FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2026
July 29, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
AFGE Endorses Kentucky’s Charles Booker for U.S. Senate and Zach Dembo for U.S. House in November Election
Categories:
Senate, Congress, Election 2026, House
AFGE says Booker and Dembo will fight for working people in Congress
INDIANAPOLIS –– The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of Charles Booker for election to the U.S. Senate and Zach Dembo for election to the U.S. House representing Kentucky in the 2026 midterm election. The general election is Nov. 3.
A lifelong resident of Louisville’s West End, Charles Booker worked for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and West Louisville FoodPort before being elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2018.
Booker won the Democratic primary in May for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mitch McConnell. He’s running for the Senate because it is time to end the status quo in Washington that’s left workers behind.
“Charles Booker understands the struggles that workers face. His upbringing and struggles shaped who he is. He understands that unions are the only way workers have a real voice in the workplace,” AFGE District 6 National Vice President Arnold Scott said. “Charles is the clear choice to stand with AFGE members and all workers.”
A ninth-generation Kentuckian raised in Lexington, Zach Dembo won the Democratic primary in May for an open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the state’s 6th Congressional District.
Dembo has dedicated his life to public service and fighting for people – serving as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate during four years on active duty, as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s policy advisor and legislative director, as a federal prosecutor in D.C. and Lexington, and more. In Congress, he’ll fully support the PRO Act, advocate for workplace safety standards, fund apprenticeship programs, protect unemployment benefits, defend the right to collectively bargain, and stand with federal workers.
“Zach Dembo is a lifelong public servant who understands the value of public service. Through his service in the Navy to being a federal prosecutor, he cares about this nation and the public we serve,” Scott said. “We need more public servants and veterans in Congress. We look forward to working with Zach to fight for our members.”
AFGE previously endorsed Rep. Morgan McGarvey for reelection to his seat representing Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District.
Nearly 35,000 federal workers live in Kentucky – caring for veterans, supporting the military, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents nearly 46,000 federal employees in District 6, which includes Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
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