>> Renee: AT THE HEIGHT OF NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATIONS FOR RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE LAST YEAR, CHARLES BOOKER EMERGED FROM AN UNSUCCESSFUL BID FOR U.S. SENATE AS THE CREATOR OF A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT CENTERED ON PROGRESSIVE IDEAS, THE LIKES KENTUCKY HAD NEVER SEEN.

FROM THE HOOD TO THE HOLLER WAS CHARLES BOOKER'S CAMPAIGN MESSAGE AND IS SOON TO BE MISS MEMOIR AND IT'S DEFINITELY A MOVEMENT.

WHAT IS HE UP TO NOW AND WHEN WILL HE STEP BACK ON THE POLITICAL STAGE?

I'LL ASK HIM.

HOPEFULLY HE'LL ANSWER NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

CHARLES BOOKER REALLY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.

HE IS AWE LIEVILLE NATIVE TRYING TO REVOLUTIONIZE PARTY POLITICS IN KENTUCKY.

A LONG SHOT CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR U.S. SENATE LAST YEAR, BOOKER GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION AND TRACTION FOR HIS MESSAGE THAT RESONATED WITH BOTH URBAN AND RURAL KENTUCKIANS, STIRRED UP BY POLICE INVOLVED KILLINGS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS; FAMILY BREONNA TAYLOR.

WILL Mr. BOOKER MAKE ANOTHER RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE IN KENTUCKY IN 2022 AND CAN HE REVOLUTIONIZE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN KENTUCKY LIKE STACY ABRAMS HAS IN GEORGIA?

A LOT TO ASK.

CHARLES BOOKER.

THANK YOU, FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> OF COURSE, RENEE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

9 BIG CONGRATULATIONS I WANT TO EXTEND TO YOU IS ON BEING A FATHER AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS YOU AND YOUR WIFE ARE EXPECTING.

AND I KNOW THAT YOUR LITTLE ONES ARE EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW MAYBE BAILEY BROTHER OR BABY SISTER.

>> YEAH, MY DAUGHTERS ARE SO EXCITED.

THEY'RE READY FOR ANOTHER BABY.

I'M HUMBLED, YOU KNOW.

BEING A DAD WAS THE BEST THING IN MY LIFE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WE WOULD HAVE A THIRD ONE COMING BUT EXCITED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO GET TO LOVE ON MY LITTLE ONES.

>> Renee: 2020-- >> AND TAKE CARE OF MY WIFE, TOO.

>> Renee: SEND MY CONGRATULATIONS ALONG WITH HER AND 2020 BEING THE YEAR IT WAS, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THIS KIND OF NEWS BECAUSE WE HAVE DEFINITELY FELT A LOT OF LOSS IN 2020 AND I WANT TO ASK YOU, JUST ABOUT HOW WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE RACIAL UNREST OF CASES OUTSTANDING, HOW DO YOU SUMMARIZE WHAT 2020 MEANT TO YOU AND HOW YOU LOOK FORWARD AND WHERE WE ARE NOW IN MARCH, THE SPRING OF 2021?

>> IT GAVE US A CHANCE TO LOOK THE ATRUTH.

IT ALLOWED US TO SORT OF PULL THE CURTAIN BACK AND BE INTROSPECTIVE AND TAKE IN A LOT OF THE INEQUITIES THAT FOLKS FROM MY COMMUNITY IN THE WEST END AND HOOD HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR GENERATIONS BUT A LOT OF FOLKS WERE REALLY DISCONNECTED FROM WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PANDEMIC THAT HAVE CRUSHED FAMILIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE HEIGHT OF RACIAL TENSION BECAUSE WHEN BREONNA' DOOR WAS KICKED IN, ALL OF OUR DOORS WERE KICKED IN.

IN THOSE MOMENTS YOU CAN FALL INTO THE CORNER, GIVE INTO FEAR, TURN AWAY, GIVE UP OR YOU CAN COME TOGETHER AND PUSH HARDER AND CAST A NEW VISION AND COMING INTO 2021, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

I AM SEEING A SENSE OF RESOLVE ACROSS KENTUCKY THAT GIVES ME HOPE.

PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY KNOW WE CAN WIN TOGETHER AND THEY KNOW WE NEED CHANGE, AND SO THEY'RE LEADING FOR IT AND I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT FROM THE HOOD TO THE HOLLER AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

>> Mr. BOOKER, I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO INTEREST VIEW A COUPLE TIMES RG DURING THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SEASON IN 2020, AND YOU REMEMBER A QUESTION I ASKED YOU ABOUT HAD WE NOT HAD THE BLEIONA TAYLOR-- BREONNA KILLING AND GEORGE FLOYD, HOW WOULD YOUR CAMPAIGN BE DIFFERENT?

IT SEEMED THE COLLISION OF THESE EVENTS AND WHERE YOU WERE COMING INTO YOUR OWN PROPELLED YOU NOT AS A POLITICAL STAR BUT SOMEONE DEVOTED TO A MOVEMENT AND THE LIKES OF JOHN LEWIS AND OTHERS SO SO WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR CANDIDACY IN 2020 AND PEOPLE MAY CALL IT UNSUCCESSFUL, HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE IT.

>> ON THE NIGHT THE ELECTIONS WERE COMING IN, I STOOD BEFORE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HERE, SOCIALLY DISTANCED WITH THE MASK ON, IN LOUISVILLE AND SPOKE TO FOLKS ACROSS KENTUCKY AND THE COUNTRY AND SAID THAT WE DID WIN.

WE WON SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ANY ONE ELECTION.

WE INSPIRED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT THINGS CAN BE DIFFERENT AND FOLKS THAT HAD NEVER VOTED BEFORE WERE BANGING ON THE DOORS TO VOTE.

PEOPLE THAT HAD VOTED FOR TRUMP, PEOPLE THAT HAD GIVEN UP, WERE REALIZING THAT IF WE FIGHT TOGETHER, IF WE LEAN INTO OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND NOT HATE AND DIVISION, IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE RACISM AND COME TOGETHER ANYHOW, THAT WE CAN DO BIG THINGS EVEN IN A PLACE LIKE KENTUCKY, ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE KENTUCKY.

AND THERE IS NO LOSS IN THAT.

IN FACT, DURING THE SUMMER, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, THE CALLS KEPT COMING IN SAYING WE CAN'T STOP.

WE HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING.

WE HAVE BEEN TRAINING.

WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVATING OUR VOICES ACROSS KENTUCKY.

LET'S KEEP GOING SO MY RESPONSE WAS, OKAY, LET'S DO IT.

AS AN ORGANIZATION TO TRAIN THE NEXT WAVE OF LEADERS.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.

>> Renee: THIS IS A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF SORTS?

>> 501 C 4, SO IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON PARTISAN POLITICS BUT FOCUSED ON THE POWER THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE AS PEOPLE, AS HUMAN BEINGS AND KENTUCKY YAPS TO NOT ONLY CHANGE SOCIETAL ISSUES AND CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IT'S REALIZING PEOPLE ARE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF DEMOCRACY.

THE VOICES OF PEOPLE IN THE FORGOTTEN PLACES, THE HOOD WHERE I'M FROM, THE HOLLERS IN APPALACHIAN AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, THE VOICES ARE THE PATH WAY TO THE FUTURE.

WE ARE LIFTING UP NEW LEADERS, TRAINING FOLKS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE DEMOCRAT PROCESS TO BE CITIZEN LOBBYISTS, AND IT IS THE KEY, I BELIEVE, TO ACTIVATING A NEW WAVE ACROSS KENTUCKY THAT WILL MEAN MORE PEOPLE ARE IN OFFICE THAT CARE ABOUT US, THAT WILL FIGHT FOR US AND NOT AGAINST US.

SO THIS IS THE KEY TO CHANGE AND I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE.

>> AS YOU RAN IN 2020 AND AS PART OF YOUR HOOD TO THE HOLLER GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN, AND THEN THIS ADVOCACY GROUP THAT YOU HAVE FOUNDED, THERE WERE SOME VERY PROGRESSIVE IDEAS, UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME, THE GREEN NEW DEAL, MEDICARE FOR ALL , THINGS THAT MAY SEEM, Mr. BOOKER, TO BE OUT OF TOUCH WITH MANY KENTUCKIANS WHO MAYBE ARE STILL REGISTERED AS DEMOCRATS, BUT VOTE MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVELY ALONG THOSE REPUBLICAN IDEALS.

