(LEX 18) — Kentucky state Rep. Charles Booker has taken the lead in the state's U.S. Senate Democratic primary race.
Booker's closest Democratic challenger is retired Marine lieutenant colonel Amy McGrath. Whoever wins the primary race will take on Senator Mitch McConnell in November.
The numbers are coming in.
— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) June 25, 2020
What’s going on in Kentucky, you ask???
Something big.#ShockTheWorld pic.twitter.com/RD7kVaXzgQ
The below tally includes only votes that were cast in-person on Primary Day Tuesday plus some absentee ballots. Hundreds of mail-in ballots are still being counted.
Booker reacted to the news in a statement Thursday afternoon.
"We're going to have to wait a few days for final results, but we are fired up by what we're already seeing in the early returns. We feel like we're in a strong position to bring this home once every vote is counted," said State Rep. Charles Booker. "When we started this thing, we were down 50 points, up against a candidate with millions of dollars in the bank and all of Washington behind her.
"Now, thanks to a movement of Kentuckians fighting for a better future, we've proven that our state is ready for a new vision that leads with values. We've proven that you can only win with bold solutions that meet the scale of the challenges we face, whether it’s Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, or a universal basic income. We've already changed Kentucky for generations, and look forward to seeing the final results."
McGrath reacted to Kentucky's primary election on Twitter Tuesday.
Because of a record number of mail-in ballots, we won’t get official vote tallies from county clerks right away.
— Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) June 24, 2020
We're all eager to get results, but I am grateful for the extra effort and due diligence to make sure every voice is heard and every vote is counted. Thank you.
The race remains too close to call. Click here to see the results as they come in. Full results are expected to be posted by June 30.
