Charles Booker (American politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Booker
Executive Director of Kentucky's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement
Incumbent
Assumed office January 13, 2023
Governor	Andy Beshear
Preceded by	Office established
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 43rd district
In office January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2021
Preceded by	Darryl Owens
Succeeded by	Pamela Stevenson
Personal details
Born	(1984-10-20) October 20, 1984 (age 40) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Tanesha Booker
Children	3
Education	University of Louisville (BS, JD)

Charles Booker (born October 20, 1984) is an American politician from Kentucky. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021. During this time, he was the youngest Black state lawmaker in Kentucky.

Booker ran for the United States Senate in Kentucky in both 2020 and 2022. He gained national attention for his campaigns. In 2022, he became the first African American to be a major party candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky. After his 2022 campaign, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear appointed him to lead the Governor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement.

Early Life and School

Charles Booker was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 20, 1984. He graduated from Louisville Male High School. He then went to the University of Louisville. There, he earned a degree in political science and later a law degree.

Charles Booker's Career

Booker worked for the Legislative Research Commission until 2014. He later worked for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He also worked for West Louisville FoodPort.

In 2016, he ran for a seat in the Kentucky Senate. He finished third in that election.

Serving in the Kentucky House

In 2018, Charles Booker ran for the 43rd district in the Kentucky House of Representatives. He won the Democratic nomination. Then, he won the general election against his Republican opponent.

As a member of the Kentucky House, Booker worked on several important committees. These included committees for economic development, justice, and natural resources.

Running for U.S. Senate

2020 Senate Campaign

On January 5, 2020, Booker announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. His main ideas included:

• Making sure everyone has universal health care.
• Creating a Green New Deal to fight climate change.
• Changing the justice system.
• Providing universal basic income to help people.

Booker's campaign was supported by many people. He received endorsements from other politicians like U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Celebrities and organizations also supported him. The campaign became very popular in its final weeks. This was partly because of his involvement in protests about Breonna Taylor.

Booker lost the primary election to Amy McGrath. However, he received a lot of votes. After the election, Booker shared a message. He encouraged people to keep fighting for a better future.

Don't ever let someone tell you what's impossible. Don't ever give up on your dreams for a brighter future. No matter where you are from, what color your skin is, how much money you have, who you love, what pronoun you use, whether you walk or use a wheelchair, or what you believe—you matter. You deserve a government that accounts for your humanity. From this moment on, let's take the frustration we feel and commit to fighting for change like never before. Let's dedicate to the work of beating Mitch, so that we can get him out of the way. Yes, I would love to be your nominee, but know I'm still by your side. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Kentucky, I love you. From the hood to the holler.

2022 Senate Campaign

On July 1, 2021, Booker announced he would run for Kentucky's other Senate seat. He raised a lot of money for his campaign. Most of this money came from small donations from everyday people.

On May 17, 2022, Booker won the Democratic primary election. This made him the first African American to be a major party candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky. However, he lost the general election to the current Republican senator, Rand Paul.

What Charles Booker Believes In

Charles Booker is known as a progressive politician. This means he supports ideas like:

• Paying back for past wrongs.
• Having Medicare for All, a healthcare system for everyone.
• Making changes to the justice system.
• Giving people a universal basic income.
• Supporting a Green New Deal to protect the environment.

He also believes in building new infrastructure. This means roads, bridges, and other public systems. He wants these to use clean, renewable energy sources.

Charles Booker's Family Life

Charles Booker is married to Tanesha Booker. They have three daughters together.

Booker has type 1 diabetes. He has shared that he sometimes had to limit his insulin when he was younger because it was too expensive. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. This is a fraternity for college men, historically for Black students.

Election Results

See Also

• List of African-American United States Senate candidates