Another potential challenger for Mitch McConnell? Lawmaker launches exploratory committee

Joe Sonka , Ben Tobin | Louisville Courier Journal

Democratic state Rep. Charles Booker of Louisville has launched an exploratory committee for a potential run for U.S. Senate next year, hoping to challenge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Booker, 35, a first-term state legislator, told The Courier Journal he filed the paperwork for his committee Monday and plans to launch a statewide listening tour by the end of November before he makes a final decision on whether to run.

"It's clear that Kentuckians are ready for a change and they're ready for a movement," Booker said. "My goal with this process is to make sure that we can build the infrastructure needed to catalyze that."

More: Amy McGrath's rocky rollout has this Louisville lawmaker considering a US Senate bid

He said he's tired of McConnell using Kentucky as a "poker chip" to gain power while the Bluegrass State suffers.

"The fact of the matter is: (McConnell) knows how to do something about it. He has the power to and chooses not to," said Booker, who was born a few weeks before McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984. "And that's the part that pisses me off, because while he jokes about calling himself the Grim Reaper, we're literally dying."

Booker, who has Type 1 diabetes, said he's had to ration insulin before and "nearly died myself" doing so. McConnell is blocking a bill that House Democrats say would lower drug prices.

"(McConnell) has the tools, he has the ability to help Kentucky. He chooses not to and mocks us while he doesn't," Booker added.

Booker's decision to form an exploratory committee marks a significant step toward potentially running for U.S. Senate. But the state representative previously said that he had an eye on Washington, D.C.

In July, roughly a week after Kentuckian Amy McGrath announced her candidacy in the 2020 U.S. Senate race, Booker confirmed to The Courier Journal that he was considering a bid.

McGrath had a rocky rollout to her campaign. First, the former fighter pilot told MSNBC hosts that McConnell hadn't done enough to help President Donald Trump keep his pledge to "drain the swamp" in Washington.

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Then, McGrath infuriated progressive voters and groups across the country when she told The Courier Journal she would have voted to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Hours later, McGrath backpedaled and said she would have, in fact, not voted to confirm Kavanaugh to the high court.

Though McGrath has had success fundraising since she announced her candidacy, Booker said in a recent interview with The Courier Journal that "building a movement is not something that money cannot measure up to."

"I believe, as a Kentuckian, that we need to make sure that we are electing someone not just because they can raise money needed to defeat McConnell, but can inspire future generations to disrupt generational poverty," he said.

Along with McGrath, other Democrats to have announced a Senate run are retired Marine Mike Broihier and health care professional Steve Cox. Kentucky House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins and Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones also are considering bids.

Booker said he will be running on populist ideas like a Green New Deal, "Medicare for All," living wages and "taxing millionaires like Mitch McConnell."

For Booker, his decision to form an exploratory committee was not "contingent on anyone else." He said Kentucky needs a leader who will "have the willingness and the courage to stand up and speak the truth and be bold."

"The only thing that makes this worth considering is that we build a movement that helps folks realize their power," Booker said. "That's what matters. And I believe we can do it, and I believe Kentuckians are ready for it."

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com or 502-582-4472 and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Reach reporter Ben Tobin at bjtobin@gannett.com or 502-582-4181 and follow him on Twitter at @TobinBen. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courierjournal.com/subscribe.