Public Policy Polling
60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
38%
49%
Democrat
Charles Booker
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky
$95.1K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Charles Booker is trading at 7% to win the Kentucky Senate winner? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age41 years old (Oct 20, 1984)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationKentucky
BackgroundPolitician
Notable personal detailsCharles Booker is a Kentucky politician and former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives (District 43). He ran for U.S. Senate in 2020 and 2022, winning the Democratic nomination in 2022, and has since launched a 2026 U.S. Senate campaign. He also served in Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration as Director of Faith Based Initiatives.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govcharlesbooker.orgen.wikipedia.orgballotready.orgmedicine.uky.edupres.uky.eduwikidata.orgktc.uky.eduancestors.familysearch.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgdbpedia.orgkentucky.govde.wikipedia.orgmedium.comactivism.mediaontheissues.orgeac.govassets.nationbuilder.comupload.wikimedia.orgcampaignforaction.orgreddit.compoliticiancompare.comket.orgwsls.comsunrisemovement.orgspectrumnews1.comwkuherald.comcommondreams.orgtwitter.comforprogress.orgquiverquant.comwkyt.comafge.orglex18.comtristatehomepage.comwhas11.comlpm.orgkentuckylantern.comkentucky.comfox56news.comwashingtonreporter.newswave3.comcourier-journal.comreutersconnect.comfoxnews.comnypost.comlocalcandidates.orgfacebook.comvotesmart.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgstatic.votesmart.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgclerk.house.govcommons.wikimedia.orgdocquery.fec.govdailypress.senate.gov
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports large-scale government economic interventions including Universal Basic Income, baby bonds/Universal Basic Capital, reparations, and Medicare for All, and opposes tax cuts that benefit billionaires and corporations. Advocates direct government programs to reduce poverty, build generational wealth, and invest in communities.
Healthcare
Supports Medicare for All and describes healthcare as a human right; advocates for a single-payer system to provide universal, affordable care and cites Medicaid expansion benefits as evidence that public coverage improves health and local economies.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports creating legal pathways and relief for undocumented immigrants, including a path to citizenship and protections for DACA recipients, while calling for reforms to detention and asylum processing. Emphasizes humane treatment of migrants and undoing Trump-era restrictive immigration policies.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports codifying federal protections for abortion access and opposes state-level near-total bans; intends to vote for federal legislation that protects abortion rights and has publicly condemned Kentucky’s restrictive laws. Advocates protecting reproductive healthcare access, including measures to prevent punishment of people who travel for care and defending services such as IVF and maternal health supports.
Climate & Energy
Supports aggressive climate action including transitioning away from fossil fuels, backing a Green New Deal–style program, and investing in renewable energy and community-led mine reclamation and job programs. Proposes a climate corps and large-scale public investment to rebuild infrastructure, create union jobs, and address environmental justice in frontline communities.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports universal background checks, closing the Charleston loophole, enforcement of wait times, and measures to prevent weapons of war from devastating communities; opposes permitless concealed carry and supports treating gun violence as a public-health crisis while pursuing policing reforms and alternatives to traditional policing.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Charles Booker is in the news because he is running as the Democratic candidate in Kentucky’s open U.S. Senate race to replace Mitch McConnell. Recent coverage says Booker is the front-runner in the Democratic primary and is pitching a statewide organizing effort focused on wages, healthcare, and grassroots turnout. The race has become more prominent after reports about McConnell’s hospitalization and his decision not to seek reelection, while Republican Andy Barr has already won his party’s primary.
fec.gov+56
Articles
NNewsweek3 months ago
Exclusive: Democrat Charles Booker Plans to Follow Mitch McConnell's Playbook to Win in Kentucky
Positive
NYNew York Daily News1 month ago
Report: Mitch McConnell was unconscious when he was hospitalized last month
Neutral
NNewsmax3 months ago
Trump-Backed Barr Wins Kentucky Senate GOP Race
Neutral
TNThe New York Times6 months ago
Justice Department Sues 5 States, Most Republican-Led, for Voter Data
Neutral
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
17Kentucky Democratic Senate nominee?
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
Total raisedCash on hand
$1.1M
$824.6K
$549.8K
$274.9K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$1.1M
$309.6K
$789.9K
$43.9K
Source: FEC