The forum was moderated by Bowling Green Daily News’ Managing Editor Wes Swietek.

Swietek said moderating forums such as the mayoral one is part of the Daily News’ 150-year-old mission of providing information to Bowling Green.

“I think it’s just an opportunity for the voters to see the people, the candidates, in person, hear their responses to questions that are pertinent to the community,” said Swietek.

Both candidates had two minutes to provide opening and closing statements and three minutes to respond to each question asked by the moderator.

In opening statements, Minter spoke first and promised to, “lead by listening,” and highlighted her past work with Governor Andy Beshear during her time as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Minter said the ultimate decision was between, “a politician who caters to insiders or a mayor who fights for us.”

Alcott’s opening statements focused on the work he’s done since his election as mayor in 2020.

“We’ve come through a lot the past few years. Come through COVID We’ve come through mask mandates. We’ve come through tragedies. We’ve come to tornadoes,” said Alcott.

Alcott also worked to distinguish himself as a leader, claiming Minter was an “activist.” Alcott said a leader gets fired if they make a mistake while an activist blames others.

When asked by the moderator what they believed the most pressing issue in Bowling Green is, both candidates pointed to infrastructural issues.

Minter said the biggest infrastructure issues in Bowling Green relate to housing and traffic. 

“The housing plan tells us that we needed to be adding 3000 units of housing in order to keep up with the pace for what we’ll need by 2025,” Minter said.

Minter said her housing plan would involve applying for grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She also said she would work with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the Homeless and Housing Coalition. 

Minter also said multiple citizens have complained about the traffic in Bowling Green. Specific complaints have been about traffic jams on main roads, such as Scottsville Road and Nashville Road, and unsafe roads through neighborhoods and near the 31-W bypass.

Alcott said that housing and traffic have gotten better under his mayorship. 

“I have worked hard for affordable housing. I work hard to get a homeless center. We have worked hard to build roads and to support police and to build new infrastructure.”

Alcott also said that as mayor he has expanded police infrastructure. “We have actually increased their [police] pay to 63k with benefits, and we have closed those 24 [vacant police] positions and then added 16 more positions on top.”

Minter said that during her time in the Kentucky House of Representatives, she also worked to better police pay and benefits.

“I prioritize paid high pay for state troopers and making sure that our first responders had mental health leave after a trauma panic event like our tornado,” said Minter

The topic of infrastructure led candidates to the topic of the tornado that touched down across Bowling Green, in December 2021. 

Minter leveled accusations against Mayor Alcott saying that while she was working with the state legislature she was unable to contact him about financial aid efforts.

“I was not able to deal directly with the mayor during the tornado recovery, relief and recovery process, because you didn’t respond to my emails, and I had money that the governor had made available through the state fund,” said Minter.

In response, Alcott said, “When you’re answering about 30 texts and 30 conversations about every 30 minutes during the crisis, email is not a priority.”

To Alcott’s response, Minter pushed back and said that the funds she was referring to became available in March of 2022 after the initial crisis.

Swietek also asked the candidates how they plan to vote on Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment allowing laws to be passed to provide state funding to private schools.

Alcott answered, “I know personally what I’m gonna vote, and that’s between me, God and a voting booth.”

Minter said she would be voting no, claiming the amendment would defund schools and transfer wealth from poorer regions of Kentucky to the more wealthy ones.

“[Amendment 2] is just a transfer of wealth to Covington, Lexington and Louisville,” said Minter.

Candidates were asked to provide their thoughts on a Bowling Green “fairness ordinance.” Swietek said the ordinance is a proposed addition of sexual preference and gender identity protections to the city’s civil rights legislation. 

Alcott outlined a case between Lexington and a T-shirt company after the implementation of a fairness ordinance. Alcott claimed that this case cost the city of Lexington $500,000.

“It was unconstitutional because it was not fairness, it was critical and an illusion that lost their constitutional rights because of a city fairness ordinance,” said Alcott.

Minter said she was in support of a Bowling Green Fairness ordinance. She said that since 1999, 24 cities, towns and counties in Kentucky have implemented fairness ordinances with no issue.

Minter also told Alcott, “You don’t want to pass a fairness ordinance because you clearly don’t want to stop discrimination.”

