During his stop in Owensboro Sunday afternoon, State Rep. Charles Booker told a crowd of nearly 100 people that it’s time for change in Kentucky. Booker’s campaign has surged over the last two weeks, and he’s become a real threat to win the Democratic Senate primary next week.
Booker has gained several big endorsements of late, including that of Senator Bernie Sanders. It has helped Booker close in on Amy McGrath, a former Marine Corps fighter pilot, who has been the favorite to win the party’s Senate nomination. The winner will go on to face Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the November general election.
“I am doing this because I want things to be better,” Booker told the crowd outside of Owensboro’s Democratic Headquarters. “I want us to be able to fulfill our potential. I want poverty to go away. I don’t want anyone to have to ration their insulin or try to figure out how they’re going to keep the lights on or put food on the table. I just want things to be better, and I know we can do it as Kentuckians because we can do anything.”
Those are some of the issues Booker has faced in life, so he’s hoping that he can win the race in part to help inspire others. Booker said he’s been intentional about telling his story and being vulnerable and transparent.
“What I’m ultimately hoping is that we can inspire more people to believe that OK if this guy — this young black man from a poor zip code, that has had cousins murdered the last four years, that has rationed his insulin and had his lights cut off and has been homeless and saw his mom go without eating so he could eat — if this young guy can do it, I know I can do it,” he said.
Booker lives in Louisville and is a state representative for the 43rd District, but he stressed that he wants to be a voice for all of Kentucky.
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“Although you do not live in the 43rd District, I need you to know that whenever I walk into that capitol building, I am representing you,” he said.
Though the crowd offered plenty of cheers in support of change, they also said they want to see real action if Booker does get elected.
“We’re going to continue to ask those hard questions because we know how this goes,” said Dominique Maddox, President of Owensboro Black Expo. “We’ve been through a lot of election cycles. They always want our vote, always. But what are you really going to do? That’s what I need to know. Put your money where your mouth is. We just want to make sure that we’re getting what we deserve.”
Maddox also stressed to attendees the importance of educating themselves about the candidates as well as actually voting. She pointed out State Rep. Jim Glenn’s one-vote victory over DJ Johnson in the previous election in Owensboro.
“An election is always going to take place,” Maddox said. “Somebody is always going to get elected. But are you going to participate? Are you going to be engaged? I want to be active. I want to take a stand and I want to be a voice. We all have the ability to do that. The power is in our vote, each and every one of us. We all know how it can come down to the wire.”
Glenn was also in attendance Sunday, and he noted Booker’s sudden rise in popularity.
“There’s been a shift in the public’s thinking over the last two weeks,” Glenn said. “He’s on the cutting edge of this shift.”
With just over a week until the primary, Booker said he’s going to keep pushing hard to let every Kentuckian know that he’s ready to make a difference.
“We’re going to be in every part of the Commonwealth,” he said. “We’re getting the word out that this is the time for a big change, and we’re not going to miss it.”
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June 15, 2020 at 12:36PM
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State Rep. Booker tells Owensboro crowd it’s time for change - The Owensboro Times
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