The late surge by state representative Charles Booker came up just a little short, as the originally presumptive nominee Amy McGrath narrowly won the Democratic nomination to take on Senator Mitch McConnell in the fall.
McGrath received 247,037 votes to Booker’s 231,888 votes – a McGrath win of 45.4% to 42.6%. Mike Broihier picked up 27,175 votes, or 5% of the total votes cast. Seven other candidates received varying amounts, with Mary Ann Tobin getting over 11,000 or about 2%.
Booker won Jefferson, Fayette, Boyle, Warren, and Christian counties, while McGrath won the other counties, although often by very narrow margins. Booker’s win in Jefferson County was by over 30,000 votes, but it wasn’t enough to take him over the top.
Booker conceded the race late in the afternoon, sending out a statement thanking all those who supported him and hinting that he might have future plans for the “movement” his candidacy had built. He also said that even though he commended the governor and the secretary of state for “quickly pulling together a voting system that protects public health and ballot access amidst unprecedented circumstances,” some of his voters reported problems with the system. He closed by saying “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.”
Broihier sent out a statement earlier in the day, when it was clear he would not be the nominee. He noted the policy ideas he raised, such as Universal Basic Income and a Criminal Justice Overhaul Commission, “and we got Kentuckians talking about these ideas in all 120 counties.” He listed other accomplishments of his campaign, including the numerous endorsements of in-state groups and persons. Then he concluded, “But the next mission for the Broihier Brigade is this: defeat Mitch McConnell in the general election.”
McGrath also sent out a statement, making a point of commending both Charles Booker and Mike Broihier for the campaigns they ran, saying she was honored to be in a race with such candidates. She talked about how difficult it was going to be to defeat McConnell. And, she noted some of the problems she wanted to tackle:
“Our system isn’t working for everyday Kentuckians, and we need elected officials who have the courage to meaningfully tackle the legal, educational, and health inequities that continue to prevent true racial and socio-economic equality in our country. That’s the kind of senator I intend to be.
“As a woman in the military, I learned quickly that I’d have to repeatedly fight the establishment during my 20-year career. No one will ever need to convince me how urgently our state and country need equal pay and equal justice, affordable health care for all, action to protect our voting rights, and an end to the corrosive grip that corporate special interests have on our federal government. That work starts by removing Mitch McConnell from office.”
McGrath heads into the general election with a significant war chest, having raised over $40 million so far in this race. Her biggest obstacle, though, will be bringing together Democrats who voted for Booker and Broihier because they were not excited by her campaign. It remains to be see if she can do that, while at the same time taking on the experienced Mitch McConnell election team.
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