The candidates concluded the forum with their closing remarks.

Alcott emphasized service to Bowling Green. “Serving this community has been the greatest experience of my life.”

Minter emphasized change and new ideas, “I’m offering a different path.”

News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at anthony.clauson994@topper.wku.edu.

Patti Minter, a candidate for Bowling Green mayor and WKU history professor,  hosted a fundraising event Monday night at OneRoof Event Space. 

Minter spoke to supporters about her bid for mayor alongside Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Together, they worked to rally support, funds and encouraged voters to spread the word in the campaign.

Among his praises of Minter, Beshear said, “She’s a leader and she’s been a leader on policy, she understands Frankfort in ways that few mayors do.”

Minter touched on topics of public safety, inclusion and “smart growth” during her speech. She referenced her time as a member of the General Assembly representing Bowling Green as a way of proving her dedication to the community.

“I was honored as a state representative to vote for legislation to raise the pay for State Troopers,” Minter said during her speech “I was proud to co-sponsor and vote for a bill to give mental health leave to our first responders and police after a traumatic event.”

Minter and Beshear expressed that WKU and Bowling Green alike need to work hard in order to be welcoming places for all people. Minter said that under her leadership, a diverse and inclusive Bowling Green is an obtainable goal.

“When we elect people that care when they’re not just strong and tough like Patti is, but when they have empathy,” Beshear said in his speech. “When they truly care about their fellow human being, that’s when you see great things happen.”

“Patti supports everyone,” Beshear later said during an interview with the Herald. “She supports equal rights for everyone.” 

Minter’s stance on inclusivity was an important sentiment among her supporters at the fundraiser. Several of the attendees found policies surrounding diversity to be a major reason for their backing of Minter.

“She’s just very inclusive and that’s one of the main reasons that I love her,” Lu Meh, a sophomore double majoring in legal studies and criminology double major, said. “She’s not just thinking of the majority, she’s also thinking of everyone who isn’t always considered.”

A major point of the night was Bowling Green’s infrastructure and Minter’s plan for what she calls “smart growth.”

“We have to create more affordable housing for students,” Minter said, insisting that through her work both at WKU and within the community, she knows how to organize infrastructural changes.

On this point, Governor Andy Beshear said, “We need to be taking advantage of economic development, and we’ve got to be welcoming to the entire rest of the world.”

Minter also used “smart growth” as an example of her opponent’s shortcomings.  Minter accused Todd Alcott of taking large donations from real estate developers in exchange for favors within City Hall. 

“My opponent is out-raising us with money from developers, from folks who want to make sure that their skin is in our game in City Hall,” Minter said. “I’m not a good ol’ boy and I am not in anybody’s pocket.”

During an interview with the Herald, Minter explained more the distinction of not being a “good ol’ boy” while still being a team player and said, “I’m ready to listen and learn.”

Governor Andy Beshear echoed this point, “She’s had to work with different parties. She’s had that training and she’s ready to put it to work. “

Minter also outlined how there are several government grants that she wants to push Bowling Green to become eligible for. These grants require the addition of protections for sexual orientation and gender identity under Bowling Green’s already existing non-discrimination ordinance. According to Minter, simply four words and a comma would provide the city of Bowling Green with more money to put toward affordable and available housing developments

Aside from political allies, Minter garnered a great deal of praise from her supporters in attendance. Votes were won for reasons as simple as “she’s a Democrat,” from supporter Samir Rastoder, 53.

Other supporters such as Lee Coleman, 68, have followed Patti Minter throughout multiple public offices.

“I followed what she did as working with the state as a representative and thought she’s done a good job,” Coleman said.

Lee Coleman continued, “I know she’s a good person and she’s looking the best for Kentucky.”

News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at anthony.clauson994@topper.wku.edu. 

Alcott, a third-generation graduate of WKU, was elected mayor in 2020 and, according to his campaign website, has brought a “wealth of leadership and global perspectives to his local government role.”

He said that, if re-elected, he would solve downtown parking, implement more roundabouts, open a mental health facility with Lifeskills and create an ADA-accessible park. Alcott said he wants the park to include whitewater rapids for patrons to canoe, kayak and tube on.

Paul endorsed Alcott during his speech, saying that Bowling Green is “in the midst of an enormous, successful story.” 

