00:00:05
Speaker 1: Hey, it's Mimi Brown and welcome to Front Page on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Today, we are honored to be sitting with a very esteemed guest. Kentucky is getting ready for a major change in Washington. After more than four decades, Mitch McConnell is leaving the U.S.
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Speaker 2: Senate.
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Speaker 1: And now there is a fight over who will take his seat. One of the candidates, Charles Booker. He's a former Kentucky state representative, and in 2022, he became the first Black person in Kentucky's history to be the Democratic nominee for Senate. He's running again, and this time he's running against Republican Congressman Andy Barr. Charles, thank you so much for joining us on Front Page. How are you?
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Speaker 2: I'm doing well. Honored to be with you. Thank you.
00:00:49
Speaker 1: Absolutely. So before we dive into all the things with your candidacy, I'm going to play a quick game.
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Speaker 2: Okay.
00:00:56
Speaker 1: Right? Teach us a little bit about Kentucky.
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Speaker 2: All right.
00:00:58
Speaker 1: See where we land. Okay. So I'm going to say part of a sentence and you just finish it.
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Speaker 2: Okay.
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Speaker 1: Okay. You know you're in Kentucky when?
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Speaker 2: You see bourbon in the afternoon.
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Speaker 1: Bourbon in the afternoon.
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Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Explain. It's always a good time for a glass of bourbon, Kentucky. Okay. Yeah.
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Speaker 1: Okay. All right. The one thing that people get wrong about Kentucky is?
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Speaker 2: Kentuckians are incredible people. hardworking, loyal, and we focus on family. And a lot of people put us in stereotypes, but Kentuckians are remarkable people.
00:01:35
Speaker 1: Okay. All right. I'll take it. The best thing to eat in Kentucky is?
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Speaker 2: Oh, well, if you come into Kentucky, you got to try some chicken. You know, with the history of Kentucky, having fried chicken and Indies, where I'm from in West End of Louisville, get you a little bit of chicken with that bourbon.
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Speaker 1: Is there a local spot that you like? Yeah.
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Speaker 2: So so where I'm at is in the hood. But then Eagle is another good place. We got a lot of local restaurants, shop local. If you love food, you'll find it in Kentucky.
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Speaker 1: OK, love that. If you've never been to Kentucky, what's the first place that you're taking someone?
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Speaker 2: You know, the first place I would say go is two places. One, go to Louisville. Experience Churchill Downs. But two, go to the mountains. In eastern Kentucky, it's a beautiful scene. It's like walking into a... And a lot of Kentuckians, you know, we appreciate our landscape. We appreciate our environment. So come to Kentucky. It's a beautiful place. Okay.
00:02:40
Speaker 1: And the one thing I love the most about Kentucky is.
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Speaker 2: The people. The people. Hands down. From the hood to the holler. It's incredible folks. Faithful. They'll give you the shirt off their back. Hungry. They're going to get you something to eat. Yeah. And like I said, we're not the stereotypes. We're remarkable. I love that.
00:02:58
Speaker 1: And last one. Kentucky would be better if.
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Speaker 2: If we take this Senate seat. When we take this Senate seat and replace Mitch McConnell, we're going to be a lot better.
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Speaker 1: There you go. That's a great answer. All right, and let's just dive right in. You know, Mitch McConnell, he has represented Kentucky in the Senate for more than 40 years. You're asking voters to give that seat to a Democrat. What do you think Kentucky needs from its next senator that it hasn't gotten from Mitch McConnell?
00:03:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, it's always surreal to say it, but Mitch McConnell was elected when I was two weeks old. So he really has been in office my entire life. And you know, for me, this is not about Taking the seat back for Democrats, it really is about Kentuckians taking this seat back for the people. Because whether you're Democrat, Republican or independent, we are all being screwed by the status quo Mitch McConnell gave us. And to me, we need a senator who will work just as hard for us as we work every day to keep the lights on, to take care of our families. And with rising costs, these ridiculous tariffs that are being thrown around war after war with Ron, but go on down the line. And just all the chaos in our politics, a lot of it is thanks to Mitch McConnell. We need a leader who will prioritize working people to where we have more money in our pockets, that we have that same high quality health care that he's been getting while he was gone for 90 plus days and throughout his career, and that we finally have the chance to do better than just struggle. Kentucky's been one of the poorest and sickest states in the country, and we deserve better.
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Speaker 1: Yeah. I think Americans around the globe or around the country feel that struggle, right? They feel that they're not bringing enough money. The economy is stretching them. They're struggling for gas, food, just the basic needs right now. Um, you know, but Donald Trump remains extremely popular with Kentucky voters. If you're elected to the Senate, you know, how do you plan or do you plan to work with Trump and what would you be willing to stand against him?
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Speaker 2: Well, you know, something different is happening in Kentucky. Um, We often talked about this phenomenon that it blew my mind to see it, had to take pictures of it, where folks had Booker signs by Trump signs. And it speaks to something powerful that we've been able to build this coalition of lifelong Republicans, lifelong Democrats, frustrated independents, because we really are talking about taking on the status quo and delivering for working people. But the fact of the matter is, Trump's underwater in Kentucky now. Mitch McConnell's way underwater. And people are looking for leadership who will really fight for them. And I was a state legislator when Republicans had the supermajority in both chambers, passed legislation with hardcore Trump supporters. And it was because we found common bonds. To me, that's what my work with Hood to the Holler has been all about, finding those common bonds, because we have so much more in common, anything that would divide us. And so I put it this way. I don't care about party. If you're standing up for regular people, you're standing up for Kentucky, you'll find a partner in me. I complimented and commended Congressman Thomas Massey for calling for accountability with the Epstein files and calling for an end to endless war. Same with Rand Paul. We may disagree on a lot of things, but when we find those moments where the mission is the people of Kentucky, I'm going to show up every single time. Yeah.
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Speaker 1: You know, and speaking of the people of Kentucky, I know, you know, we just kind of touched a little bit on how hard it is out there. I know you've talked about almost dying because you didn't, you couldn't get your insulin, right? People are worried about Medicaid, insurance premiums, prescription-priced drugs. You know, how will you, or tell me how you will work to bring down those costs and make healthcare just cheaper for the everyday Kentuckian?
