Amy McGrath Jumps Into Senate Race To Replace Mitch McConnell

Amy McGrath, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and combat pilot, announced Tuesday shes running against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

McGrath tweeted a video marking the launch of her campaign, in which she describes writing a letter to McConnell as a 13-year-old girl, noting he never wrote her back. She claims everything thats wrong in Washington started with McConnell, who was elected a lifetime ago, and who has, bit by bit, year by year, turned Washington into something we all despise.

Im running to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate. Everything thats wrong with Washington had to start somewhereit started with him. With your help, we can defeat Mitch and defend democracy. Join us: https://t.co/c4b0WAp4ji pic.twitter.com/DNLjFkHGua

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Im running to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate. Everything thats wrong with Washington had to start somewhereit 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

Within an hour of her tweet, McConnells campaign released an ad attacking her progressive beliefs.

Welcome to the race, Amy. #KYSen pic.twitter.com/VdmKfFvTpI

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Welcome to the race, Amy. #KYSen pic.twitter.com/VdmKfFvTpI
Team Mitch (@Team_Mitch) July 9, 2019

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McGraths new ad echoes a similar spot she released when she challenged GOP Rep. Andy Barr who received an endorsement from President Donald Trump in Kentuckys 6th District in 2018. Her announcement comes after months of speculation that she might run, including reports that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) actively recruited her for the race.

McGrath is the first major Democrat to jump into the race against McConnell, who was last challenged by Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes in 2014.