“Todd was a great leader to have,” Paul said. “I think he’s a friend of business, a friend of progress and I’m proud to endorse Todd Alcott.”

Alcott referred to the mayoral election as “the most partisan race” he had ever witnessed in Bowling Green during his speech.

“They’re trying to take away the freedoms that we have constitutionally, the freedoms that we have for all sexes […],” Alcott said. “You ask me, as the mayor, who I treat fairly. We treat everybody fairly.”

Alcott said the city government needed to focus on police, fires, roads, recreation and public works in city parks rather than “getting involved in the national government or the constitution.” 

In an interview, Alcott told the Herald that homelessness is growing nationwide. He said he does not believe this defines Bowling Green’s culture, but he does want to address the issue.

The “first collaborative non-profit center” for homeless people in Bowling Green opened earlier Thursday, according to Alcott. The center has showers, laundry and six collaborative offices that can house up to 18 to 24 different non-profits, all working under the same roof, he said. According to Alcott, there are currently five non-profit organizations apart of the center, including Goodwill, Salvation Army, Room in the Inn, HOTEL INC and Lifeskills.

Alcott also endorsed Sue Parrigin, Melinda Hill and John Adams as city commissioners, encouraging attendees to vote for the candidates on Election Day.

“Bowling Green needs them,” Alcott said. 

Amanda Klineline, a campaign volunteer for Alcott, told the Herald she knows the Alcott family personally and believes they are wonderful people. 

“I think that they [voters] should look at the things that Mayor Alcott has done so far and his service to Bowling Green,” Klineline said. “I think that if they look at those things, they’re going to see that he has accomplished a lot and that he has done a lot more.”

Semir Nailovic, an event attendee, said he believes Alcott’s values may align with his own values about the Bosnian community. Nailovic said he wanted to get the Bosnian community more involved in volunteering in politics to understand more about themselves. 

Bosnian communities in different cities always speak of how welcoming Bowling Green is when they visit, according to Nailovic. 

Nailovic said he believes Alcott deserves the credit for making Bowling Green such a welcoming city for the Bosnian community, even if Alcott does not take that credit himself. 

“Bowling Green has been the most welcoming city now in America,” Nailovic said. “Now it’s our job to do our part as the younger generation and support him.”

News Reporter Abigail Vickers can be contacted at abigail.vickers153@topper.wku.edu.

This race will decide the fate of many hot button issues in the state of Kentucky. On the ballot this November is an anti-abortion amendment to the Kentucky state constitution, according to Kentucky Health News. This is leading to many people focusing on judicial elections – even if they were not previously.  

Political fundraising for judicial races is being used in a new way. There have been PACs active in the state of Kentucky to back more “conservative” judges and their campaigns, according to the Courier Journal.  

One PAC spending money in the Kentucky Supreme Court race is Fair Courts America. Their documentation of their 12-page plan to get certain judges elected has been removed from their website since the publication of the Courier-Journal article examining this PAC.  

The group plans to spend over a million dollars in Kentucky on the election. This PAC has targeted both the 6th and 2nd district Supreme Court races. Bowling Green is part of Kentucky’s second district.  

Joe Fischer, who is running on a nonpartisan ballot in the Sixth District and has served as a representative in the Kentucky House of Representatives, has been criticized for his partisan speech and self-describing as a Republican, even if he is not running as one on the ballot. He is being financially backed by Fair Courts America as reported by the Courier Journal.

Fair Courts America is “committed to standing against this tide, uniting voters across the political spectrum, and restoring America’s courts to their original purpose”, according to their website. They say that “progressive activists” are seeking to take control of the courts away from the American people.

This group’s activity in the Kentucky Supreme Court race shows that the nonpartisan nature of the court system can be called into question. Potential Supreme Court justices are using parties to describe their policies and goals.

Shawn Marie Alcott is on the ballot for Kentucky Supreme Court. She is the sister-in-law of Bowling Green mayor Todd Alcott and is being backed by Fair Courts America. Alcott served as an Assistant Warren County Attorney and advised the Warren Fiscal Court. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and got her law degree from the University of Kentucky. 

Her competitor is Kelly Thompson, a WKU alumnus. He was elected to serve as a judge on the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 2006. He has been certified as a civil trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He also received his law degree from the University of Kentucky.

