to know about me:
Here are 10 things you should know:
1. I was born and raised in Louisville’s West End, one of the poorest ZIP codes in Kentucky. Both of my parents had to drop out of high school to help take care of my brothers and sisters. We sometimes had to go without heat in the winter or air conditioning in the summer. My mom often went without eating so that I could. These experiences inspired me to work in public service and fight for the change our communities urgently need.
2. I got involved in public service because I believed Kentuckians deserved better and that things could get better. When I was first elected to the State House, I became the youngest Black legislator in Kentucky in 90 years. As a legislator, I fought for common sense gun discipline, lower prescription drug costs, expanded voting rights, stronger labor unions, and racial justice. And all around me, I started seeing evidence that change is possible.
3. In 2020, I decided to take my fight for a better Kentucky to Mitch McConnell. We built a ground-breaking movement. Our neighbors from the hood to the holler rose up and together we showed the world that Kentucky is a battleground state.
4. I saw how hungry Kentuckians were for bold change in that election so shortly afterwards I founded Hood to the Holler — an organization focused on community engagement and breaking down the barriers that have prevented so many Kentuckians from participating in our election.
5. I’m a proud girl dad of three daughters. I want a future for them where the color of her skin doesn’t determine their chances of experiencing police violence. A future where they can breathe clean air, get a college education without going into crippling debt, and not know what it’s like to go to bed hungry. It’s a future we all want for our children.
6. Our politicians don’t represent us. The Kentucky that I know and love is kind and hard-working. We showed up for each other to provide love and support when the pandemic hit, and we were there for our neighbors when the floodwaters rose and a storm knocked the power out. Our politicians, though, they’re nowhere to be found. They’re voting to take away our health care and basic relief in the middle of a pandemic. All the while Rand Paul is just trying to make a profit off this pandemic and spreading deadly misinformation.
7. I believe we can redefine our politics by replacing the old Southern Strategy with a new one that lifts love and unity over hate and division. We believe in a movement that ends structural inequity and breaks the cycle of generational poverty. We believe Kentucky can thrive when we lift up the voices of hardworking people from the forgotten places, and build a new coalition of people from the hood to the holler
8. I’m proud to support Medicare for All so we can finally transform our broken health care system. I nearly died three years ago because I couldn’t afford my insulin. At that time, I didn’t have enough money to take care of my girls, make sure they had food to eat, afford my medication, and make it to the next pay day. I don’t want anyone to ever have to feel that pain.
9. Our campaign is different. As Kentuckians, we all know what it’s like to be ignored by politicians. That’s why we’re doing outreach in all 120 counties in Kentucky, from the hood to the holler, and having conversations with folks from all walks of life. And that’s why we don’t accept a single cent in donations from special interests, corporate PACs, or Big Pharma.
10. Finally, I’m running for Senate because the people of Kentucky are my family. My Grandad taught me that if someone disrespects one of us, they have disrespected all of us. I am running for Senate because I am sick and tired of seeing the lives of Kentuckians traded away for profit. We’ve been disrespected long enough.
I love the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is hard as hell to run for office against cynicism and the big money machine, but the people of Kentucky are my family, and you fight for family.
My name is Charles Booker, I am a lifelong Kentuckian, proud husband, father, and the person who is going to retire Rand Paul this November. Please help me win this race by chipping in today.
Thank you for being a part of this.
Charles
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