In a bold move, Joel Willett, a military veteran and ex-CIA officer, has announced his Democratic bid for the U.S. Senate from Kentucky
The recent revocation of his security clearance by the Trump administration has only fueled his determination to run.
According to Breitbart, Willett stated, Ive seen firsthand how the Trump administration and their far-right allies are trying to weaponize the government against anyone who disagrees with them. That just made me more determined to run.
Willett, a native of a Louisville suburb, is focusing his campaign on populist themes, a strategy that may prove challenging in a state that has been increasingly leaning Republican. He has voiced his opposition to tax cuts for the wealthy and Medicaid cuts, which he believes will result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance.
Willett is joining an expanding pool of candidates competing for the Senate seat currently occupied by veteran Republican powerbroker Mitch McConnell, who has announced he will not be seeking reelection in 2026.
The last Democrat to secure a Senate election victory in Kentucky was over 30 years ago, and the race is heating up with escalating spending on TV ads by candidates and external groups seeking to sway the result.
Willett's career spans the military, the CIA, and the business sector. During his tenure as a CIA officer, he served in the White House situation room under then-President Barack Obama. Recently, he was among 37 current and former national security officials whose security clearances were rescinded by the Trump administration.
Some of these individuals were signatories of a 2019 letter criticizing Trump, a fact recently spotlighted online by influential Trump supporter Laura Loomer. Willett was among these signatories.
A memo from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused the individuals in question of engaging in the politicization or weaponization of intelligence to advance personal or partisan goals, failing to safeguard classified information, and other unspecified detrimental conduct. However, the memo did not provide evidence to substantiate these accusations.
Willett revealed that his security clearance was revoked two weeks after his name was mentioned in an article about potential Senate candidates in Kentucky. Following the revocation, he was subjected to online attacks, including death threats.
In his campaign announcement video, Willett criticized Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, stating, Right now, we live in a country where a president and his director of national intelligence think they can use all their power and all their trolls online to shut people up who disagree with them. Well, I didnt shut up.
Willett, 41, joined the Kentucky Army National Guard at 17, shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and later served in the Armys Military Police Corps. After leaving government service, he transitioned into the business world, holding positions as President of a consumer electronics manufacturing business and CEO of an engineering services firm that assisted the Navy in building destroyers.
In his campaign video, Willett expressed his belief that the American dream is dead for many Kentuckians due to a political and economic system that disregards them. He criticized the current political climate as ugly and violent, stating, That goes against everything America stands for. Ive dedicated most of my life to protecting the country and the democracy I love, and Im not stopping now.
Other Democrats in the Senate race include state lawmaker Pamela Stevenson and Logan Forsythe, an attorney and former U.S. Secret Service agent. Forsythe, who entered the race Tuesday, accused Republicans of creating a crisis for families with cuts to Medicaid and food assistance. He also criticized Trumps tariffs for their impact on Kentucky, particularly the bourbon industry and farmers.
On the Republican side, candidates include U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and businessman Nate Morris. These GOP hopefuls are vocal in their admiration for Trump, hoping to secure his endorsement in a state that Trump has decisively won in the last three presidential elections.
The last Democrat to be elected to the Senate from Kentucky was Wendell Ford in 1992. As the race heats up, it remains to be seen whether Willett's bold stance and determination will be enough to turn the tide in favor of the Democrats.
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