BY JOE RAGUSA KENTUCKY
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – State Rep. Charles Booker plans to tour the state, going on a listening tour as he considers an official run for U.S. Senate.
The freshman state lawmaker created an exploratory committee this week, allowing him to raise funds for a campaign in 2020.
Booker kicked off his tour Tuesday in Louisville, telling supporters about his plans to support liberal, progressive policies, like the “Green New Deal” and Medicare for All.
“This isn’t about politics. This is about saving our livelihoods, saving the only place we call home, the best place in the entire planet,” Booker said. “We can do better. And we can do that and provide good-paying jobs for our families. That’s not a radical thing to do.”
Booker said he’s a Type 1 diabetic and almost died a year ago because he was rationing his insulin, highlighting the need for better health care.
“I thought I could make it a couple days and I nearly died,” Booker said. “There are people across this commonwealth that are not as lucky as I am and aren’t standing here today. And we can make sure that nobody has to die because they don’t have money in their pocket.”
Booker declined to answer questions from the media after the rally.
Several other Democrats have already announced their campaigns.
Amy McGrath has been in the race since July and has $10.7 million in her campaign fund, by far the most of any candidate.
Mike Broiher, a farmer and retired Marion, announced his campaign in July as well.
Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones also has an exploratory committee and said last week he plans to announce if he’s going to officially run sometime soon.
Steven Cox and Eric Rothmuller are the other two Democrats who have raised money so far, according to federal election records.
They’re all running to try and unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was first elected to the Senate in 1984.