DO YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME WAYS TO BRIDGE WHAT MANY SEE AS A CHASM BETWEEN WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING AND A PROPONENT FOR VERSUS WHAT THE AVERAGE KENTUCKIAN WOULD TOLERATE AND EVEN VOTE FOR THEMSELVES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE MUCH MORE IN COMMON THAN WE DO OTHERWISE.

AND THERE ARE STRUGGLES THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE WEST END OF LOUISVILLE THAT ARE NOT PARTISAN, RATIONING MY INSULIN, SEEING MY LIGHTS BE CUT OFF, NOT HAVING A FLACE TO PLACE TO STAY, SEEING LOVED ONES BATTLE DRUG ADDICTION AND LOOKING AT JOBS LEAVING OUR COMMUNITY AND NEVER COMING BACK.

INTERNET BEING TERRIBLE, NOT HAVING ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE TO FEED YOUR CHILDREN.

THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE ALL OVER KENTUCKY FEEL AND WANT TO SEE CHANGED.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT POLICIES, IT'S NOT TO PLAY THE NATIONAL CLICHES OR CATCH PHRASES TO GO INTO CORNERS.

I'M LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

WHEN YOU GO TO EASTERN KENTUCKY AND SIT DOWN WITH THE MINERS, THEY TELL YOU THEY KNOW THE JOBS ARE NOT COMING BACK AND THEY'RE TIRED OF BEING IGNORED.

THEY WANT TO EXPAND INTO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND DO THINGS THAT THEIR FAMILY IS HEALTHY AND DRINK CLEAN WATER AND TAKE A SHOWER WITHOUT THE WATER IRRITATING THEIR SKIN.

WE SAY WE WANT A GREEN NEW DEAL.

WE WANT A KENTUCKY NEW DEAL.

WE WANT TO LEAD ON OUR FUTURE, CREATE MILLIONS OF SUSTAINABLE NEW JOBS, BUILDING BLOCKS TO CREATE WEALTH EVERYWHERE IN KENTUCKY.

SO A GUARANTEED ANNUAL INCOME, SOMETHING Dr. KING SPOKE ABOUT, THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE, THE ABILITY TO HAVE HEALTHCARE EVERY WHERE, NO MATTER THE ZIP CODE, THOSE THINGS ARE NOT PARTISAN.

WE HAVE JUST ALLOWED POLITICS TO DICTATE THE NARRATIVE AND MITCH McCONNELL AND RAND CALL TELL US WE ARE DIVIDED BUT WE ARE NOT.

WE ARE UNITED IN IN THE FIGHT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE AND TAKE CARE OF KENTUCKY AND I'M EXCITED TO TELL THEIR STORY.

>> Renee: I WANT TO CALL YOU REPRESENTATIVE BOOKER, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE IN THE KENTUCKY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND WE HAD THE DEBATES ABOUT INSULIN COSTS AND CO-PAYS AND SEEMS TO BE MAKING MORE TRACTION THAN IT DID WHEN YOU WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND YOU SPOKE HONESTLY ABOUT OR DEALING WITH DIABETES AND JUST AS YOU ALLUDED TO, COULDN'T AFFORD YOUR INSULIN, AND TALKING ABOUT HAVING A FAMILY MEMBER, I BELIEVE IT WAS A COUSIN, WHO DIED FROM GUN VIOLENCE.

I MEAN YOU HAVE BEEN VERY UP FRONT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STRUGGLES AND SO DO YOU THINK THAT KIND OF REMOVING THE WONKY POLICY TALK THAT SOMETIMES POLITICIANS FALL VICTIM TO AND MEDIA LOVES TO GET ENGAGED IN LIKE MYSELF, WHEN YOU JUST KIND OF DRILL THINGS DOWN TO THE BASIC COMMON DENOMINATOR, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT IS WHAT RESONATED WITH FOLKS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND ELSEWHERE WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT LIFE IS LIKE IN THE HOOD BUT THEY KNOW WHAT LIFE IS LIKE IN THE HOLLER?

