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Charles Booker is the progressive candidate facing off in the Democratic Kentucky primary against Amy McGrath. If he wins, he will face Mitch McConnell in the general election. Booker has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and many others. His wife, Tanesha Booker, has been supporting him every step of the way. In fact, it was a video she made in 2014 that helped propel him into politics. Here’s what you need to know about Tanesha Booker.
1. Charles & Tanesha Booker Celebrated Their 10th Anniversary This Month
Charles and Tanesha Booker just celebrated their 10th anniversary earlier this month. Charles posted about it on Facebook, writing: “10 years ago, Tanesha agreed to let me bug her the rest of our lives. I still don’t deserve her. Raising a glass to love on our anniversary.”
Here’s a photo he shared of their engagement:
On Twitter, he said that the ring he proposed with was his grandfather’s wedding ring for his grandmother, and his Uncle Will (who performed their wedding ceremony) was the first person to tell him to propose to Tanesha.
Charles often posts proudly about his wife on social media. For the post below, he wrote: “Fierce. Just call me, Tanesha Booker’s husband.”
2. She Volunteers with Her Church & Many Other Activities
Tanesha Booker is a Claims Analyst with Evolent Healthcare, EdTrust shared. She’s also an active volunteer in faith-based service. She’s served as the Vacation Bible School director for her church, Bates Memorial Baptist.
Tanesha led her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and is a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. As if all this doesn’t keep her busy enough, she also likes to try new recipes in her spare time and she’s a team member of The Education Trust.
3. Charles & Tanesha Booker Have Two Daughters
Charles and Tanesha Booker have two daughters they’re raising in Russell, Kentucky, according to his bio. Their daughters are Kaylin and Prestyn.
His bio notes that since they’re still paying off their own student loan debt, they’re already worrying about how they will pay for their daughters’ education.
Tanesha’s been very involved in her daughters’ lives, including serving as a parent representative at her daughter’s elementary school. She’s now a member of the PTA.
Charles Booker wrote on Twitter that they had agreed to give Kaylin a phone for Christmas if she got good grades, but he was worried he might one day get a call from her during a school shooting.
Here’s a photo he shared on Facebook with his wife, daughters, and his mom.
4. She Was in a 2014 Political Ad Where She Spoke Out Against Mitch McConnell & Charles Booker Lost His Job as a Result
In 2014, Tanesha Booker was interviewed for a political ad for Alison Grimes, which you can watch above. The ad was called: “Our Strength Is Our People: Tanesha’s Story.”
In the interview, she said she was nervous about Mitch McConnell staying in office.
“I don’t want things to stay the way they are,” she said. “…In 31 years, Mitch McConnell has not done anything for my community. He has not created any jobs, he hasn’t cared about our community at all.”
She said that when McConnell says he doesn’t want to raise the minimum wage, it’s because he’s a millionaire.
Charles Booker, who worked for the Legislative Research Commission at the time, lost his job after the video came out, Washington Times reported. The LRC had a policy that employees shouldn’t take part in political activities, but the LRC director wouldn’t officially confirm why he was let go. At the time, Charles had worked there for just a little over a year as an analyst and made $51,000 a year.
Booker told The Messenger that he was let go for violating the policy about not engaging in political activity.
Charles Booker said on Twitter: “She spoke truth about Mitch McConnell. I lost my job as a result. That moment changed our lives. We still got fight some fight left.”
Grimes has endorsed Charles Booker for the current primary.
5. Charles Booker Talked About How He Was So Proud of Tanesha, He Cried
In a series of tweets in July 2018, Charles Booker spoke about how he was so proud of his wife, he cried.
Here’s the full text of what he wrote:
A few years back, in the middle of one of the biggest races in the country, I sat back and admired my wife. She was so nervous to speak on stage, but she knew she was speaking for our daughter, and so many families in west Louisville that feel unheard. Let me share real quick…
With our beautiful daughter looking up at her, Tanesha raised her voice. She spoke for my mom, a hardworking woman who used minimum wage to get me through school. She spoke for the senior couple that wanted to see their neighborhood get better. She was speaking for us.
In front of our Secretary of State @AlisonForKY and 42nd President @BillClinton, Tanesha told our story. She reminded everyone about the brilliant, courageous people fighting to overcome the odds, not only in the west end, but across Kentucky. She told the country that we matter.
Listening to her from the audience, tears rolled down my face. Yes I was deeply proud of her, but more than that, she gave me hope. If she could realize her strength and use her voice in such a powerful way, imagine what we could do as a state if everyone felt heard.
This is why I constantly say that your voice matters. No matter who you are or where you are from, the world needs your story. Thinking back on a moment that continues to inspire me. Yep, still a proud husband!”