Charles Booker, the Democratic candidate trying to unseat Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul, stopped in Owensboro Thursday to speak at the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Red, White & Blue Picnic. Booker primarily talked about his goal of unifying people across the Commonwealth regardless of political affiliation and making sure Kentucky’s needs are a priority at the federal level.
Booker spoke for about 4 minutes and only made prepared remarks to a crowd of a couple hundred people on the Daviess County Courthouse lawn. Most local candidates also gave short speeches at the event, but Booker was the main draw. Paul was invited but was unable to make it to the event.
He said he comes from one of the poorest zip codes in the Commonwealth, and it’s taught him to fight through adversity. Booker also said that his political journey helped him realize “that the people of Kentucky are my family.”
“Being able to stand for you in this time of division, in this time where so many families are hurting, where we need to do the work of ending poverty and come together as family as a Commonwealth as a country and fight for democracy — this is the privilege of my life,” Booker said.
He continued, “I want to earn your support, because I know what this moment means. This isn’t just about running for office. It is not about a title. Our commonwealth, our community, Owensboro — we all need change. And it requires leadership at the federal level that cares about us, that sees Kentucky as a priority and not an afterthought, that will treat us like we’re worth investing in instead of selling out.”
Booker promised that if elected he would fight to expand healthcare “so that nobody has to ration their medicine to stay alive, that no one has to go bankrupt trying to afford their surgery.” He added that he’d invest in local business and infrastructure, and “do the work of bringing money back to Kentucky and making the government work for you.” Most importantly, Booker said, he’d fight to protect human rights.
Booker said his desire to win the seat is about uniting Kentuckians and representing them better on the national stage.
“This isn’t about political party to me,” he said. “Democrats, Republicans, Independents — we’ve all been getting screwed. We’re all frustrated. We’re all sick and tired of the division. And you all know, just like I do, nothing will change unless we do it together. I’ve had a message of saying we have to come together from the hood to the holler. … That is my way of saying that regular folks everywhere — no matter what we look like, the color of our skin, how much money we have, what our party is — we’re connected. We have more in common than what divides us, and if we work together, we can make sure Kentucky isn’t one of the poorest states in the country.”
Booker wrapped up by again saying he thinks Kentucky is not being properly represented.
“I’m going into the fire because that’s what family does,” he said. “My granddad told me you fight for family, and you all are my family. I know we deserve better. I’m gonna go to Washington and fight for you, but I’m gonna bring you with me, because I’m tired of Kentucky being ignored.”