>> I KNOW THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE.

ONE THING THAT UNITES US AS KENTUCKIANS WE GET IGNORED A LOT.

WE GET TALKED AT AND TALKED ABOUT BUT WE DON'T GET LISTENED TO AND WHEN I SHOWED UP EVERYWHERE ACROSS ACCOUNT CAN, EVEN IN SPACES WHERE I WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT LOOKED LIKE ME, I WOULD TELL MY STORY AND I WOULD LISTEN.

EVERY SINGLE TIME, IT NEVER FAILED WE WOULD SEE HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN COMMON.

NOW I THINK THE CHALLENGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST AS DEMOCRATS BUT AS KENTUCKIANS IS HOW DO WE BEGIN TO SEE ONE ANOTHER AGAIN?

HOW DO WE LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN THIS FIGHT TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN BE SAFE, CAN BE HEALTHY CAN BE SECURE IN THEIR HOME WHEREVER THEY ARE THOSE THINGS ARE NOT PARTISAN CHT AND I BELIEVE BY LEANING INTO A MESSAGE THAT IS POPULOUS IN A LOT OF WAYS, GIVES US A CHANCE TO BRIDGE A LOT OF DIVIDES BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP NOT BECAUSE OF THE RACISM HE WAS STOKING, NOT BECAUSE OF THE BIGOTRY AND HATRED BUT BECAUSE HE WAS ACKNOWLEDGING THEM IN WAYS THAT THEY FELT ABANDONED AND FORGOTTEN.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE COAL INDUSTRY AND SAYING HE WOULD BRING THE JOBS BACK.

HE WAS LYING BUT HE WAS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING AND SO HOW DO WE DO THAT BUT NOT LIE TO FOLKS.

HOW DO WE LISTEN TO THE CHALLENGES AND THE BATTLES THAT KENTUCKIANS ARE FACING AND SAY NOT ONLY DO I HEAR YOU BUT HERE IS HOW WE LEAD A PATH FORWARD.

I DO BELIEVE I WAS ABLE TO LEAN INTO A PLATFORM THAT SOME CALL PROGRESSIVE.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT.

I'M FIGHTING FOR KENTUCKIANS AND IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD MOMENTUM NOW.

HOOD TO THE HOLLER, WE HAVE OVER 11,000 VOLUNTEERS ACROSS KENTUCKY.

EVERY SINGLE COUNTY, EVERY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THAT ARE FIGHTING TOGETHER TO WIN A BETTER FUTURE, ADDRESSING FLOOD RELIEF FOR FOLKS ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY IN PARTICULAR TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO NEED RELIEF.

WORKING FOR BREONNA'S LAW WHICH SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE JUST FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

NO, WHEN HER DOOR WAS KICKED IN, EVERYBODY'S DOOR WAS KICKED IN AND WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE FROM EVERY PART OF KENTUCKY TAKE ACTION TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE IN THEIR HOMES.

WE CAN DO IT.

WE JUST HAVE TO GET PAST THE POLITICS AND SPEAK TO THE TRUTH AND LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER.

>> Renee: Mr. CHARLES BOOKER, YOU HAVE STARTED THIS ADVOCACY GROUP.

THERE IS A BOOK IN THE WORKS APPROPRIATELY NAMED.

MEMOIR FROM THE HOOD TO THE HOLLER.

SO THE OBVIOUS QUESTION IS WITH AN ADVOCACY GROUP, WITH A BOOK IN THE WORKS, ARE YOU LAUNCHING ANOTHER CAMPAIGN FOR EITHER U.S. SENATE OR MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE OR ANY OTHER POLITICAL OFFICE THAT I HAVE YET TO DESCRIBE?

>> FIRST LET ME SAY IT LIKE THIS.

MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO SING A SONG IN CHURCH THAT SAYS I'M RUNNING FOR MY LIFE MUCH AND IF ANYBODY ASKS ME WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME, IT'S THAT I'M RUNNING FOR MY LIFE.

