Democrat Amy McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot and the first female Marine to fly in an F-18 during combat, announced Tuesday that she will take on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his Kentucky Senate seat in 2020.
Why it matters: McGrath, who failed in her House bid during the 2018 midterm elections, will be a high profile — and cash-flush — challenger for McConnell, the longest-serving Republican Senate leader.
What she's saying, via her campaign video:
"It started with this man who was elected a lifetime ago and who has, bit by bit, year by year turned Washington into something we all despise. Where disfunction and chaos are all political weapons. Where budgets and health care and the Supreme Court are held hostage. A place where ideals go to die."
I’m running to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate. Everything that’s wrong with Washington had to start somewhere—it started with him. With your help, we can defeat Mitch and defend democracy. Join us: https://t.co/c4b0WAp4ji pic.twitter.com/DNLjFkHGua
— Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) July 9, 2019
The other side:
“Amy McGrath lost her only race in a Democratic wave election because she is an extreme liberal who is far out of touch with Kentuckians. Comparing President Trump’s election to 9/11, endorsing a government takeover of healthcare, and calling the wall 'stupid' is a heckuva platform that we will be delighted to discuss over the next sixteen months.”
McConnell's campaign manager Kevin Golden