Alcott’s current practice focuses on healthcare law. She is active in both the Warren County school system and has advised several city and county governments. According to her election website she “is familiar with the regional challenges that stem from healthcare, unchecked crime, business, education, and the issues that impact our elected officials.”

Both candidates are active in the Bowling Green community.

News reporter B Turner can be reached at abigail.turner870@topper.wku.edu.

Yates currently holds the position of county clerk and represents the Republican party, whereas Blissett is the Democratic candidate.

A county clerk handles driver licenses, record upkeep, filing deeds, mortgages and even marriage licenses. Everything goes through them, but the majority of their work is centered around keeping records in all of these circumstances.

“My goal is to provide exemplary customer service to all residents in Warren County,” Blissett said. “With my years of management experience and the knowledgeable staff we will make a visit to the clerk’s office less stressful.” 

Blissett hasn’t held office before, but says it is important for him to “because I want to bring positive change to Warren County.”

Blissett is passionate about making voting available and convenient for the residents of Warren County. Additionally, Blissett wants to encourage young changemakers. 

“To young changemakers, have faith in your abilities. Always keep positive thoughts and attitude, stay strong in your faith and beliefs. Listen to advice and be respectful.”

Yates is passionate about restoration of the records in Warren County. 

“We have several different records and the restoration of those books is very important,” Yates said.

Yates also shared advice for young changemakers, saying “Get involved, and volunteer!” 

In his closing remarks, Blissett chose to express his gratitude to all the people he has met on his campaign.

“I regret not being able to ask each and every citizen in Warren County for their vote,” Blissett said. “I have met so many friendly and wonderful people during my campaign, and I look forward to meeting many more. Please vote!” 

Yates finished out her remarks encouraging students to get involved in their “new” community.

“I’d love to see more students from Western involved in the community because with this being a college town, a lot of them may decide to stay here,” Yates said.

Yates can be reached at lynette.yates@ky.gov and Blissett can be reached at info@voteblissett.com. 

SGA reporter Bailey Reed can be reached at bailey.reed704@topper.wku.edu.

The district includes cities like Owensboro, Elizabethtown, Glasgow and Bowling Green. It covers a population of 778,648.

The race has the ability to affect the balance of the House of Representatives. Republicans need to gain a net of six districts in order to achieve the majority. 

Brett Guthrie

Guthrie has served in the House of Representatives for District 2 since 2008 and has served in public office since 1998. In office, he serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the Communications and Technology Subcommittee and the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee.

Guthrie’s platform contains goals like helping Kentuckians find jobs, financial literacy for students and energy independence for the U.S.

He is co-chair of the Congressional Apprenticeship Caucus, which works to see how Congress can help support apprenticeships to aid in workers learning “on the job.”

Guthrie hopes to increase financial literacy for college students and their families so they can better understand financial commitments they make.

“I have supported legislation to help student borrowers better understand their financial obligations by receiving comprehensive counseling services,” Guthrie’s website states. “Towards that bigger goal, I have also supported the bipartisan Net Price Calculator Improvement Act. This bill would provide better access and transparency for prospective students and their families to compare the cost of attending an institution of higher education.”

According to his site, Guthrie believes the U.S. should stay independent when it comes to where the country gets its energy sources.

“I am a member of the Conservative Climate Caucus and think that climate change is a real and serious threat,” Guthrie’s website states. “However,  I do not believe that radical solutions proposed in the Democrats’ “Green New Deal” are the solution.”

One of Guthrie’s other main goals is to halt the opioid epidemic that affects many Kentuckians. He has introduced a law to establish a grant program for facilities to “offer all evidence-based treatments and FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder”.

The Herald reached out to Guthrie for an interview but received no response. For more information on Guthrie’s platform, visit his website.

Hank Linderman

Linderman’s platform focuses on striving for equality, socially and economically, in order to create change in healthcare, employment, education and climate change.

Linderman said he believes more working people need to be in government positions, which is one of the reasons he himself is running. Before running as a political candidate, Linderman worked in the music industry as a recording musician. 

He also said at the base of working on current political issues is first tackling inequality and division. Linderman said division increases corruption in political systems, which then increases inequality.