SO AS LONG AS I WAKE UP IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, I'M GOING TO BE FIGHTING, RHYME GOING TO BE WEARING MY SHOES OUT AND I'M GOING TO BE GIVING IT ALL I HAVE TO MAKE THIS PLACE BETTER.

THAT'S WHY I GOT INTO POLITICS TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE I DON'T COME FROM POLITICS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, AM I GOING TO RUN FOR MAYOR.

AM I GOING TO RUN FOR SENATE.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

EVERYWHERE I GO THERE IS SOMEONE TO THE POINT OF TEARS SAYING WE NEED CHANGES AND ASKING ME TO RUN AND FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM NOW AND SAY HOW HUMBLED I AM THAT THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, THE PEOPLE FROM MY HOOD, MY CITY, SEE ENOUGH IN THIS KID FROM 35th AND MARKET TO SAY THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU CAME FROM, AND WHAT YOU EVERYBODY THROUGH, CHARLES, YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR US AND WE BELIEVE IN YOU AND WE WANT YOU TO BE A LEADER.

I PUT A LOT OF CONSIDERATION INTO THAT FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO ME AND I'M STRONGLY CONSIDERING A RUN FOR UNITED STATES SENATE IN 2022 BECAUSE I BELIEVE OUR WORK IS NOT DONE AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TELL A NEW STORY FOR KENTUCKY AND I WANT TO DO MY PART IN THAT SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS AHEAD FOR US AND I'M GIVING DUE CONSIDERATION TO OUR ABILITY TO TRANSFORM OUR FUTURE IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.

>> Renee: WHEN WILL YOU MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AND WHAT WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTORS FOR NEW WHETHER YOU ENTER THE RACE OR NOT?

>> ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED IN WORKING AS DIRECTOR OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND WORKED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, OF COURSE, EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, IS YOU PREPARE.

YOU KNOW, YOU MEASURE TWICE SO YOU CAN CUT ONCE IS ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS SAYS.

SO WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ORGANIZE.

I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KNOW THAT EVERY KENTUCKY RIPARIANS HEARD IN GENERAL, LET ALONE IN A CAMPAIGN SO I'M DOING MY RESEARCH AND DOING MY PLANNING RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO MAKE A MOVE, THAT WE DO IT RIGHT AND WE HONOR THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY AND WHATEVER I'M RUNNING FOR, AND WHEN I WAS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, MY WHOLE FAMILY WAS, TOO AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE ONE ON THE WAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M TAKING CARE OF MY FAMILY AND HAVING A PLAN WITH THEM BUT EVERYONE IS EXCITED.

EVERYBODY IS FIRED UP.

WE KNOW WE CAN'T SIT DOWN.

WE KNOW WE HAVE TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT TOGETHER AND WE WILL BE MAKING A DECISION REALLY SOON AND I'M EXCITED TO HELP SHARE THAT NEWS WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: SO WE CAN EXPECT THIS BEFORE YOUR THIRD LITTLE ONE ARRIVES IN TIME, DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE A FANCY FARM BUT THAT'S A GOOD TIME, THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST WHICH I THINK IS AROUND THE DUE DATE OF YOUR LOVELY WIFE IF NOT A LITTLE BIT AFTER THAT, BECAUSE IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, Mr. BOOKER AND YOU KNOW THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY BECAUSE YOU JUST GOT OUT OF A RACE, YOU KNOW, $90 MILLION, YOUR COMPETITOR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, YOU KNOW, HAD IN THAT RACE, RIGHT, AND STILL FELL SHORT FROM MITCH McCOMBY A SUBSTANTIAL MARGIN SO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IT IS GOING TO TAKE AND GETTING IN THE GAME SOON SO YOU CAN RAISE THAT KIND OF MONEY, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU.

YOU KNOW THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

DO YOU THINK TO THE TUNE OF THE SCORES OF MILLIONS.

TO STAY IN STRIKING DISTANCE OF MITCH McCOMLAST YEAR.

>> AN IMPORTANT POINT IS THE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR IN ANY PUSH FOR CHANGE IS HOW WE ACTIVATE PEOPLE.

THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO THAT.

MONEY CANNOT REPLACE PEOPLE THAT ARE FIRED UP WITH LOCKED ARMS AND PUSHING TOGETHER SO TO YOUR QUESTION, THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY ARE ABSOLUTELY READY TO MEET ANY DOLLAR AMOUNT, ANY AIM TO SATURATE THEIR VOICES BY FLOODING THE THE AIRWAVES.

WE ARE PASSED THAT.

WE'RE READY.

SO FOR ME IT'S A MATTER OF MAKING SURE THAT I DO MY PART AND I DO MY DILIGENCE TO LOCK ARMS WITH THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

THE EXCITEMENT IS REAL.

WE HAVE HAD FOLKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY LOOKING AT US AND ASKING WHAT DID WE DO IN A PRIMARY WHERE I WAS SEVERELY OUTSPENT, ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PRIMARIES IN OUR HISTORY.

WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW WHAT PEOPLE POWER LOOKS LIKE AND YOU SAW THE RUNOFFS IN GEORGIA WHERE FOLKS WERE TALKING ABOUT FROM THE HOOD TO THE HOLLER, AND WHAT WE ARE BUILDING IS REAL AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW ONCE AGAIN IN OUR WORK, WHETHER IT'S NEXT YEAR, THE REST OF MY LIFE, HERE IN KENTUCKY, THAT WE ARE LOCKED ARMS, UNIFIED AND WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY CORRUPT POLL SIGNIFICANTSES TRY TO THROW AT US.

>> YOU HAVE RULED OUT.

CAN I ASK THIS?

HAVE YOU RULED OUT LOUISVILLE MAYOR AS A POSSIBILITY.

NOW YOUR CONSIDERATION IS DISOALLY FOCUSED ON U.S. SENATE AND LAUNCHING A CAMPAIGN AGAINST RAND PAUL?

>> I HAVE AND YOU KNOW, THE REASON I FEEL SO SERIOUS ABOUT THIS WORK AT A STATEWIDE LEVEL MY WORK WITH HOOD TO THE HLER AND EVALUATING THE SENATE RUN IS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE IN MY COMMUNITY IN THE WEST END, IN LOUISVILLE AS A WHOLE, THEY SPEAK TO THE STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS MY PREVIOUS SENATE RUN GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION EVEN THOUGH FOLKS WERE TRYING TO SILENCE US.

I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES.

I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT POVERTY IN A GENERATIONAL SENSE.

RACISM AT A DEEP ROOTED STRUCTURAL LEVEL AND SAYING WE NEED REAL CHANGE RIGHT NOW AND THE PANDEMIC ALLOWED MORE PEOPLE TO SEE THAT I WASN'T JUST SHOUTING INTO THE WIND.

THAT I WAS ACTUALLY PROPOSING SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE SURE WE DON'T FACE THE TYPE OF PITFALLS AND TRAPS AND DEVASTATIONS THAT WE SEE IN THIS PANDEMIC HERE NOW AND SO, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO DO OUR DILIGENCE, TO LET THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY KNOW THAT WE ARE READY TO FIGHT TOGETHER, TO NOT JUST DEAL WITH ONE, BUT TO TRANSFORM OUR ENTIRE FUTURE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, AND SO, AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I'M DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE AND EXCITED TO SHARE MORE NEWS ON THAT IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS.

>> Renee: WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK IN THAT TIME.

YOU MENTIONED GEORGIA JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, Mr. BOOKER AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE DRAWN COMPARISONS TO YOU AND STACY ABRAMS AND THEY WONDER WHETHER YOU CAN LIGHT THE FIRE IN KENTUCKY THE WAY SHE LIT IT IN GEORGIA AND REALLY LED TO THE FLIPPING OF THOSE SEATS IN GEORGIA.

BUT OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, OUR POLITICAL DYNAMICS IN KENTUCKY HERE ARE DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THAN GEORGIA.

GEORGIA HAS A 33% BLACK POPULATION, 48% RACIALLY DIVERSE COMPARED TO KENTUCKY THAT HAS A 9% BLACK POPULATION AND 16% PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I MEAN THOSE ARE SOME WIDE DISPARITIES THERE.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY APPARATUS IS NOT WHAT IT IS IN GEORGIA.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE SOME OF WHAT STACY ABRAMS DID AND CAPTURE THAT MAGIC IN A BOTTLE AND SOMEHOW MANIPULATE IT WHERE THE FORMULA WORKS IN KENTUCKY?

