So I'm gonna try not to preach. But first of all, I wanna say, how about that Kentucky? Kentucky. That's not just *** saying. That's *** rallying cry. It's *** declaration. It's an acknowledgment of our collective humanity. It's an understanding that together we are unstoppable. That together we can change the status quo, that together we can end generational poverty, that together we can heal. And oh my God. So I have my grandma's Bible. Y'all know, I swore in state house on my grandma's Bible. I keep my granddad's handkerchief in my pocket. And Crystal, you know, I got TJ's dog tag. And I got my 3 bosses up here with me. And uh I just wanna say I, I thank God for the chance to just walk in my purpose. Now they often say that faith is owned by one side of the aisle, but we're up here by nothing but faith. This is faith in action. And we're not using religion to manipulate and hurt people. We're leaning into faith as *** power of love to bring people together because we know that mountains still move. So I am proud to accept the nomination. I am proud. To be your Democratic nominee. For United States Senate. To finally replace Mitch McCon. We have been on *** journey together. This is more than *** race. This is more than *** title. Oh, it's so much more than an office. I have no intent to go to Washington to feel good about myself. This has been and it is *** mission. This has been *** journey about family. Not just us here in Kentucky, but as *** country. Finding our way back to each other. Finding our way back to hope. To love There's so much hate, there's so much division, so many people are hurting. And I, I'm doing this because I don't trust politicians. I don't, I don't come from *** political background. I just knew that if these folks make the decisions that impact our lives, we need to be in these spaces. So I dared to go on *** journey and you've been with me. We introduced something in 2020, and it's been *** little poetic today if y'all been watching the numbers. I just got *** phone call. I will return your call, Amy. I will. But in 2020, we introduced *** story. Black, uh, I was gonna say young black guy. I got grays in my beard now. *** black man from the hood, thirty-fifth and Market. Stepping up and leaning into faith to go up in the hollers. To tell *** story about family. That's not the political norm. We've been, we've made to believe that we're enemies. That our problems are, are amongst each other, that we should look at one another and point the finger, all the while we're all being screwed. And because we lean into faith. We shocked everybody. They didn't think something like this was possible in *** place like Kentucky, but it's places like Kentucky that make democracy real. It's places like Kentucky that show the power of humanity because we are hardworking, we are dependable, we are loyal, we are faithful. We may not trust the politicians, but when those storms come, we lean on each other, and it ain't about party, it's about us standing together. I knew that. You knew that. The pundits didn't see it. The polls didn't see it, but we dare to believe anyway. We didn't win in 2020. But we didn't stop because Doctor King said the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Let me qualify that if we are the arc benders. So we, Kentucky became the arcbenders. We cried for justice for Breonna Taylor. We cried for healing when the storms came. We locked arms and stood up in the face of hate. We kept organizing, providing mutual aid, showing what community is all about. And then in 22, we made history. I became the first black Kentuckian to be nominated for United States Senate. I'm taking you on this ride because this means something. Now, in the general. We didn't win at the ballot box in 22. Oh, we already won. You, you beat me to the punch line. But we, we laid some critical infrastructure. Because *** lot of people have given up on partisan politics. They feel like the party structure doesn't care about them, doesn't see them. *** lot of people don't vote. They feel like, what's the point? No one cares about me. I'm gonna just survive. We lit *** spark that inspired people to get involved, to find their voices, to run for office themselves, to be champions for working people. We kept fighting. And then I prayed. And uh went to therapy. *** lot of therapy. And I talked to my mom. Cause for the past few years, I've been working with Governor Andy Beshear. As *** director of faith-based and Community Initiatives. And we've done some incredible work. But I was behind the scenes, knowing that we're *** part of this movement that is needed now more than ever, and you all have been working. And I just knew my work wasn't done. So I decided to stop running from. My fears, it's scary to do this. I'm putting my heart out there. I'm not *** typical politician. What you get. This is the real me. My story is mine. And to do something this big. It, it calls on every part of you, your mind, your body, your spirit. I'm *** type one diabetic. And I didn't think That this moment would ever happen. I'm honest and if you have felt cynical and question whether things can change, I have felt that too. But I did what my mom taught me to do. Which is if I wake up, I'm getting back up. And what I need to say to you all more than anything is thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for showing what possibility looks like thank you for showing faith in action, thank you for inspiring me, thank you for fighting back, thank you for pushing back against hate, thank you for showing the power of love, thank you for standing with me. It's because of your support and your faith. That not only are we winning *** historic primary. But we're gonna win in November too. So I just wanna say this and I need you to help me spread the good news because when you got *** testimony, you gotta tell everybody you know. Kentucky is one of the most winnable races in the country. We are going to flip this seat, and when we flip this seat, we are going to flip the US Senate. And when we flip the US Senate, we're gonna lift up an agenda for working people. We're gonna fight to do the work of securing Medicare for all. We're gonna make sure that people have true living wages. We're gonna do the work. Of grabbing racism at the root. Oh, they don't zoom in. Cause we're not running away from the bigotry. We're not running away from the hate. We're not gonna let the wedges just drive us apart anymore. Because we have so much more in common than would would divide us. We're ready for this. So Tell everyone you know something different is happening. This campaign is *** testament to community. This is the power of people. I'm still the underdog. I'm gonna be outspent. We're winning *** primary. I was outspent in the primary. This was nothing but people power. And to win *** race like this at *** time like this in the world. It lets me know that light can still drive out the darkness. So if you are ready for real change, family. This campaign is for you. If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, this campaign is for you. If you want the government you pay for to work for you, this campaign is for you. If you're tired of seeing tax breaks to people like Elon Musk and you want investments in our community, this campaign is for you. If you're tired of endless war. This campaign is for you. And if you're ready to see *** future where our children can dream big. And surpass their dreams, and my daughters can get paid. An equal wage for the work they do. And the government will never take their bodily agency away. And the government won't discriminate against you because of who you love, the faith you practice, the color of your skin. This campaign Is for you. I love you and I thank God for the chance to stand by your side. And I know people may say with Charles. You're radical. You're this, you're that, I've been called so many things. Call me whatever you want. I'm standing for the people of Kentucky and we are not backing down. Andy Barr, you will not win. The politics of hate will not win. You're not gonna sell us out. We've had enough of that with Mitch McConnell. So I'm telling you plainly, we're coming for our seat. The website is Charles Booker.org. I'm gonna need your help. Because again, this is grassroots. So whatever you can invest. It isn't about *** campaign. This is about the healing we need. And um, no, I don't think the government is the answer to all the problems. But I know the government is *** big part of the solution. For the repair we need, for the justice we need, for the change we need, we must have *** US Senate that fights for us. I will be that senator for you. So one time. Tell me what democracy looks like. Tell me what democracy looks like.