“I think that ultimately, if we’re going to solve problems, we’ve got to rely less on ideology and more on collaboration, not compromise so much as collaboration,” Linderman said. 

Linderman describes himself as a “progressive, pragmatic populist.”

“To me, populism is social and economic change from the grassroots up, it can be [on the] left or right,” Linderman said. “It doesn’t matter [which party], but it’s from the people. Right now, neither one of our parties is connected to the grassroots.”

Part of his platform is also concerned with bringing a political connection to working people and rebuilding industrialization that was lost during COVID-19.

“We have this opportunity, as we re-industrialize, we treat working people properly and allow them to share in the prosperity that is sure to come,” Linderman said. “We have a chance of rebuilding a vibrant, working middle class from when our country was strongest.”

Linderman said if he is elected, he will commit to serving no more than three terms, seeing himself as a “transitional figure” to more diverse political leadership. He also spoke actively on his pro-choice stance on the right to abortion.

For more information on Linderman’s platform, visit his website.

Content editor Alexandria Anderson can be reached at alexandria.anderson337@topper.wku.edu.

Incumbent and Democratic nominee Patti Minter and Republican nominee Kevin Jackson will face off for the position.

In January, Kentucky was redistricted, establishing a new congressional map, despite Governor Andy Beshear vetoing the bill. District 20 resides within Warren County. Before redistricting, it consisted of much of central Bowling Green, but has since been pushed farther south.

Patti Minter

Minter has represented District 20 since 2019, as well as teaching at WKU for 29 years. Her platform includes fighting for affordable healthcare, good-paying jobs, public education, workers’ rights, safe and affordable homes, steady retirement, common sense drug policies and equality for all, according to her website.

Minter said she is thankful for what she has achieved during her first two terms and hopes to continue working towards legislation benefiting her key issues.

Minter said she is most proud of the passing of 2021’s House Bill 95 that cut the cost of insulin to $30 for a 30 day-supply for those in-state and state regulated plans.

“When I’m reelected, I would like to finish this work by passing another insulin bill that will expand it to cover uninsured people and people on self insurance plans that are not currently covered by this law,” Minter said. “My goal is to ensure access to insulin for all people. But I’m also passionate about improving access to prescription drugs and having more affordable prescription drugs.”

Minter strongly believes that access to healthcare is a basic human right and the issue is one of her main passions. Minter also explained she was proud of a bill she originally introduced in 2020 as the “student loan borrowers bill of rights”, with the first half passing in the last session and another law signed into law by the governor that “regulates student loan processors in the state for the first time.”

“So now we have oversight over shady loan processors, and I’m currently working with administrative officials to write many of the provisions of my original student loan borrowers bill of rights into law through administrative regulation,” Minter said. “We’re starting to see that that’s coming to fruition as well.”

She believes her platform is important to college students because she understands what college students go through daily since she is a long-term member of the university community.

“This is something that I know well,” Minter said. “It’s what I’ve done for my entire professional life, and I will stand up and show up for you as a lawmaker. I voted ‘yes’ to funding higher education at a greater level for the first time since 2007. And that was a start. It’s not a finish. It’s a start. I’ll continue to do that, again, helping student borrowers who are struggling under crippling debt that compromises other life decisions they would be able to make later.”

Minter was also proud to have worked with Gov. Beshear to provide more good-paying jobs in Warren County. She explained another aspect of this is providing affordable housing to students who decide to stay in Bowling Green and once those jobs are filled, affordable housing is available. 

A main issue she has addressed within District 20 specifically is the legalization of medicinal marijuana. 

“I have voted ‘yes’ twice on medicinal marijuana,” Minter said. “The bill has died in the Senate both times, but I will continue to advocate that, to fight for it and to support it because it helps so many people who deal with health, PTSD, anxiety and there’s no reason [not to] at this point. The science is there.”

Minter has also been the primary sponsor for the statewide fairness bill, which guarantees the right to quality of access in housing, employment and public accommodations regardless of who they are or who they love. 

“I have long supported a fairness ordinance in Bowling Green,” Minter said. “[…] 24 cities in Kentucky already have that. It’s time for Bowling Green to be the 25th, but it’s also time for the entire state of Kentucky to make sure that equal rights are available. I always like to say ‘y’all means all’, and I mean that.”

