Charles Booker, the Democratic nominee for Kentucky's open U.S. Senate seat, has praised Republican Rep. Thomas Massie as he campaigns against GOP Rep. Andy Barr.
Booker has praised Massie.
“He's protecting child predators,” Booker said.
Booker has also urged Kentuckians across party lines generally, telling voters earlier this month, “Whether you're Democrat, Republican or Independent, I hope you know I'm fighting for you,” according to Spectrum News 1. Separately, as reported by thenortherner.com, Booker has praised both Massie and Sen. Rand Paul for their commitment to ending endless wars and pushing accountability on the Epstein files, suggesting his outreach to Massie's base is not a one-time gambit but part of a broader strategy to peel off Republican and independent voters.
Data Centers And Surveillance Cameras Also Dividing The Race
Beyond the Epstein files, Booker has outlined concerns about data centers and Flock surveillance cameras as part of his campaign. He has called for a moratorium on building new data centers, according to Kentucky Lantern, while Barr has said the country needs to build up its artificial-intelligence infrastructure, including data centers, and favors local control rather than federal intervention, according to LPM. The debate carries real stakes in western Kentucky, where the proposed Paducah American Energy Hub is pitched as a $100 billion investment that could create 8,000 construction jobs and 600 permanent ones, per WPSD Local 6.
On surveillance, Booker has called Flock cameras a gross violation of Kentuckians' privacy and pledged to take action against them in the Senate, according to Kentucky.com. Barr has said he shares privacy concerns but argued anyone who misuses the technology to unlawfully surveil innocent Americans should be prosecuted. Booker has also criticized Barr and discussed McConnell.
A Steep Climb In A Deep-Red State
Booker is trying to flip a seat being vacated by McConnell, and the numbers underline just how uphill that climb is. Kentucky has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1992, and Republicans have represented the state in that chamber since 1999, according to LPM. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as solid Republican, and independent analysts cited by Kentucky Lantern have kept the seat in solid red territory.
Money tells a similar story. Barr's campaign had spent approximately $11.37 million through June 30, compared with $789,887 spent by Booker's campaign, per thenortherner.com.
Booker has run statewide twice before, losing narrowly in the 2020 Democratic Senate primary to Amy McGrath and then losing by 23 points to Sen. Rand Paul in 2022, according to LPM. Kentucky's election is set for Nov. 3, with early voting beginning Thursday, Oct. 29, per Kentucky Lantern.