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Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I tell my story as a part of my testimony really to just be clear that we need regular people in these positions of decision making who know what it's like to choose between getting the medicine you need or getting the groceries. And I literally had to do that. I am a type one diabetic and there are times my insulin would cost more than my rent or my car payment. And I had a week until payday. I got three girls, my three bosses. I will give my last breath for them. And week to payday, I'm either getting groceries for them or I'm getting my refill and I chose groceries and nearly died from diabetic ketoacidosis. And the reason why I believe Medicare is a human right, no one should have to die because they don't have enough money in their pocket. And I've been making it clear, everyone deserves the same high quality healthcare that Mitch McConnell's getting. So that's why I have been pushing for it. And, you know, I know that by honoring this right and guaranteeing healthcare for every single person, not only can we drive down costs, but we can invest in our economy because when you're healthy, you're able to work, you're able to lean into your business. And one of the biggest things in front of us right now are these cuts, nearly a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicaid. And my opponent, Andy Barr, signed onto those cuts. This will potentially close over 30 rural hospitals in Kentucky. And premiums are already skyrocketing. You know, they took away the support for ACA and So restoring those subsidies, but also continuing to build towards guaranteeing health care for everyone. I'm committed to that.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, I like that you said that, because when you say health care is a human right, are you talking Medicare for all? Are you talking about expanding the Affordable Care Act? Are you talking about the public option? Which one would you vote for?
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Speaker 2: Well, you know, I've been very clear that Medicare for all is the destination. It's a goal. And we have to continue fighting along the way to get the progress we need to expand access, to make it. more affordable, because again, no one should have to die because they don't have money in their pocket. And I took the same approach in the state legislature. We will work cap co-pays, working to make sure you get emergency refills if you run out and you can't get ahold of your physician. So we have to continue to bring creativity, thoughtfulness to this problem of making sure that everyone has high quality health care with the goal in mind of securing it for everybody. And I'm committed to that.
00:09:00
Speaker 1: Yeah. You know, And I know Kentucky is preparing for new work requirements for Medicaid. Do you support those work requirements? And if not, how would you address that in the Senate?
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Speaker 2: Well, we need work requirements in the Senate. We can start there. Mitch McConnell has not worked for people of Kentucky for years. Andy Barr has been in Congress for 14 years. has done nothing for Kentucky but take money from big banks. He has screwed Kentucky every step of the way. They ain't working. How about they work while they're trying to make it hard for regular people? A lot of folks who are using assistance for food, for health care, they're working hard, multiple jobs. A lot of folks, like my mom, we want food stamps, food stamps and free lunch. My mom worked multiple jobs my whole life. This isn't about Kentuckians being lazy. It's about politicians being judging us and telling us we don't matter while they give handouts to people like Elon Musk.
00:09:53
Speaker 1: You know, you have proposed something that I like, but I want you to explain it. You propose it's called the 40 for 40 for 45. Can you explain what that is?
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Speaker 2: Yeah, this to me is a substantive conversation about true living wages. How do we make sure that people have the opportunity to have money in their pocket? People are working hard, working multiple jobs just to barely get by. And essentially, it's a way of saying that we have a baseline. where you have a certain minimum threshold of income that is not taxed. Let's give working people a tax break for a change so they can take care of their children. They can go on a trip every once in a while and they can keep a roof over. How about that?
00:10:31
Speaker 1: I love that. You know, I want to talk about black Kentuckians. You know, Louisville became part of a national conversation of race, especially when Breonna Taylor was killed. And there's still big gaps, though, when it comes to jobs, when it comes to health care, home ownership, you know, that generational wealth gap. Talk to me about, you know, ways in which you're looking at, you know, that disparity and what can be done.
00:10:58
Speaker 2: Yeah. You know, I often reflect on the way a lot of people came to know about me on the national stage. It was in the wake of Breonna Taylor's murder. And we were organizing for justice, speaking out humanity. People around the world saw regular folks in Kentucky standing up and saw me marching in the streets in Appalachia with folks who, in a lot of cases, you may have never thought that they would support someone that looks quite like me, handsome. And, you know, one of the things that has continued to inspire me to this day is when we have to honor Breonna's legacy, but we have to do the work of taking care of communities that have been disproportionately harmed and impacted by inequities in our policies. by a status quo that has said that regular people don't matter. And in a place like Kentucky, where so many people are struggling, one of the poorest states in the country, having an economic agenda that is not only about raising wages, but creating access to capital, creating access to ownership so we can have paths to prosperity. And that's why I talk about making sure that we are investing in those communities that have been marginalized. This is a unifying message. We talk about legalization.
00:12:13
Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.
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Speaker 2: Um, the war on drugs and how communities like mine have been preyed upon, uh, criminalized and incarcerated and in a push to not only legalize, um, and make sure there are parameters in place, but to invest in those communities that have been disproportionately impacted so that they can have businesses so that they can, um, provide wealth that they can pass down to their children, their families. We need to be that level of intentional more than ever. And I'm dedicated to that work. Yeah.
00:12:42
Speaker 1: You know, talk to me about, uh, building a coalition from the hood to the holler. What does that entail? And what are Black Kentuckians telling you that they need right now that Washington just isn't delivering?
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Speaker 2: Yeah, so hood to the holler is like the spirit of the Rainbow Coalition. Man, I'll never forget being able to sit down with Reverend Jesse Jackson and talking to him about my vision, him explaining like, man, I gave you the playbook, son. He was talking about the Rainbow Coalition. And this really is just what it looks like when regular people come together. Black, white, no matter your background, urban, rural, because we really are in this thing together. And it's been a rallying cry of all of us being tired of a corrupt status quo that Mitch McConnell built, that Andy Barr is profiting from. And people just want to know the government cares about them, that we're not just seeing these tax giveaways to these big corporations or just seeing data centers being rammed in everybody's backyards. that we can finally work and take care of the people across Kentucky, especially when I'm talking to folks in the black community. But it really is a unified message. People are tired of the corruption. They're tired of the prices going up. They're tired of Washington seemingly giving them the middle finger. And whether it's high utilities, high groceries, high gas prices, jobs leaving communities and not coming back, and we're struggling to make ends meet. So my agenda is for working people. called it Working People's Bill of Rights. And my dedication to Kentucky and to our country is to lead, not to enrich members of Congress. We need to ban members of Congress from being able to buy and trade stocks. You should not go there to build a career. That's why I've pledged to term limits too. So I'm not going to replicate Mitch McConnell. We're going to clean this mess up.
00:14:32
Speaker 1: What's one thing that Black families in Louisville need and families in rural Kentucky need? What do they have in common?
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Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I tell my story of being a father with three girls, you know, my three bosses. And one thing that is true across Kentucky is people want their children to be safe. They want their schools to be able to be a launchpad for them to pursue their dreams, which means we need to fully, equitably fund our public schools. We need to protect our teachers and protect their benefits. So those are unifying messages, but then also creating communities where people feel safe. where we feel secure dealing with the issues of gun violence. I've lost loved ones, seven loved ones since 2016 to gun violence. And knowing that the challenges we face, seeing them as public health crises and putting the type of leadership in place that won't ignore our pain, that's something that I hear all across Kentucky. And it's why we're building so much support because while my opponent is giving blank checks to Endless Wars, I'm saying we need to invest in our infrastructure. We need to take care of our people. And that's why we're in a position to win this race. Yeah.
00:15:40
Speaker 1: And so what do they have in common together, just knowing that they are facing the same issues?
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Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. The same issues of taking care of their families, knowing that they can be safe in their communities, and knowing that their voices, that's a big thing across the board. And that's why with the issue of data centers, you're seeing folks organizing against them, Black community organizing in rural communities, Republicans organizing in Democrats and independents, because everyone feels like they're being bullied. That's something that we're all tired of.
00:16:14
Speaker 1: That's a really good way to put it.
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Speaker 2: Being bullied.
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Speaker 1: Yeah. Your opponent, Andy Barr, says he's a candidate that will lower taxes, protect Kentucky jobs and support President Trump's agenda. We just talked about that. But what's the clearest policy difference between the two of you that you think will actually affect Kentuckians and just their livelihood?
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Speaker 2: Andy Barr voted to cut health. I want to make sure everybody has it. Andy Barr has voted against investing in our infrastructure. I want to make sure that we have roads and bridges that can connect us to our opportunities and that Internet's not crap. Andy Barr supports endless war. I want to end endless war. Andy Barr built a campaign saying in his ad, he put money behind an ad on TV saying it's not a sin to be white. It's not a sin to be Christian. It's not a sin to be man. That's his message. And as I called him out, of course, it's not a sin to be who God created you to be. But it ought to be a sin to be that desperate. We are nothing the same. He's a sellout and I'm standing for the people.
00:17:14
Speaker 1: You know, and just looking at the polls, I know you said this race is tightening. The latest poll, it still has Barr ahead. What are you seeing that is closing the gap on your end?
00:17:25
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. I'm excited. So not only are we closing the gap, we are surging and we're in a real position to win this race. We have a real path to win this race and flip this in the seat. And it's really because of a couple of things. One, Andy Barr should be leading by 30 points. Trump carried this state by over 30 points. The fact that we're already within single digits and he's been on the air over a year lets you know something. People are tired of the way things are and they're looking for change. And as they hear our message, as they see our campaign building momentum, we know that we're tied. So now we got the chance to do this. And the part that excites me about it is people realize that the cuts that are happening to their food access to health care, to their benefits, retirement, pensions, Social Security. They see all of these, all the things that they they leaned on to protect their families. They see it at risk. They see that it's the status quo right now in Washington that's being led by this administration and being perpetuated by Andy Barr. And so that's why they're standing with us.
00:18:32
Speaker 1: And it's another thing to actually see it, but to actually feel it. I feel like people are actually feeling it. People can't get gas. They're making life-altering decisions between gas and groceries right now. Yeah, that's real. And so I think that that's a united message of affordability for everyone, I think.
00:18:56
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it is. And You know, I think Kentucky is uniquely positioned to tell the story of what it looks like when we come together on those common bonds, because, again, Kentucky has been one of the poorest states in the country. And and I know I'm a black man running in Kentucky. I'm not registered as a Republican, but I'm speaking to the issues. I'm telling my story, but I'm lifting up the stories of Kentuckians from all backgrounds. And when you do that, you find people ready to work with you. That's why we have a Democratic governor who's one of the more popular governors in the country, is because when you treat people like they matter, regardless of party, you'll find folks ready to work with you. And that's why we're in a position to win this.
00:19:36
Speaker 1: Yeah. You made a really good point. The gap should be, you know, if Donald Trump carried the state, it should be within the, you know, that 30 point margin. And it is in single digits. But who do you still have left to convince, do you think? Is it is it black voters who may stay home, rural voters or those Trump supporters who are just, like I said, feeling it and maybe just, you know, they're teeter tottering, right?
00:19:57
Speaker 2: Yeah. So that's where the work comes in for us. We know we have a path to win. We know that when our message is out there, we're tied now without even being on the air yet, which is what I'm grateful for. this opportunity to tell the world about what we're doing. But we know that there are a lot of folks who have sort of given up on the idea that things can change. Mitch McConnell's been there forever. Andy Barr is just like the spawn of Mitch McConnell. So it's just like more of the same. And our job is to not only let people know that change is possible, but to remind them that we are the change. So a lot of the campaign has been not just talking about why you should vote for me, but lifting up their issues and leaning into mutual aid, showing up in community, being consistent in that. So our job now is to turn out the folks who already know what this moment means, but then to speak to those folks who've been ignored. So even now, as soon as I leave this interview, we're getting back on the road. We're going back up into the mountains. We're sitting down in rooms with lifelong Republicans. We're sitting down in rooms with folks who have given up on politics because that's what family does. And we got about 35-ish days to make it happen. We're right in a position to throw that knockout punch and win this race. And we're going to make it happen.
00:21:06
Speaker 1: Yeah, pedal to the metal time.
00:21:07
Speaker 2: That's right.
00:21:14
Speaker 1: You ran for the seat before, right? And Kentuckians at that time didn't choose you and you're running again. What do you believe the difference is this time?
00:21:21
Speaker 2: You know, the difference is the world around us. And I'm a preacher's kid, so I get it honest. And there are times in your journey when you're doing something to set you up for what's to come. And yeah, this is like Rocky III for me. And what I didn't realize that I'm so grateful for now is that we laid foundation for I don't come from money. I still live in the hood. I'm still on my childhood block. And because I introduced an idea of politics that reaches out to people who get ignored, we had to earn some trust. We had to navigate some headwinds. And we have built a coalition that is unlike any we've seen in recent political history because of the consistency, even when the cameras aren't around. So this time, not only do we have the support, we have the infrastructure to We have the message. Now we got the team. I brought together an all-star team because now I know how to put a big campaign together. Again, I'm just a regular guy from the hood trying to fight for my family. And now we've been able to build a campaign that can carry this message. So we're in a position to win it.
00:22:24
Speaker 1: Is that what you think you learned then versus now? So from 2022 to 2026, you've learned that you need to you know, have that team behind you and you saw where you went wrong. And so you were able to kind of redirect and fix and kind of full steam ahead now.
00:22:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, a lot of lessons learned, a lot of cleaning up to do, you know, and so I'm excited that I can help sort of shine the light to more regular people who might think, well, we don't belong in these spaces because we do. And, you know, when I think about what has changed, not only have I grown, but as I mentioned, the world around us has changed. The bottom has fallen out for so many people. Trump has been so diabolical. And these sellout politicians like Andy Barr have laid down to the erosion of our Constitution, to the attacks on democracy. And it has lifted up an urgency for a lot of people that is essentially my platform. I mean, you can call it affordability. Call it whatever you want. People have been struggling. They're tired of it. And they're looking for people who will fight for them. And that's been me. That's my story. I think that's why God put me here. And now I believe my pastor said it correctly, that this is a moment whose time has come.
00:23:36
Speaker 1: You know, when you are talking to the locals in Kentucky and they're telling you what their fears are, what are you hearing?
00:23:45
Speaker 2: You know, people are afraid for the future. They're afraid of whether they'll be able to afford the medicine they need. They're afraid of what's happening at the federal level, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, the tax on democracy. This blatant corruption in Washington. I mean, we've seen the White House destroyed. We're seeing these folks making money hand over fist in the midst of endless war. There's this trade war with Canada. And that's Kentucky's largest trade partner. So people are just afraid of what's happening. And they're looking for some calm, some clarity, some common sense. And a lot of times over the years when I spoke about regular people fighting, standing together from the hood to the holler, Health care as a human right and true living wages. Folks might say, oh, well, that's that's radical. That's extreme. No, it's not. It's responding to the people. And now folks see that this is what we need to meet this moment. We need leadership that is responsive to us. And that's the common sense leadership that I'm bringing.
00:24:49
Speaker 1: I like that you are going in and speaking with people and really getting to know what their needs are and taking that back to Washington. You know, when you do that and you may be met with some resistance, you know, what is your plan?
00:25:02
Speaker 2: You know, I look for those moments where disagreements come up because there are opportunities to learn, opportunities to grow. And I've made it very clear. I'm not running because I expect everyone to agree with me. That doesn't even make sense. Find someone that agrees with you on everything. Somebody's lying. The main thing for me is to be honest, to be clear and to be consistent. And so in those moments where there are disagreements or where folks are just frustrated with politics in general, I want to show up for them. I want to earn their trust. And I tell people all the time, let me earn this. Be hard on me because I know we need real change in Washington and we cannot keep sending folks up there who are trying to get rich and build power for themselves and then give us the middle finger. So I want to earn it. I look for those hard conversations. And because of that, people of Kentucky have stood with me because they're like, well, even if we don't agree with Charles on all the things, we know he's fighting for us. And I know how important that is.
00:26:00
Speaker 1: Before I let you go, quickly, for the people who just may not be familiar with you all around the world, can you just tell us a little bit about your upbringing? I know you said that you're a PK and all the things, but just a little bit about where you grew up, your family life.
00:26:16
Speaker 2: Yeah, so... From the hood, 35th and Market. You know, I come from a really big family, one of over 70 grandkids. Over 70 because I stopped counting. But I learned about community from my family. My grandparents' house was like the community center. If you needed something to eat, come over to grandma's house. And both my parents are ministers. So, you know, we were in church seven days a week.
00:26:37
Speaker 1: I know the feeling.
00:26:39
Speaker 2: And, you know, just knowing in faith that mountains can move. That led me in a career of politics because I don't trust politicians. But I know that change won't happen unless we do it. So working at every level of government, working with small family farmers, standing on the tracks with coal miners, working with organized labor, fighting for developments in our communities, standing up for justice. To me, it's a part of just fighting for family. And if anyone is questioning whether change is possible, look at us in Kentucky. Look at what we're doing. We're going to flip a Senate seat that Mitch McConnell has held my entire life, focused on community, focused on family. healing. And I think the country needs to see this win. I think the world needs to see this win. And we're going to make it happen.
00:27:23
Speaker 1: Let's end with this. Before I let you go, you talked a lot about bringing different kinds of leadership to Washington and reaching people who may not feel like politics have been working for them. So if Kentucky sends Charles Booker to the United States Senate, their life will be different because?
00:27:41
Speaker 2: Their life will be different because they will have a senator who listens to them. who shows up for them, who takes their voices to Washington to cause good trouble with them, who is not there to get rich, but who is there to raise their wages and put more money in their pocket and make sure they have the health care they need without data centers in their backyards, a flock cameras on their front porch, or big politicians in their bedrooms or in their hospital rooms. They will have a leader who cares about them.
00:28:07
Speaker 1: Absolutely. Charles Booker, thank you for joining me on Front Page.
00:28:11
Speaker 2: Thank you.
00:28:14
Speaker 1: That's your front page. I'm Mimi Brown. This podcast was brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network.
Speaker 1: Hey, it's Mimi Brown and welcome to Front Page on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Today, we are honored to be sitting with a very esteemed guest. Kentucky is getting ready for a major change in Washington. After more than four decades, Mitch McConnell is leaving the U.S.
00:00:21
Speaker 2: Senate.
00:00:22
Speaker 1: And now there is a fight over who will take his seat. One of the candidates, Charles Booker. He's a former Kentucky state representative, and in 2022, he became the first Black person in Kentucky's history to be the Democratic nominee for Senate. He's running again, and this time he's running against Republican Congressman Andy Barr. Charles, thank you so much for joining us on Front Page. How are you?
00:00:46
Speaker 2: I'm doing well. Honored to be with you. Thank you.
00:00:49
Speaker 1: Absolutely. So before we dive into all the things with your candidacy, I'm going to play a quick game.
00:00:55
Speaker 2: Okay.
00:00:56
Speaker 1: Right? Teach us a little bit about Kentucky.
00:00:58
Speaker 2: All right.
00:00:58
Speaker 1: See where we land. Okay. So I'm going to say part of a sentence and you just finish it.
00:01:04
Speaker 2: Okay.
00:01:04
Speaker 1: Okay. You know you're in Kentucky when?
00:01:07
Speaker 2: You see bourbon in the afternoon.
00:01:10
Speaker 1: Bourbon in the afternoon.
00:01:12
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Explain. It's always a good time for a glass of bourbon, Kentucky. Okay. Yeah.
00:01:18
Speaker 1: Okay. All right. The one thing that people get wrong about Kentucky is?
00:01:23
Speaker 2: Kentuckians are incredible people. hardworking, loyal, and we focus on family. And a lot of people put us in stereotypes, but Kentuckians are remarkable people.
00:01:35
Speaker 1: Okay. All right. I'll take it. The best thing to eat in Kentucky is?
00:01:39
Speaker 2: Oh, well, if you come into Kentucky, you got to try some chicken. You know, with the history of Kentucky, having fried chicken and Indies, where I'm from in West End of Louisville, get you a little bit of chicken with that bourbon.
00:01:53
Speaker 1: Is there a local spot that you like? Yeah.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: So so where I'm at is in the hood. But then Eagle is another good place. We got a lot of local restaurants, shop local. If you love food, you'll find it in Kentucky.
00:02:08
Speaker 1: OK, love that. If you've never been to Kentucky, what's the first place that you're taking someone?
00:02:15
Speaker 2: You know, the first place I would say go is two places. One, go to Louisville. Experience Churchill Downs. But two, go to the mountains. In eastern Kentucky, it's a beautiful scene. It's like walking into a... And a lot of Kentuckians, you know, we appreciate our landscape. We appreciate our environment. So come to Kentucky. It's a beautiful place. Okay.
00:02:40
Speaker 1: And the one thing I love the most about Kentucky is.
00:02:44
Speaker 2: The people. The people. Hands down. From the hood to the holler. It's incredible folks. Faithful. They'll give you the shirt off their back. Hungry. They're going to get you something to eat. Yeah. And like I said, we're not the stereotypes. We're remarkable. I love that.
00:02:58
Speaker 1: And last one. Kentucky would be better if.
00:03:03
Speaker 2: If we take this Senate seat. When we take this Senate seat and replace Mitch McConnell, we're going to be a lot better.
00:03:08
Speaker 1: There you go. That's a great answer. All right, and let's just dive right in. You know, Mitch McConnell, he has represented Kentucky in the Senate for more than 40 years. You're asking voters to give that seat to a Democrat. What do you think Kentucky needs from its next senator that it hasn't gotten from Mitch McConnell?
00:03:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, it's always surreal to say it, but Mitch McConnell was elected when I was two weeks old. So he really has been in office my entire life. And you know, for me, this is not about Taking the seat back for Democrats, it really is about Kentuckians taking this seat back for the people. Because whether you're Democrat, Republican or independent, we are all being screwed by the status quo Mitch McConnell gave us. And to me, we need a senator who will work just as hard for us as we work every day to keep the lights on, to take care of our families. And with rising costs, these ridiculous tariffs that are being thrown around war after war with Ron, but go on down the line. And just all the chaos in our politics, a lot of it is thanks to Mitch McConnell. We need a leader who will prioritize working people to where we have more money in our pockets, that we have that same high quality health care that he's been getting while he was gone for 90 plus days and throughout his career, and that we finally have the chance to do better than just struggle. Kentucky's been one of the poorest and sickest states in the country, and we deserve better.
00:04:25
Speaker 1: Yeah. I think Americans around the globe or around the country feel that struggle, right? They feel that they're not bringing enough money. The economy is stretching them. They're struggling for gas, food, just the basic needs right now. Um, you know, but Donald Trump remains extremely popular with Kentucky voters. If you're elected to the Senate, you know, how do you plan or do you plan to work with Trump and what would you be willing to stand against him?
00:04:52
Speaker 2: Well, you know, something different is happening in Kentucky. Um, We often talked about this phenomenon that it blew my mind to see it, had to take pictures of it, where folks had Booker signs by Trump signs. And it speaks to something powerful that we've been able to build this coalition of lifelong Republicans, lifelong Democrats, frustrated independents, because we really are talking about taking on the status quo and delivering for working people. But the fact of the matter is, Trump's underwater in Kentucky now. Mitch McConnell's way underwater. And people are looking for leadership who will really fight for them. And I was a state legislator when Republicans had the supermajority in both chambers, passed legislation with hardcore Trump supporters. And it was because we found common bonds. To me, that's what my work with Hood to the Holler has been all about, finding those common bonds, because we have so much more in common, anything that would divide us. And so I put it this way. I don't care about party. If you're standing up for regular people, you're standing up for Kentucky, you'll find a partner in me. I complimented and commended Congressman Thomas Massey for calling for accountability with the Epstein files and calling for an end to endless war. Same with Rand Paul. We may disagree on a lot of things, but when we find those moments where the mission is the people of Kentucky, I'm going to show up every single time. Yeah.
00:06:08
Speaker 1: You know, and speaking of the people of Kentucky, I know, you know, we just kind of touched a little bit on how hard it is out there. I know you've talked about almost dying because you didn't, you couldn't get your insulin, right? People are worried about Medicaid, insurance premiums, prescription-priced drugs. You know, how will you, or tell me how you will work to bring down those costs and make healthcare just cheaper for the everyday Kentuckian?
00:06:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I tell my story as a part of my testimony really to just be clear that we need regular people in these positions of decision making who know what it's like to choose between getting the medicine you need or getting the groceries. And I literally had to do that. I am a type one diabetic and there are times my insulin would cost more than my rent or my car payment. And I had a week until payday. I got three girls, my three bosses. I will give my last breath for them. And week to payday, I'm either getting groceries for them or I'm getting my refill and I chose groceries and nearly died from diabetic ketoacidosis. And the reason why I believe Medicare is a human right, no one should have to die because they don't have enough money in their pocket. And I've been making it clear, everyone deserves the same high quality healthcare that Mitch McConnell's getting. So that's why I have been pushing for it. And, you know, I know that by honoring this right and guaranteeing healthcare for every single person, not only can we drive down costs, but we can invest in our economy because when you're healthy, you're able to work, you're able to lean into your business. And one of the biggest things in front of us right now are these cuts, nearly a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicaid. And my opponent, Andy Barr, signed onto those cuts. This will potentially close over 30 rural hospitals in Kentucky. And premiums are already skyrocketing. You know, they took away the support for ACA and So restoring those subsidies, but also continuing to build towards guaranteeing health care for everyone. I'm committed to that.
00:08:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, I like that you said that, because when you say health care is a human right, are you talking Medicare for all? Are you talking about expanding the Affordable Care Act? Are you talking about the public option? Which one would you vote for?
00:08:26
Speaker 2: Well, you know, I've been very clear that Medicare for all is the destination. It's a goal. And we have to continue fighting along the way to get the progress we need to expand access, to make it. more affordable, because again, no one should have to die because they don't have money in their pocket. And I took the same approach in the state legislature. We will work cap co-pays, working to make sure you get emergency refills if you run out and you can't get ahold of your physician. So we have to continue to bring creativity, thoughtfulness to this problem of making sure that everyone has high quality health care with the goal in mind of securing it for everybody. And I'm committed to that.
00:09:00
Speaker 1: Yeah. You know, And I know Kentucky is preparing for new work requirements for Medicaid. Do you support those work requirements? And if not, how would you address that in the Senate?
00:09:13
Speaker 2: Well, we need work requirements in the Senate. We can start there. Mitch McConnell has not worked for people of Kentucky for years. Andy Barr has been in Congress for 14 years. has done nothing for Kentucky but take money from big banks. He has screwed Kentucky every step of the way. They ain't working. How about they work while they're trying to make it hard for regular people? A lot of folks who are using assistance for food, for health care, they're working hard, multiple jobs. A lot of folks, like my mom, we want food stamps, food stamps and free lunch. My mom worked multiple jobs my whole life. This isn't about Kentuckians being lazy. It's about politicians being judging us and telling us we don't matter while they give handouts to people like Elon Musk.
00:09:53
Speaker 1: You know, you have proposed something that I like, but I want you to explain it. You propose it's called the 40 for 40 for 45. Can you explain what that is?
00:10:01
Speaker 2: Yeah, this to me is a substantive conversation about true living wages. How do we make sure that people have the opportunity to have money in their pocket? People are working hard, working multiple jobs just to barely get by. And essentially, it's a way of saying that we have a baseline. where you have a certain minimum threshold of income that is not taxed. Let's give working people a tax break for a change so they can take care of their children. They can go on a trip every once in a while and they can keep a roof over. How about that?
00:10:31
Speaker 1: I love that. You know, I want to talk about black Kentuckians. You know, Louisville became part of a national conversation of race, especially when Breonna Taylor was killed. And there's still big gaps, though, when it comes to jobs, when it comes to health care, home ownership, you know, that generational wealth gap. Talk to me about, you know, ways in which you're looking at, you know, that disparity and what can be done.
00:10:58
Speaker 2: Yeah. You know, I often reflect on the way a lot of people came to know about me on the national stage. It was in the wake of Breonna Taylor's murder. And we were organizing for justice, speaking out humanity. People around the world saw regular folks in Kentucky standing up and saw me marching in the streets in Appalachia with folks who, in a lot of cases, you may have never thought that they would support someone that looks quite like me, handsome. And, you know, one of the things that has continued to inspire me to this day is when we have to honor Breonna's legacy, but we have to do the work of taking care of communities that have been disproportionately harmed and impacted by inequities in our policies. by a status quo that has said that regular people don't matter. And in a place like Kentucky, where so many people are struggling, one of the poorest states in the country, having an economic agenda that is not only about raising wages, but creating access to capital, creating access to ownership so we can have paths to prosperity. And that's why I talk about making sure that we are investing in those communities that have been marginalized. This is a unifying message. We talk about legalization.
00:12:13
Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.
00:12:14
Speaker 2: Um, the war on drugs and how communities like mine have been preyed upon, uh, criminalized and incarcerated and in a push to not only legalize, um, and make sure there are parameters in place, but to invest in those communities that have been disproportionately impacted so that they can have businesses so that they can, um, provide wealth that they can pass down to their children, their families. We need to be that level of intentional more than ever. And I'm dedicated to that work. Yeah.
00:12:42
Speaker 1: You know, talk to me about, uh, building a coalition from the hood to the holler. What does that entail? And what are Black Kentuckians telling you that they need right now that Washington just isn't delivering?
00:12:53
Speaker 2: Yeah, so hood to the holler is like the spirit of the Rainbow Coalition. Man, I'll never forget being able to sit down with Reverend Jesse Jackson and talking to him about my vision, him explaining like, man, I gave you the playbook, son. He was talking about the Rainbow Coalition. And this really is just what it looks like when regular people come together. Black, white, no matter your background, urban, rural, because we really are in this thing together. And it's been a rallying cry of all of us being tired of a corrupt status quo that Mitch McConnell built, that Andy Barr is profiting from. And people just want to know the government cares about them, that we're not just seeing these tax giveaways to these big corporations or just seeing data centers being rammed in everybody's backyards. that we can finally work and take care of the people across Kentucky, especially when I'm talking to folks in the black community. But it really is a unified message. People are tired of the corruption. They're tired of the prices going up. They're tired of Washington seemingly giving them the middle finger. And whether it's high utilities, high groceries, high gas prices, jobs leaving communities and not coming back, and we're struggling to make ends meet. So my agenda is for working people. called it Working People's Bill of Rights. And my dedication to Kentucky and to our country is to lead, not to enrich members of Congress. We need to ban members of Congress from being able to buy and trade stocks. You should not go there to build a career. That's why I've pledged to term limits too. So I'm not going to replicate Mitch McConnell. We're going to clean this mess up.
00:14:32
Speaker 1: What's one thing that Black families in Louisville need and families in rural Kentucky need? What do they have in common?
00:14:39
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I tell my story of being a father with three girls, you know, my three bosses. And one thing that is true across Kentucky is people want their children to be safe. They want their schools to be able to be a launchpad for them to pursue their dreams, which means we need to fully, equitably fund our public schools. We need to protect our teachers and protect their benefits. So those are unifying messages, but then also creating communities where people feel safe. where we feel secure dealing with the issues of gun violence. I've lost loved ones, seven loved ones since 2016 to gun violence. And knowing that the challenges we face, seeing them as public health crises and putting the type of leadership in place that won't ignore our pain, that's something that I hear all across Kentucky. And it's why we're building so much support because while my opponent is giving blank checks to Endless Wars, I'm saying we need to invest in our infrastructure. We need to take care of our people. And that's why we're in a position to win this race. Yeah.
00:15:40
Speaker 1: And so what do they have in common together, just knowing that they are facing the same issues?
00:15:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. The same issues of taking care of their families, knowing that they can be safe in their communities, and knowing that their voices, that's a big thing across the board. And that's why with the issue of data centers, you're seeing folks organizing against them, Black community organizing in rural communities, Republicans organizing in Democrats and independents, because everyone feels like they're being bullied. That's something that we're all tired of.
00:16:14
Speaker 1: That's a really good way to put it.
00:16:15
Speaker 2: Being bullied.
00:16:16
Speaker 1: Yeah. Your opponent, Andy Barr, says he's a candidate that will lower taxes, protect Kentucky jobs and support President Trump's agenda. We just talked about that. But what's the clearest policy difference between the two of you that you think will actually affect Kentuckians and just their livelihood?
00:16:34
Speaker 2: Andy Barr voted to cut health. I want to make sure everybody has it. Andy Barr has voted against investing in our infrastructure. I want to make sure that we have roads and bridges that can connect us to our opportunities and that Internet's not crap. Andy Barr supports endless war. I want to end endless war. Andy Barr built a campaign saying in his ad, he put money behind an ad on TV saying it's not a sin to be white. It's not a sin to be Christian. It's not a sin to be man. That's his message. And as I called him out, of course, it's not a sin to be who God created you to be. But it ought to be a sin to be that desperate. We are nothing the same. He's a sellout and I'm standing for the people.
00:17:14
Speaker 1: You know, and just looking at the polls, I know you said this race is tightening. The latest poll, it still has Barr ahead. What are you seeing that is closing the gap on your end?
00:17:25
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. I'm excited. So not only are we closing the gap, we are surging and we're in a real position to win this race. We have a real path to win this race and flip this in the seat. And it's really because of a couple of things. One, Andy Barr should be leading by 30 points. Trump carried this state by over 30 points. The fact that we're already within single digits and he's been on the air over a year lets you know something. People are tired of the way things are and they're looking for change. And as they hear our message, as they see our campaign building momentum, we know that we're tied. So now we got the chance to do this. And the part that excites me about it is people realize that the cuts that are happening to their food access to health care, to their benefits, retirement, pensions, Social Security. They see all of these, all the things that they they leaned on to protect their families. They see it at risk. They see that it's the status quo right now in Washington that's being led by this administration and being perpetuated by Andy Barr. And so that's why they're standing with us.
00:18:32
Speaker 1: And it's another thing to actually see it, but to actually feel it. I feel like people are actually feeling it. People can't get gas. They're making life-altering decisions between gas and groceries right now. Yeah, that's real. And so I think that that's a united message of affordability for everyone, I think.
00:18:56
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it is. And You know, I think Kentucky is uniquely positioned to tell the story of what it looks like when we come together on those common bonds, because, again, Kentucky has been one of the poorest states in the country. And and I know I'm a black man running in Kentucky. I'm not registered as a Republican, but I'm speaking to the issues. I'm telling my story, but I'm lifting up the stories of Kentuckians from all backgrounds. And when you do that, you find people ready to work with you. That's why we have a Democratic governor who's one of the more popular governors in the country, is because when you treat people like they matter, regardless of party, you'll find folks ready to work with you. And that's why we're in a position to win this.
00:19:36
Speaker 1: Yeah. You made a really good point. The gap should be, you know, if Donald Trump carried the state, it should be within the, you know, that 30 point margin. And it is in single digits. But who do you still have left to convince, do you think? Is it is it black voters who may stay home, rural voters or those Trump supporters who are just, like I said, feeling it and maybe just, you know, they're teeter tottering, right?
00:19:57
Speaker 2: Yeah. So that's where the work comes in for us. We know we have a path to win. We know that when our message is out there, we're tied now without even being on the air yet, which is what I'm grateful for. this opportunity to tell the world about what we're doing. But we know that there are a lot of folks who have sort of given up on the idea that things can change. Mitch McConnell's been there forever. Andy Barr is just like the spawn of Mitch McConnell. So it's just like more of the same. And our job is to not only let people know that change is possible, but to remind them that we are the change. So a lot of the campaign has been not just talking about why you should vote for me, but lifting up their issues and leaning into mutual aid, showing up in community, being consistent in that. So our job now is to turn out the folks who already know what this moment means, but then to speak to those folks who've been ignored. So even now, as soon as I leave this interview, we're getting back on the road. We're going back up into the mountains. We're sitting down in rooms with lifelong Republicans. We're sitting down in rooms with folks who have given up on politics because that's what family does. And we got about 35-ish days to make it happen. We're right in a position to throw that knockout punch and win this race. And we're going to make it happen.
