About this episode:
On Tuesday, Kentucky will hold its primary election after a month-long delay caused by COVID-19. County clerks have reduced the number of polling places by 95% and voters have requested a record number of absentee ballots.
The challenges to voting could have a major impact on the Democratic Senate primary, which has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. For the first time, state representative Charles Booker, a 35-year-old Black progressive, is polling ahead of his white moderate challenger, Amy McGrath. Both candidates are running for a shot at unseating Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the fall.
Host Trymaine Lee talks to Cassia Herron, Chairperson of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, about the influence of national protests on Charles Booker’s rise, the state of Kentucky politics, and the pandemic shaping how and if Americans vote.
Find the transcript here.
Further Reading & Listening:
- Tuesday’s primaries give progressives opportunities to make inroads
- Amy McGrath books big ad buy against Charles Booker as Senate primary heats up
- Charles Booker outpolls Amy McGrath in KY Dem. Senate primary
- Follow Tuesday’s primary results live on NBCNews.com