KY-SEN: Booker takes statewide lead in votes counted.

[RandySF]

Link to tweet

?s=20

Niles Edward Francis
@NilesGApol
Charles Booker has taken the lead statewide over Amy McGrath as Jefferson County, which includes Louisville, begins to report its preliminary numbers. Still lots of votes to be counted though. #KYSen

[Laelth]

1. Interesting. k&r for visibility (and for the soul of the Democratic Party). n/t

-Laelth

[James48]

2. Progressives are winning the heart and soul

That’s where we need to go.

[Magoo48]

23. Yup

[Demsrule86]

39. I am sorry but winning a primary only to lose an election ...waste of time.

McGrath has a shot at crossover votes. I think it is a long shot but if things are really bad in November, we might have a chance with her. Fingers crossed that McGrath wins in the end...she has a better chance in Kentucky.

[JonLP24]

48. That doesn't explain why Booker is out polling McGrath vs McConnell

Booker is also out polling Biden in the state.

Things like flip flopping on Kavanaugh voters see through that including swing voters.

[Demsrule86]

53. Democrats like Booker... but you need crossover voters...and Kavanaugh was getting confirmed anyway.

McGrath was trying to appeal to voters other than Democrats which is her only chance...I doubt either have a good chance but McGrath had a chance at least.

[James48]

57. McGrath isn't as electable as Booker

McGrath has had some like-ability issues recently, and Booker seems to be much more human. I hope the best candidate wins.

[RhodeIslandOne]

52. Ah, yes. The "crossover" votes. Still tilting at that windmill.

Say you'd have confirmed Kavanaugh and maybe hem and haw when asked if you voted for Obama. That'll get votes in your column.

How about we try something a little different this time, eh? Kentucky has been fool's gold for so long.

[Demsrule86]

54. We got the House back with moderate voters...How many red seats have progressives flipped?

Kentucky won't vote for a progressive. There is a moderate governor Andy Beshear...so maybe someone like could win.

[sfstaxprep]

3. 6 More Years Of Turtle

Seeing her in action, I doubt Amy would have fared much better. But Turtle is probably feeling pretty good about his chances of at least retaining a job, even if the Senate ends up lost.

[jorgevlorgan]

7. booker is our best shot against him

[Proud liberal 80]

9. I think he fears Booker more than McGrath

She is the same type of candidate that always runs against him and loses.....might as well try something new because that strategy has never beat him

[JT45242]

21. Nope...dollars tell the story

Super pacs associated with turtle were running attack ads against McGrath. Follow the money and you see the truth.

Moscow Mitch feared McGrath more and figured it was cheaper to get her whacked in the primary by a far left Democrat than defend himself in the general.

Thus leaving more money to protect the rest of the Republican Senate.

Money talks and they tried the same thing against a left moderate candidate in Iowa Senate primary.

Ads are cheaper now and being branded as far left won't play well in these states that lean red in the general.

[jorgevlorgan]

26. polling shows something different

McGrath trails by 20 and bookery by 14. He hasn't spent close to as much money as McGrath, either.

[Demsrule86]

40. Those are Democratic primary polls...Democrats alone won't win Kentucky...we need crossover voters

and McConnell doesn't think Booker will get those...hence the campaign.

[jorgevlorgan]

42. they are GE polls, actually

https://www.newsweek.com/what-polls-say-about-booker-mcgrath-mcconnell-kentucky-senate-race-1512518

[standingtall]

36. Just as likely McConnell spent the money attacking McGrath because he was certain she would be the

nominee. Booker was not known a month ago up until he emerged it was almost like McGrath was running unopposed.

[helpisontheway]

4. Interesting..he seem confident that he would win during an interview yesterday. Nt

[yellowcanine]

5. Hopefully this holds up because Booker has a better shot against the turtle.

His voters have the passion to carry the day I believe.

[Proud liberal 80]

8. Agree

I don’t know why people on here think McGrath does...she is the same old candidate that always loses to McConnell...a moderate to conservative Democrat who doesn’t excite the progressive base (which is actually fairly large in Kentucky), who can supposedly win over Republican voters....that is always a losing strategy....

[Music Man]

19. Most of the people huffing and puffing about Booker are not from Kentucky.

It may be that Booker can't win, but his authenticity, passion, and fit for the zeitgeist makes it at least more likely. He will at least be a factor. And it won't be a soul-crushing four months for many Kentucky Democrats that watching a McGrath-McConnell race would.

[Celerity]

25. yes, many of the local KY people on here said Booker was likely to win and had a better shot

against Moscow Mitch.

Many simply want to turn it into Bernie-go-round number 32,454. McGrath did not impress me when she, right after kicking off her campaign, went full Bredesen and said she would have voted to confirm drunkrapey Kavanaugh and then flipped back. Large unforced error.

[yellowcanine]

22. When she said she would have voted for Kavanaugh that

kind of did it for me. Yeah I know she walked it back but still - cat's out of the bag you know. Still better than Mitch though should she pull out a win.

[Corgigal]

61. Booker even said

We need a movement to win. He’s right and at least he can read the room.

[sunonmars]

6. I could see that coming a mile off......

[sunonmars]

10. just so you see where this is heading........

Just for context:

Jefferson County (Louisville):
Booker: 80.1% (8,307)
McGrath: 15.9% (1,654)
*Less than 10% Reporting

Fayette County (Lexington):
Booker: 72.4% (1,512)
McGrath: 23% (479)
*Less than 10% Reporting

[Takket]

12. Wow. That looks pretty solid for Booker

[crickets]

15. Wow. Thanks for the info. Maybe Booker does have a chance. :crosses fingers:

[Bayard]

11. I'm for McGrath

Beyond the cities, I just don't see Booker being viable against McConnell. BUT--I will absolutely support him if he wins.

[Corgigal]

14. I'm for Booker,

he already called Mitch corrupt. Just for that alone, I’m happy.

He’s gonna fight low and often, and it’s about time Dems starting fighting back.

[Bettie]

28. I'm not in KY, but if he's willing to

really fight for it, he's got a chance.

Better to go down fighting than to go down taking "the high road" against someone who has no ethical standards whatsoever.

[Drunken Irishman]

63. Reminds me of a quote from Primary Colors...

"No, I want to work for a man who fights for right fight and watch a Republican get elected."

This reminds me of that (quote was said in jest, though).

Booker seems like a great guy.

He's not going to win a statewide race in a state that supports Trump with 60% approval. It's just not going to happen.

Maybe McGrath wouldn't have, either. But she might have put it in more play than Booker (that one poll, which looks like an outlier, notwithstanding) and that alone would've been huge because it would have forced McConnell to actually campaign and the RNC to dump funds in a race they likely are going to win easily now.

[BannonsLiver]

17. Both are long shots

But an Our Revolution candidate in KY is in for an extra steep battle. It really doesn’t matter though. Mitch was probably a shoe in either way. Hopefully people that donated all that cash to McGrath will start looking for winnable senate races around the country.

[progressoid]

35. Both are long shots but he does better.

As Booker and McGrath battle for the Democratic nomination, the Civiqs survey showed McConnell easily beating all of his challengers in potential general election races this fall. In a head-to-head matchup with McGrath, McConnell was ahead by 20 points, with 53 percent backing the incumbent and 33 percent of voters favoring her. Against Booker, his lead was cut down to 14 points—or 52 percent saying they'd vote for McConnell and 38 percent supporting the state legislator.

[JT45242]

50. Civiqs polls are garbage

They only use opt in online folks from right wing websites.

Randomized polls had her dead even.

[JonLP24]

49. Comments like that shows moderates won't help progressives if they are forced to support them

Like when progressives are forced to support moderates in general election races.

Biden has my vote but not my money. I'll donate happily to Booker though.

Booker out polls McGrath & Biden in the state.

[standingtall]

13. Hard to tell for sure

I believe this is still only the same day vote. There is plenty of same day vote to come in though. Seems like Booker is doing well in Counties nearby Jefferson and Fayette and there is still a big cluster of those. While McGrath seems is doing better in the Eastern and Western parts of the State still a big cluster of those to go too.

Could be a lot of people sent in their absentee ballot early before many people even knew Booker. McGrath losing Lexington the way she is is another big red flag. Lexington is a big chunk of the district she ran in in 2018 so she shouldn't be losing like that there to nobody.

[Music Man]

20. That's an interesting point about her losing Lexington.

She's also losing Georgetown, her home town.

I think the fact that McGrath lost in 2018 in a district that included Lexington and in a Democratic wave election year, and instead of taking the last two years to develop relationships in KY-06 and challenge Andy Barr again, she decided the logical step was to challenge Mitch McConnell in a statewide race. That says a lot about her political instincts, in my opinion.

[jorgevlorgan]

27. this is how I've been feeling for a while

One of the things that makes Booker a better candidate is the fact that he has deep roots in the district he represents, and actually won a race. McGrath still has yet to win anything, even though she did very well against Barr.

[Trailrider1951]

16. I just don't see Mr. Booker winning against McTurdle

with white rural Kentucky. My mother was from that part of the country, and those people are as racist as the day is long. They may not like McTurdle, but they'll keep him before they vote for a black man.

[BannonsLiver]

18. He's a POC running in KY

And a Democratic Socialist. Indeed, those are long odds. I don’t think he gets within 25-30 pts of Turtle. And no, I didn’t think McGrath had a much of a chance either.

[Polybius]

33. Does he call himself a Democratic Socialist?

I know he was endorsed by Sanders, but didn't know he was a DS.

[RhodeIslandOne]

44. But why would they vote for McGrath?

I can't imagine the misogyny is lacking either.

[Demsrule86]

55. If things get worse and they may...a moderate may have a shot at defeating McConnell...but you have

consider the electorate when you field candidates...Howard Dean did a first rate job and we actually had 60 votes before Kennedy died.

[RhodeIslandOne]

59. The post I'm replying to addresses racist voters who won't vote for a black man

So if you're now pining for some of them, I really don't know what to tell you.

[Polybius]

24. If Booker wins, he'll be one of the two most progressive members of the Senate

Although I'm not progressive on every issue, I like his fire and motivation. Please, let's make this happen in November!

[jorgevlorgan]

29. I'm still keeping my eye on Arkansas

Dan Whitfield though, might not get on the ballot which will make Cotton nearly uncontested.

[Demsrule86]

56. He may win the primary but I doubt he will win an election in Kentucky.

I would of course be thrilled if Booker won...damn...get rid of McConnell and get a progressive in the Senate from Kentucky no less...truly a dream come true.

[ElementaryPenguin]

30. Kentucky is 87.5% white - and 8.5% black...and in the Deep South

I guess Democrats aren't that serious about getting rid of Mitch McConnell.

Charles Booker might be fantastic - but if can't win statewide in a general election WHAT IS THE POINT?!

This is just too stupid the way we lose sometimes.

THE POINT WAS TO VOTE OUT THE GRIM REAPER - MOSCOW MITCH, and once again we're unlikely to do that.

Unless you believe the Deep South is not racist anymore.

If you believe that - you'll think Booker can win, but unfortunately he can't - and I can't help but be suspicious of the result - since it would appear Moscow Mitch is going to get to run against the candidate he wants to run against.

What a nightmare!!!!!!

[Wanderlust988]

31. Amy McGrath is not a good candidate though

Really, she is only liked outside of Kentucky. Schumer made a terrible mistake by asking her to run. Everyone is falling in love with her biography, but she is not a good politician at all. Her ads are a joke. That's why Booker is beating her. She has terrible political instincts. When she is losing her own hometown, that has to tell you something. She is not popular here at all. How can you expect her to beat Mitch?

[ElementaryPenguin]

32. It's incredible that the Democratic party in Kentucky can't field a better candidate than that.

We HAD to get rid of Mitch - the most unpopular person in Congress!!

WTF?!!!

[Corgigal]

60. Exactly.

I hoped we could find someone better then McGrath. I have no idea why she was picked for us. She might have been a fighter pilot once, but she has awful political fighting instincts.

Booker might just be theater, but he can fight. Dirty, low and often. Might not be enough, but it’s something. Make the Republicans spend money in Kentucky.

None of my neighbors claim to ever voted for McConnell, they could be lying to us, but I don’t live in the mountains either. Plus not all white people here are racist, nor do all men want to dump on women. That is South Carolina claim, I lived there for 20 years.

The people here are different, but I’ve only been here a few years. I’m a raised New York, Westchester county woman. If they accept me, which South Carolina never did, for now , we might have hope.

[rockfordfile]

37. She's a good candidate. The problem is "politician" when it comes to democrats.

[NewJeffCT]

41. McGrath came very close to flipping a very red seat blue in 2018 (51-48)

she can't be that bad of a candidate since Barr had got over 60% of the vote his previous 2 elections

Allison Lundergran Grimes was reasonably close to McConnell in 2014 until the beginning of October, but she made a couple of mistakes and ran out of money, so faded at the end.

[Wanderlust988]

43. She should've won had she had a competent campaign manager

She totally neglected Lexington, which is the largest city in the district. She concentrated on rural areas and it bit her in the ass. And she's doing the same thing in the Senate race. She neglected Louisville and Lexington. She doesn't speak to black issues much at all. She hasn't attended any protest. She never talked about Breonna Taylor. And she wonders why she is losing in a Dem primary?

[Demsrule86]

58. She did...while McConnell is unlikely to lose she would be the one to do it...if it was possible.

[RhodeIslandOne]

45. She couldn't win her house race

I'm pretty sure Schumer just didn't think they had anyone better.

[brooklynite]

47. I don't expect he to beat Mitch; I don't expect Booker to beat Mitch either...

[progressoid]

34. Iowa is 90. White and 3.4% Black and it elected Obama twice.

Three times if you include the caucus.

Stranger things have happened.

[ElementaryPenguin]

38. Even the incomparable Barack Obama LOST Kentucky twice!!

Respectfully, I just wish we had a better chance than "Stranger things have happened."

[RhodeIslandOne]

46. Meh. These states all have their own history and baked in demographics that make them what they are.

Iowa is not like Kentucky at all. They've voted for Democrats regularly for state and federal office which made Obama winning there no real surprise.

Kentucky would probably reject the greatest basketball player in Wildcats history if he had a D next to his name. Matt Blevin was a COMPLETE disaster and they still almost voted that shitstain back in.

I'm fine with Booker winning because he clearly has momentum that McGrath simply cannot muster.

[JonLP24]

51. Young Kentucky Voters Have Doubts About McConnell's Top Democratic Challenger, Amy McGrath

(Snip)

“She regularly has been tentative to express any explicit policy or stance, going for an anti-McConnell campaign rather than a pro-McGrath,” Byerman said.

Will Powers, 19, agreed that he had no idea what McGrath stood for, but rattled off some of the things she opposes, including Medicare for All and tuition-free college. “It’s hard to understand McGrath as a candidate beyond what she isn’t in favor of,” he said.

(Snip)

“I don’t feel the campaign has done a good job reaching out to young voters,” said Johnson. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with reaching out to older, more moderate voters. I just don’t think that should be the only demographic you talk to.” Johnson observed that the McGrath campaign events she’s seen publicized are often in the middle of the day, rendering them inaccessible for working people or student voters.

“For many people outside of Kentucky, they only know her name. They don’t even know there is a primary,” one Kentucky Democratic strategist, who spoke on background to maintain anonymity because of their position, told Teen Vogue. “I think in general at the state and federal level, the Democratic Party needs to do much more investing in the people that already agree with them. Democrats who don’t vote or people that are not registered but agree with Democratic values.”

(Snip)

Meanwhile, Powers, who moved to California for college, recalled introducing himself in class and a professor retorting, “You need to get that Mitch thing figured out in Kentucky.” “There’s this perception we all enabled Mitch, we all are complicit in his wrongdoings, but what’s truly enabled Mitch is the Democratic Party and the coastal elites ignoring our struggles in Kentucky until it’s an election year,” Powers told Teen Vogue. “Even more so now that the DSCC is endorsing her, it feels like ‘these rednecks in Kentucky can’t be trusted to make their own choices, so we will make it for them.’” People outside the state, Powers claimed, view McGrath as a savior, and while Powers said he’ll vote for her in the general if she’s the nominee, he doesn’t think she’ll win.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.teenvogue.com/story/mcgrath-mcconnell-kentucky-young-voters/amp

[Polybius]

62. Is there a link to Booker's positions?

I know he supports MFA and a Green New Deal, but what are his positions on guns, abortion, war, etc.?

[Polybius]

64. Crap, he's trailing again

81% of precincts reporting, it's Amy McGrath 43.5% to Charles Booker 40.9%.