Minter’s platform is focused on a variety of other issues as well, such as her passion for the funding of public education and adequate teacher compensation. She also values her role in negotiating the tornado recovery bill, in which recovery money will continue to come to Warren County until 2026.

Kevin Jackson

Jackson worked in the Warren, Barren and Edmonson county school systems for 32 years and currently works as a financial consultant in Bowling Green. His platform focuses on economic policy, workforce participation, infrastructure, public safety, education and limited government, according to his website. 

It is this experience in the workforce that has led him to his key values as a candidate.

“I am a candidate that plans to govern from the middle,” Jackson said via email. “From my experience, people are tired of the yelling from the far right and the far left and getting nothing done for them. I’m a middle class American with middle class family values. I’m a WKU graduate, a retired educator, husband, father and grandfather of four beautiful little ones. My goal is to keep Bowling Green and Warren County a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

One of Jackson’s core concerns is workforce participation. He stated that currently, 40% of work age adults in Kentucky are not working, and this is something he plans to tackle if elected.

“There are thousands of new jobs coming to the BG area, but without qualified employees willing to work these jobs will go elsewhere,” Jackson said via email. “We’ve got to come together and help people get back to work with the South-Central Workforce Development Board, Kentucky Career Centers, educators and business leaders.”

Another focus of his platform is education. He has given his life to education with his 32 years as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor, as well as serving on the Warren County School Board for the past four years.

“I have the experience needed to represent you in Frankfort,” Jackson said via email. “ I’ve had a seat at the table creating a $220 million dollar budget, and if elected I will have a seat at the table in Frankfort when important decisions impacting Bowling Green and Warren County are made. I have a pretty good feel for education, and we are lucky to have two great K-12 school systems, WKU and the South-Central Kentucky Community and Technical College, and they deserve a representative who will be supportive of their needs to help better prepare students for the many job openings in our area.”

Jackson also described his goal of increased public protection and support if elected. 

“Support for law enforcement and first responders are critical for a safe community,” Jackson said via email. “We saw the importance of these brave men and women during the tornado of 2021. There is nothing more important than the safety of our kids and grandkids.”

Jackson expressed excitement for his campaign and referenced his personal journey during the race.

“We are very excited about how our campaign is going,” Jackson said via email. “The 43,000 people in District 20 deserve someone in Frankfort who will have a seat at the table when important decisions are being made that affect our community. When I started this journey, I knew campaigning would test me mentally, physically, and spiritually, and it has. My wife, Debbie and I have met so many good people along the way.” 

He also stated his hopes for District 20 to give him their vote.

“We look forward to election day on November 8th and ask everyone that wants a candidate that will fight for them with honesty and integrity to Vote for Kevin Jackson,” Jackson said via email.

Content editor Alexandria Anderson can be reached at alexandria.anderson337@topper.wku.edu.

Currently, the Democratic Party controls the Senate by a very thin margin with the chamber seats falling 50-50 to senators of both parties. Vice President Kamala Harris (D) is the tie-breaking vote, giving Democrats effectively a 51-50 majority.

Thirty-five of the 100 seats of the Senate are up for election this November, including one special election in Oklahoma. Fourteen of those 35 are currently filled by Democrats; 21 Republican-held seats are also up for election.

The Republicans can win the majority if they take one seat currently held by a Democrat while also holding on to all the Republican seats.

With the balance of the senate hinging on these 35 senate elections, there are many notable races to keep an eye on – from Georgia and Texas to Arizona and Florida. 

Kentucky is also holding a notable Senate election between incumbent Rand Paul (R) and Charles Booker (D).

“[I]n every election every year, this year, and past years, it’s great to have terrific candidates,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said on Sept. 28 at the U.S. Capitol. “We’re in a bunch of close races. I think we have a 50/50 shot of getting the Senate back. It’s going to be really, really close either way, in my view.”

Paul, who is seeking his third term in the Senate, is a Libertarian-leaning Republican who won his May primary against five challengers. He defeated his challengers by receiving 86.3% of the vote, or 328,202 votes in total, according to data acquired by Ballotpedia. The remaining 13.7% was divided among the challengers, the highest of whom received only 3.6%.