CAN IT BE DONE HERE?

>> KENTUCKY IS NOT GEORGIA BUT WHAT GEORGIA HELPED US SEE IS THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE ANYWHERE BECAUSE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, NO ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT GEORGIA WOULD HAVE TWO DEMOCRATS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, ESPECIALLY IN A RUNOFF.

AND WE KNOW RUNOFFS ARE TIED TO STRUCTURAL RACISM.

AND WHAT I WANT TO SHOW HERE IN KENTUCKY IS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO FIND THE NEXT STACY ABE RAPS.

HIVE I'VE ABRAMS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF BRILLIANT PEOPLE THAT ARE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT THAT ARE LEADING FOR CHANGE ON THE GROUND FROM ASHLAND TO PADUCAH, AND SAYING THAT ALL WE NEED IS OUR LEADERS TO CATCH UP TO US.

ALL WE NEED ARE PEOPLE THAT EVER GOING TO BE IN ELECTED OFFICE TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT US AND TO FIGHT FOR US, NOT AGAINST US.

AND THAT'S WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

BEYOND ANY ELECTED OFFICE, I OR ANYONE ELSE WOULD BE IN, IT'S THAT WORK AND I BELIEVE THAT KENTUCKIANS ARE POISED TO SHOW AND SHOCK THE WORLD BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO TRANSFORM OUR FUTURE.

WE ARE GOING TO PULL UP THE ROOTS OF INEQUITY.

WE ARE GOING TO END POVERTY.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ACROSS KENTUCKY HAVE HEALTHCARE NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE FROM.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN HAVE A LIVING WAGE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO STAND UP FOR ORGANIZED LABOR AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FULLY AND EQUITIBLY FUNDED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE OUR CHILDREN DESERVE IT AND I'M EXCITED TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH TO SHOW WHAT LEADERSHIP IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THE YEARS TO COME.

>> Renee: I KNOW Mr. BOOKER THAT YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE COUNTERCAMPAIGN THAT WILL BE LAUNCHED AGAINST YOU AND THE NARRATIVES THAT YOUR OPPONENTS WILL LAUNCH SHOULD YOU ENTER THIS RACE.

WE CAN IMAGINE YOU BEING CALLED THE MOST PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PERSON IN KENTUCKY AND SHOTS OF YOU WITH NANCY PELOSI AND CHUCK SCHUMER AND AND ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THAT AND HOW DO YOU WANT TO TRY TO EXTRACT THAT FEDERALLATION OF THE RACE TO--ED IFIZATION OF THE RACE TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND HOW THEY RELATE DIRECTLY TO KENTUCKIANS ON THE GROUND?

WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY FOR THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU CAN UM FROM THE INSTRUMENTING 8, YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE DISRESPECTED, DISMISSED.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE TALKED ABOUT.

I'VE BEEN CALLED A LOT OF TIMES I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY I'M FIGHTING FOR KENTUCKIANS AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL HOLD TO AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ABOUT USE DON'T CARE WHAT NATIONAL FOLKS THINK OR WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT OUR LIVES AND OUR STRUGGLES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HERE.

WE ARE THE ONES GOING WITHOUT FOOD SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN LIKE MY MOM DID FOR ME WE ARE THE ONES FIGHTING AND SCRAPPING AND CREATING OUR OWN WHEN JOBS LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK AND SO THE WAY THAT WE BEAT THAT PERIOD IS BY LIFTING UP THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

WE DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY ENOUGH BUT WHEN WE DO, WE'LL FIND THAT STRENGTH, RESOLVE AND FIGHTING SPIRIT AND NOTHING CAN STOP US AND IT DID US NOT MEAN JUST ONE RACE.

IT MEANS EVERY RACE.

IT MEANS OUR FUTURE.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WHATEVER ANYONE THROWS AT ME BECAUSE I GOT THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY BEHIND ME.

>> Renee: AND SPEAKING OF THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN KENTUCKY, IT SEEMS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN KENTUCKY IS COMFORTABLE EMBRACING WHITE CENTRIST.

