Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
33.8%
21.1%
Kentucky Democratic Senate nominee?
$23.0K
MAY 20, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age41 years old (Oct 20, 1984)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationKentucky
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of Louisville (B.S., Political Science)
Notable personal detailsCharles Booker is a Kentucky Democratic politician and organizer who served in the Kentucky House of Representatives (District 43) from 2019 to 2021. He has run for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, including as the Democratic nominee against Rand Paul in 2022, and is seeking the Democratic nomination again for 2026. He earned a B.S. in political science and a J.D. from the University of Louisville. He has also served in Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration leading the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgcharlesbooker.orgapnews.comwlky.comfec.govcharlesbooker.comsunrisemovement.orgntnu.eduthatcelloguy.comfastdemocracy.comde.wikipedia.orgopencampaign.comcommons.wikimedia.orgx.comwiza.cosprouts.aimedicine.uky.eduarxiv.orgontheissues.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgpoliticiancompare.comket.orgwsls.comspectrumnews1.comwkuherald.comcommondreams.orgtwitter.comforprogress.orgquiverquant.comseattletimes.comcbsnews.comlatimes.combloomberg.comabcnews.go.comfoxnews.comwashingtonpost.comballotready.orgaxios.comstatic.votesmart.orglegal.x.combooker.senate.govvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgagriculture.senate.govgovinfo.govcongress.govcdn.ballotpedia.orgwikidata.orgupload.wikimedia.orgsenate.govvotesmart.org
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.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMay 19, 2026
Charles Booker is the front-runner in Kentucky’s Democratic Senate primary and is trying to build a statewide organizing model to compete in a heavily Republican state. He says Democrats should focus on wages, healthcare, and grassroots infrastructure, while acknowledging the general election would be an uphill fight if he wins the nomination. Early voting has opened in the primary, which will decide the November nominees. The race is drawing extra attention as Republicans remain favored and the GOP field is being shaped by major endorsements and outside spending.
en.wikipedia.org+50
Articles
NNewsweek3 days ago
Exclusive: Democrat Charles Booker Plans to Follow Mitch McConnell's Playbook to Win in Kentucky
Positive
TNThe New York Times3 months ago
Justice Department Sues 5 States, Most Republican-Led, for Voter Data
Neutral
BNBreitbart News Network18 days ago
Rep. Andy Barr gets coveted Trump endorsement in Kentucky Senate race to replace McConnell
Neutral
WEWashington Examiner3 months ago
First 2026 primaries reveal trouble for incumbents
Neutral
Polls
Kentucky Democratic Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$508.7K
$381.5K
$254.3K
$127.2K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$508.7K
$140.3K
$368.4K
$23.0K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements