Charles Booker launches second Senate candidacy, this one against Rand Paul

“Freedom. It’s been the story of America, or so they say, because we know the truth. For so many people across Kentucky and across the country, freedom hasn’t been freedom for us,” he said in a video posted on social media announcing his candidacy.

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“I come from a long line of Kentuckians,” Booker added. “I’ve had ancestors who were enslaved in this commonwealth, lynched in this commonwealth, fought for desegregation in this commonwealth because we knew freedom wasn’t going to be something that was just given to us. We had to struggle for it.”

Booker was a major underdog during his primary against McGrath, who received support from the Democratic establishment. He had been behind her in both polls and fundraising for much of the election season but received a boost late in the race when he received endorsements from many big-name liberals, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, as well as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

At the time, those endorsers touted his support of sweeping reforms, such as the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, over McGrath’s centrist platform. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ultimately trounced McGrath in the general election despite her eye-popping fundraising totals.

Booker told the Kentucky-based Courier-Journal that he doesn’t believe the party establishment will put its finger on the scale in 2022.

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“It’s been made clear that they recognize my leadership. They understand that I’ve built the infrastructure,” the Senate hopeful said. “We’re building this for the people of Kentucky and anyone that is willing to get behind us — and certainly get out of our way — we’re appreciative of that.”

Paul dismissed Booker’s candidacy against him on Thursday, saying, “I just don’t think defunding the police and forcing taxpayers to pay for reparations will be very popular in Kentucky.”

There have been few rumors about big-name Democrats challenging Paul, though political newbie Ruth Gao also announced her candidacy Thursday.

“Charles Booker’s extremist agenda has zero chance with Kentucky voters. He supports the radical socialist policies of D.C. Democrats like defunding the police, the Green New Deal and forcing taxpayers to pay for reparations,” Kentucky Republican Party Chairman Mac Brown said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Kentuckians reject far-left ideas like these every chance they get, and Charles Booker’s campaign for the U.S. Senate will be no different.”