DO YOU BELIEVE IT WILL GET BEHIND YOU BECAUSE NOW YOU CAN BE CONSIDERED A FRONT RUNNER BECAUSE OF YOUR PREVIOUS RUN.

DO YOU BELIEVE YOU WILL GET THE SAME LEVEL OF BACKING IN STATE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF KENTUCKY CONSIDERING WHERE YOU STAND IDEOLOGICALLY ON ISSUE AND BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT THE WHITE CENTRIST CANDIDATE?

OR COULD BE NOT THE WHITE CENTRIST CANDIDATE?

I DO BELIEVE NOT JUST THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS, LIBERTARIANS ALL ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, WE ARE GOING TO SHOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHEN YOU FIGHT FOR PEOPLE AND SPEAK THE TRUTH AND LEAD WITH LOVE, NOT ONLY IS IT CONTAGIOUS BUT IT'S INEVITABLE.

WE ARE BUILDING A MOVEMENT THE.

THAT'S BIGGER THAN PARTY AND I THINK IT GIVES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THE CHANCE TO EMBRACE IT.

BUT IT GIVES EVERYONE THE CHANCE TO SEE THAT WE ARE DEMANDING REAL STRUCTURAL CHANGE BECAUSE WE WANT KENTUCKY TO BE BETTER.

WE JUST WANT TO BE SAFE IN OUR HOMES.

WE JUST WANT TO HAVE FOOD ON OUR TABLE.

WE JUST WANT TO BE OKAY.

THAT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT PARTY DOES WHAT BECAUSE I THINK EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS EVERY INSTITUTION, BOTH PARTIES, HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED ANYTHING NORRING A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AND IGNORING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A COALITION BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN OUR COMMONWEALTH.

THERE IS NO AISLE TO REACH ACROSS.

THERE IS NO DIVIDE.

WE HAVE UNIQUE STRUGGLES BUT WE ARE IN IT TOGETHER AND AS SOON AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, WE CAN DO BIG THINGS AND YES, THAT MEANS WE CAN SEND BLACK PEOPLE TO WASHINGTON.

WE CAN SEND THEM TO THE HALLS OF FRANKFORT AND LOCAL OFFICE.

WE CAN SEND FOLKS THAT ARE FROM APPALACHIA THAT WERE NEVER GIVEN A CHANCE, INTO POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP.

WE CAN SEND FOLKS FROM THE FOUR RIVERS COUNTED OUT AND TOLD THEIR VOICES DIDN'T MATTER, THEY WERE DISENFRANCHISED, SEND THEM TO THE HALLS OF LEADERSHIP, YES, WE CAN AND I'M PROUD TO HELP TELL THAT STORY AND WE ARE GOING TO.

>> Renee: FINAL QUESTION IN JUST A FEW SECONDS, Mr. BOOKER.

WHEN IS THE BOOK COMING OUT AND WILL IT BE TIMED WITH YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT FOR U.S. SENATE?

>> I AM AGGRESSIVELY WORKING ON THIS BOOK, IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE TO TALK ABOUT MY LIFE AND MY TESTIMONY WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE BOOK TO BE OUT LATER IN THE YEAR, EARLY 22.

SHARING INFORMATION AND DOING A TOUR TO TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL THERE IS A FULL LENDS DOCUMENTARY TO TALK ABOUT OUR HISTORIC RUN AND THE STORY OF HOW KENTUCKIANS FROM FORGOTTEN PLACES CAN LEAD THE CHANGE.

STAY TUNED AND I'LL GIVE YOU MORE UPDATES.

>> Renee: THE INVITATION IS ALWAYS OPEN.

THANK YOU CHARLES BOOKER FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WILL BE IN TOUCH, SIR.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THE LITTLE ONE ARRIVING SOON AND WE WILL BE IN TOUCH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING CONNECTIONS TODAY, MY PLEASURE TO HAVE BROUGHT THIS INTERVIEW TO YOU AND WE WILL KEEP THEM COMING.

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND WHAT IS GOING ON AT FRANKFORT AS WELL, CLORPG/PODCAST WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.