00:21:06
Speaker 1: Yeah, pedal to the metal time.
00:21:07
Speaker 2: That's right.
00:21:14
Speaker 1: You ran for the seat before, right? And Kentuckians at that time didn't choose you and you're running again. What do you believe the difference is this time?
00:21:21
Speaker 2: You know, the difference is the world around us. And I'm a preacher's kid, so I get it honest. And there are times in your journey when you're doing something to set you up for what's to come. And yeah, this is like Rocky III for me. And what I didn't realize that I'm so grateful for now is that we laid foundation for I don't come from money. I still live in the hood. I'm still on my childhood block. And because I introduced an idea of politics that reaches out to people who get ignored, we had to earn some trust. We had to navigate some headwinds. And we have built a coalition that is unlike any we've seen in recent political history because of the consistency, even when the cameras aren't around. So this time, not only do we have the support, we have the infrastructure to We have the message. Now we got the team. I brought together an all-star team because now I know how to put a big campaign together. Again, I'm just a regular guy from the hood trying to fight for my family. And now we've been able to build a campaign that can carry this message. So we're in a position to win it.
00:22:24
Speaker 1: Is that what you think you learned then versus now? So from 2022 to 2026, you've learned that you need to you know, have that team behind you and you saw where you went wrong. And so you were able to kind of redirect and fix and kind of full steam ahead now.
00:22:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, a lot of lessons learned, a lot of cleaning up to do, you know, and so I'm excited that I can help sort of shine the light to more regular people who might think, well, we don't belong in these spaces because we do. And, you know, when I think about what has changed, not only have I grown, but as I mentioned, the world around us has changed. The bottom has fallen out for so many people. Trump has been so diabolical. And these sellout politicians like Andy Barr have laid down to the erosion of our Constitution, to the attacks on democracy. And it has lifted up an urgency for a lot of people that is essentially my platform. I mean, you can call it affordability. Call it whatever you want. People have been struggling. They're tired of it. And they're looking for people who will fight for them. And that's been me. That's my story. I think that's why God put me here. And now I believe my pastor said it correctly, that this is a moment whose time has come.
00:23:36
Speaker 1: You know, when you are talking to the locals in Kentucky and they're telling you what their fears are, what are you hearing?
00:23:45
Speaker 2: You know, people are afraid for the future. They're afraid of whether they'll be able to afford the medicine they need. They're afraid of what's happening at the federal level, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, the tax on democracy. This blatant corruption in Washington. I mean, we've seen the White House destroyed. We're seeing these folks making money hand over fist in the midst of endless war. There's this trade war with Canada. And that's Kentucky's largest trade partner. So people are just afraid of what's happening. And they're looking for some calm, some clarity, some common sense. And a lot of times over the years when I spoke about regular people fighting, standing together from the hood to the holler, Health care as a human right and true living wages. Folks might say, oh, well, that's that's radical. That's extreme. No, it's not. It's responding to the people. And now folks see that this is what we need to meet this moment. We need leadership that is responsive to us. And that's the common sense leadership that I'm bringing.
00:24:49
Speaker 1: I like that you are going in and speaking with people and really getting to know what their needs are and taking that back to Washington. You know, when you do that and you may be met with some resistance, you know, what is your plan?
00:25:02
Speaker 2: You know, I look for those moments where disagreements come up because there are opportunities to learn, opportunities to grow. And I've made it very clear. I'm not running because I expect everyone to agree with me. That doesn't even make sense. Find someone that agrees with you on everything. Somebody's lying. The main thing for me is to be honest, to be clear and to be consistent. And so in those moments where there are disagreements or where folks are just frustrated with politics in general, I want to show up for them. I want to earn their trust. And I tell people all the time, let me earn this. Be hard on me because I know we need real change in Washington and we cannot keep sending folks up there who are trying to get rich and build power for themselves and then give us the middle finger. So I want to earn it. I look for those hard conversations. And because of that, people of Kentucky have stood with me because they're like, well, even if we don't agree with Charles on all the things, we know he's fighting for us. And I know how important that is.
00:26:00
Speaker 1: Before I let you go, quickly, for the people who just may not be familiar with you all around the world, can you just tell us a little bit about your upbringing? I know you said that you're a PK and all the things, but just a little bit about where you grew up, your family life.
00:26:16
Speaker 2: Yeah, so... From the hood, 35th and Market. You know, I come from a really big family, one of over 70 grandkids. Over 70 because I stopped counting. But I learned about community from my family. My grandparents' house was like the community center. If you needed something to eat, come over to grandma's house. And both my parents are ministers. So, you know, we were in church seven days a week.
00:26:37
Speaker 1: I know the feeling.
00:26:39
Speaker 2: And, you know, just knowing in faith that mountains can move. That led me in a career of politics because I don't trust politicians. But I know that change won't happen unless we do it. So working at every level of government, working with small family farmers, standing on the tracks with coal miners, working with organized labor, fighting for developments in our communities, standing up for justice. To me, it's a part of just fighting for family. And if anyone is questioning whether change is possible, look at us in Kentucky. Look at what we're doing. We're going to flip a Senate seat that Mitch McConnell has held my entire life, focused on community, focused on family. healing. And I think the country needs to see this win. I think the world needs to see this win. And we're going to make it happen.
00:27:23
Speaker 1: Let's end with this. Before I let you go, you talked a lot about bringing different kinds of leadership to Washington and reaching people who may not feel like politics have been working for them. So if Kentucky sends Charles Booker to the United States Senate, their life will be different because?
00:27:41
Speaker 2: Their life will be different because they will have a senator who listens to them. who shows up for them, who takes their voices to Washington to cause good trouble with them, who is not there to get rich, but who is there to raise their wages and put more money in their pocket and make sure they have the health care they need without data centers in their backyards, a flock cameras on their front porch, or big politicians in their bedrooms or in their hospital rooms. They will have a leader who cares about them.
00:28:07
Speaker 1: Absolutely. Charles Booker, thank you for joining me on Front Page.
00:28:11
Speaker 2: Thank you.
00:28:14
Speaker 1: That's your front page. I'm Mimi Brown. This podcast was brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network.