Paul was first elected senator in 2010. He also ran unsuccessfully in the 2016 presidential primaries against fellow Republican Donald Trump.

“Dr. Paul has proven to be an outspoken champion for constitutional liberties and fiscal responsibility,” Paul’s Senate website states. “As a fierce advocate against government overreach, Dr. Paul has fought tirelessly to return government to its limited, constitutional scope. As a hard-working and dedicated physician – not a career politician – Dr. Paul came to Washington to shake things up and to make a difference.”

On the issues, such as abortion, healthcare and economic issues, Paul follows the values of the Republican Party. 

According to his website, he is “100% pro-life,” co-sponsoring numerous bills aimed at protecting the unborn including the Protect Life Act, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act. 

“I believe that life begins at conception, and the role of government is to protect the life and liberty of all Americans, born and unborn,” Paul said. “Overturning Roe v. Wade was a positive step in that direction. Now, state legislatures are empowered to use the democratic process to protect the life of unborn individuals.”

In terms of healthcare, Paul is against “Obamacare” that has “driven up” medical costs and led to over regulations.

“As a physician, I know firsthand the challenges facing families in getting the care they need in a broken healthcare marketplace,” Paul said. “Unfortunately, Obamacare has made the situation worse, driving up costs and limiting choices for millions of American families. I believe Obamacare should be repealed and Congress should legalize health care freedom and choice. Specifically, people should be free to choose the health care that best meets their needs and budget, not what is decided for them by Washington. health expenses by removing the high-deductible insurance policy requirement to access to Health Savings Accounts.”

Paul believes in a free market, where competition drives choices and prices, rather than the central government.

“Simply put, I believe that market forces like competition and free choice lead to the most efficient allocation of resources and bring costs down for you, the consumer,” Paul said via email. “We’ve seen the disastrous consequences of Democrat attempts to centrally plan our economy. Thanks to their socialist agenda, prices have soared to historic highs at the gas pump and in the grocery store.”

His challenger is former state lawmaker and Louisville-born Charles Booker, who returns after his unsuccessful Senate bid in 2020 against Amy McGrath (D). 

Booker clinched his May primary by defeating three primary opponents with 211,047 votes, 73.1% of the total available.

Booker, a progressive Democrat, supports such policies as healthcare for all, a fully-funded public school system and a universal basic income.

“We’re actually going to lean in [to progressiveness],” Booker said in an interview on Kentucky Educational Television earlier this year. “This is not a time to be moderate. You cannot moderately put a fire out. We’re going to be bold in fighting for Kentucky, and the results are going to show that is how you win.”

A Type 1 diabetic himself, Booker believes the senate should pass Medicare for All that would “create a healthcare system that provides affordable care to every American.”

“He believes that no one should die because they don’t have money to pay for life-saving medication a conviction that he gained from being in the position of choosing between buying groceries for the week or refreshing his supply of insulin,” Booker’s website states.

He has also taken a hard stance on public education, hoping to offer universal childcare, free college and support student debt cancellation, something President Biden began earlier this year.

“In the wealthiest country on earth, teachers should not have to dip into their own bank accounts to pay for supplies,” Booker’s website states. “Families should not have to pay thousands of dollars for childcare, and students should not have to go into extreme debt to access higher education.” 

Lastly, among the numerous issues listed on his website is his support for a Universal Basic Income, a solution to the high poverty rates seen throughout the Commonwealth.

“Kentuckians helped build this country,” according to the website. “Yet one out of every five residents in Kentucky live in poverty, and too many Kentuckians are trapped in low-wage jobs that don’t provide enough to meet their basic needs. As a result, Kentucky is home to five of the top  10 poorest counties in the U.S., and has a higher poverty rate than 47 other states in the nation.” 

This, Booker says, can help end generational poverty and serve as an economic “lifeline” to struggling families.

Paul and Booker will face off on Nov. 8. Paul is favored to win the election with Paul polling above Booker by 6%, according to a Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy poll.

The Kentucky Senate election, and the Commonwealth, are deemed to be safely Republican, according to Race to the WH. Though, according to the same poll, the Democrats are projected to hold on to the chamber over Republicans 62.63% to 37.37%.

Administration reporter Michael Crimmins can be reached at michael.crimmins416@topper.wku.edu.