FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2026
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Louisville, KY — Today, Charles Booker for U.S. Senate released its final-week campaign wrap as Kentucky’s Democratic primary moves into its closing stretch. Booker enters Election Day week as the clear Democratic front-runner, backed by strong momentum, major support from labor unions, working people, Kentucky leaders and validators, with one of the broadest coalitions in modern Kentucky political history. Together, that support reflects a campaign with the message, momentum, and path needed to flip the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mitch McConnell.
Booker’s closing message is simple. Kentucky is winnable, and all the Kentuckians who have been counted out and worn down by political nonsense, regardless of party, are the ones who will decide this race.
From the start, Booker has built a campaign that crosses lines of party, geography, race, generation, faith, and economic background. Working families and small business owners. Farmers, teachers, nurses, and seniors. Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Kentuckians with means and Kentuckians making it paycheck to paycheck. Urban, suburban, and rural neighbors who don’t agree on everything, but agree it’s time for a Senator who fights for all of us.
“No matter who you are, where you’re from, the color of your skin, whether you walk or use a wheelchair, or what faith you practice, you deserve a government that works for you. You deserve to live a good life,” said Charles Booker. “This campaign is for everybody, no matter their political affiliation. If you believe everybody’s voice matters, this campaign is for you. If you’re tired of greed stepping on regular people, this campaign is for you. This is a campaign for all working people, for farmers squeezed by reckless tariffs, for families struggling with rising costs, for folks with means who want what’s right, and for every Kentuckian ready to be heard.”
“When your loved one is hurting, you’re hurting. When there’s a need, you find a way to do your part. That isn’t partisan, that’s humanity. No matter your party, I love you, and I will give everything I have to make sure the government you pay for works for you. Whether you’re from the hood or the holler, Democrat, Republican, or independent, we’ve been getting screwed for long enough, and the only way things change is if we change them ourselves. That is why I am running. On Tuesday, we show what happens when the people they counted out show up.”
The Election Week Case
Booker is the front-runner. He leads the Democratic primary by 18 points, 36% to 18%, in the latest Emerson College/FOX56 poll.
Booker has the momentum. His support has grown in the closing stretch as Kentuckians take a closer look at the race.
Booker has the coalition. Working families, labor, farmers, small business owners, teachers, nurses, seniors, young Kentuckians, and voters of every faith, region, and economic background. If you’re tired of being stepped on, there is room for you in this tent.
Booker has the message. Affordability, Medicare for All, higher wages, stronger unions, standing up for Kentucky farmers hit by reckless tariffs, no more endless wars, and a government that works for every Kentuckian, no matter their political beliefs.
Booker has the path. This is an open race to succeed Senator Mitch McConnell, and Booker is uniting the coalition needed to flip this seat.
ICYMI, Here’s What They’re Saying:
Spectrum News 1: Democrats make their pitches in Kentucky’s Senate race
Spectrum News 1 spotlighted Booker’s closing pitch to Kentucky voters, framing him as the candidate driving the energy of the Democratic primary and making the case that this open Senate seat is winnable.
WUKY: Lawsuit challenges Kentucky State University overhaul
WUKY covered Booker standing with Kentucky State University students, alumni, and supporters as legal action moves forward to protect Kentucky’s only public HBCU, reinforcing his commitment to fighting for the institutions and communities that built this Commonwealth.
Lexington Herald-Leader: Charles Booker’s response to the Herald-Leader’s endorsement of Amy McGrath
Booker pushed back firmly on the Herald-Leader’s editorial board, reaffirming that this campaign is powered by working Kentuckians across the state and that the path to flipping this seat runs through the voters who have been counted out for too long.
WLKY: Kentucky US Senate candidates launch last-minute campaign efforts as primary nears
WLKY captured Booker in the closing stretch, criss-crossing the Commonwealth and energizing voters with a message focused on affordability, health care, and a government that works for every Kentuckian.
Kentucky Lantern: Kentucky Democrats are underdogs in the U.S. Senate race but several candidates argue they can win
The Kentucky Lantern highlighted Booker’s argument that Kentucky is not a lost cause for Democrats and that a working-class, broad-based coalition is exactly what it takes to flip this seat.
Local 12 (Cincinnati): Kentucky primary nears as Democrats vie for open Senate seat after McConnell retirement
Local 12 underscored the stakes of the open seat to succeed Senator Mitch McConnell and highlighted Booker as the Democrat best positioned to compete statewide.
Lexington Herald-Leader: Charles Booker: progressivism, ‘regular people’ will lift me to US Senate
The Herald-Leader detailed Booker’s case that this race will be decided by regular Kentuckians, not by the political establishment, and that his coalition reflects the full breadth of the Commonwealth.
The Quintessential Gentleman: Charles Booker Is Running to Flip Mitch McConnell’s Senate Seat, and He’s Leading by 18 Points
The Quintessential Gentleman spotlighted Booker’s 18-point lead in the Democratic primary and the national momentum behind a campaign built to flip Kentucky.
Kentucky Public Radio: Meet the Kentucky Democrats who think they can flip McConnell’s Senate seat
Kentucky Public Radio profiled Booker among the Democrats running to succeed Senator Mitch McConnell, highlighting his statewide reach and his message centered on working families.
WHAS 11: VIDEO: Senate Candidate Charles Booker holds campaign rally
WHAS 11 captured the energy of Booker’s closing rally, where supporters from across Kentucky turned out to back his campaign in the final days before Election Day.
WLWT (NBC Cincinnati): Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker looks to flip McConnell’s seat
WLWT highlighted Booker’s strategy to flip the open Senate seat and the working-class coalition driving his campaign across the Commonwealth.
WHAS 11: Democratic Senate candidates make final push ahead of Kentucky primary
WHAS 11 reported on Booker’s final push ahead of Tuesday’s primary, underscoring his front-runner status and the breadth of his statewide coalition.
Courier Journal: Charles Booker T-shirt appears on ‘The Late Show’ days before voting
The Courier Journal noted Booker’s campaign breaking through to a national audience just days before voting, a sign of the momentum building around this race in its final stretch.
Black Wall Street Times:Charles Booker Wants to Make History in Kentucky; But Says His Campaign Is Bigger Than Politics
The Black Wall Street Times centered Booker’s message that this campaign is bigger than any one race, rooted in dignity, opportunity, and a vision for a Kentucky that works for everyone.
Newsweek: Democrat Charles Booker Plans to Follow McConnell Playbook to Win Kentucky
Newsweek detailed Booker’s strategy to win Kentucky statewide and the seriousness with which national observers are taking his bid to flip this seat.
FOX 56 Lexington: Charles Booker on final days of Senate primary election
FOX 56 Lexington featured Booker in the closing days of the primary, reinforcing his front-runner standing and his appeal to voters across party lines.
Bottom Line
Regardless of who you are or where you come from, Kentuckians are being screwed, and we all deserve better. That is why Charles Booker is running. A Senator who fights for all of us. Voters have the chance to make it happen. Kentucky Democrats head to the polls on Tuesday, May 19.