Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath, the first woman Marine to fly in an F-18 in combat, just dropped this video announcing her campaign for U.S. Senate in a run to unseat six-term Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell.

In this newly released spot, titled “The Letter”, McGrath reflects back to her time as a 13-year-old when she wrote to Senator McConnell sharing her dream of wanting to fly fighter jets in combat for the U.S., and “that women should be able to do that.” McConnell never responded to Amy’s letter, and she has never forgotten.

The video goes on to feature other constituents McConnell has ignored, and addresses the seemingly insurmountable issues the country currently faces including jobs, health care and education.

“How did it come to this?” Amy exclaims in the video. “Well, it started with this man, who was elected a lifetime ago. And who has, bit by bit, year by year, turned Washington into something we all despise. Where dysfunction and chaos are political weapons. Where budgets and health care and the Supreme Court are held hostage. A place where ideals go to die… I’m running for Senate because it shouldn’t be like this.”

In research provided to WYSK by the McGrath campaign, the outlook for her to beat McConnell is extremely positive. “Change Research conducted a poll of 1,629 likely 2020 voters in Kentucky from June 15-16 and found that former Marine Amy McGrath is already essentially tied with Senator Mitch McConnell in a hypothetical 2020 general election Senate matchup, despite half of Kentucky voters not even having an opinion of her yet… McGrath’s showing is especially impressive given that 31% of voters have never heard of her – this number is even higher among key turnout groups such as women (35%), voters aged 18-34 (38%), and the Democratic-leaning 3rd Congressional District (35%). With enough resources to introduce herself to the rest of the state, McGrath will be in a strong position to defeat Senator McConnell.”

This is McGrath’s second run for office. In her first bid, in November 2018, she ran for Congress against Rep. Andy Barr (R), which she lost by just 3 points. You may recall her epic campaign ads, which went viral on Women You Should Know.

While we would have loved to see Amy in the Presidential race, we are so excited to follow her journey to the U.S. Senate. If anyone can take Mitch McConnell’s seat… it’s Amy McGrath. She is an awesome, fearless and inspiring warrior we are so honored to know.

Transcript of Amy’s “The Letter”…



I was 13 years old, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

I sat at this table. And I wrote a letter. To my senator.

Telling him I wanted to fly fighter jets in combat.

To fight for my country. And that women should be able to do that.

He never wrote back.

I’m Amy McGrath and I’ve often wondered how many other people did Mitch McConnell never take the time to write back.

Or even think about.

A second-generation steel worker who found out his mill is shutting down, leaving no jobs behind.

A woman suffering from diabetes who fears losing her health care and coverage for her pre-existing condition.

A coal miner forced to retire by black lung disease who’s looking for someone to offer more than words.

A student who can only afford college as long as she can get her federal loans. And has no idea how she’ll pay off the debt.

Everything that’s wrong in Washington had to start someplace.

How did it come to this?

That even within our own families, we can’t talk to each other about the leaders of our country anymore without anger and blame.

Well, it started with this man, who was elected a lifetime ago. And who has, bit by bit, year by year, turned Washington into something we all despise.

Where dysfunction and chaos are political weapons.

Where budgets and health care and the Supreme Court are held hostage.

A place where ideals go to die.

I’m running for Senate because it shouldn’t be like this.

I learned as a daughter, a mom, a Marine and a fighter pilot that the mission can never be forgotten.

That protecting our Democracy requires courage.

That our freedoms are never assured.

And the best way to lift someone up is a job.

The challenge of today is inside of each of us.

How do we reconcile our belief in basic human decency — with our anger at those who block progress at all costs?

There is a path to resetting our country’s moral compass.

Where each of us is heard.

And we can become, once again, the moral and economic leader of a world in disarray.

But to do that — we have to win this.