McGrath defeats Booker in Kentucky Senate Democratic primary

News24xx.com - She will go up against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November.

Amy McGrath has won Kentucky's U.S. Senate Democratic primary, NBC News projects, edging out progressive Charles Booker in a tougher-than-expected race for the right to face Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November.

McGrath, a ret. Marine Lt. Col. who was backed by several establishment Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had initially had been a heavy favorite in the race and held an enormous fundraising edge over Booker, a state Representative whose candidacy received the support of progressive lawmakers and groups.

But Booker ended up mounting a far tougher challenge than expected, fueled by momentum from his vocal support for protests against the shooting death by police of a Louisville woman.

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On Tuesday, a week after the election, McGrath led Booker 45.1 percent to 42.9 percent, a margin of about 11,600 votes, with 95 percent of the state's precincts reporting, according to NBC News. The tally had been delayed because of the large number of mail-in votes that needed to be counted of election day.

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