Former KY Rep. Charles Booker forms exploratory committee for 2022 senate run

On Apr 13, 2021

Former Kentucky Rep. Charles Booker told us he was “strongly considering” running against Sen. Rand Paul in the next election.And after a conversations on Monday, it sounds pretty likely. Booker just announced he’s formed an exploratory committee.”They say change isn’t possible in a place like Kentucky. Well, we already proved them wrong. And in 2022, we can do it again. Kentucky can shock the world,” Booker said in a Facebook post. An exploratory committee helps a potential candidate for a political race determine whether they should run, giving them the opportunity to “test the water.”Booker tried to make a run against Sen. Mitch McConnell in the November 2020 election. However, Amy McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot, beat out Booker in the Democratic primary, even as he gained big momentum in the final hours as he went into the streets during racial justice protests in Louisville.McConnell won by a landslide. It looks like Booker is continuing with his message of “from the hood to the holler,” which he used frequently in his previous run and also turned into an organization.We asked him Monday if there’s any chance he won’t be running in 2022 now that he’s formed this committee.”I will say, I don’t see the exploratory as a conversation about whether we should do this. It’s more about, let’s do our due diligence and do it right and do it together. And so I want the people of Kentucky to know that I’m fully invested,” Booker said.Hear more from him in the player above. In the video provided with his announcement, he refers to both McConnell and Paul as “privileged politicians” who choose to “criminalize poverty.”Paul, a Republican, has served as a U.S. senator since 2011.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Former Kentucky Rep. Charles Booker told us he was “strongly considering” running against Sen. Rand Paul in the next election.

And after a conversations on Monday, it sounds pretty likely. Booker just announced he’s formed an exploratory committee.

“They say change isn’t possible in a place like Kentucky. Well, we already proved them wrong. And in 2022, we can do it again. Kentucky can shock the world,” Booker said in a Facebook post.

An exploratory committee helps a potential candidate for a political race determine whether they should run, giving them the opportunity to “test the water.”

Booker tried to make a run against Sen. Mitch McConnell in the November 2020 election. However, Amy McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot, beat out Booker in the Democratic primary, even as he gained big momentum in the final hours as he went into the streets during racial justice protests in Louisville.

McConnell won by a landslide.

It looks like Booker is continuing with his message of “from the hood to the holler,” which he used frequently in his previous run and also turned into an organization.

We asked him Monday if there’s any chance he won’t be running in 2022 now that he’s formed this committee.

“I will say, I don’t see the exploratory as a conversation about whether we should do this. It’s more about, let’s do our due diligence and do it right and do it together. And so I want the people of Kentucky to know that I’m fully invested,” Booker said.

Hear more from him in the player above.

In the video provided with his announcement, he refers to both McConnell and Paul as “privileged politicians” who choose to “criminalize poverty.”

Paul, a Republican, has served as a U.S. senator since 2011.