Campbell for US Senate talks about war
interviewed by Anna Keller, editor
I'm Chris Campbell. I'm running for the US Senate seat Mitch McConnell held since 5 years before I was born. This is my first election campaign. I work a union job in an automotive parts factory. I'm a Kentucky National Guard veteran.
I serve on the executive committee of the Kentucky Party. We needed a candidate for US Senate. At a meeting last year, I'm like "We need a candidate. I'll do it." That's how my campaign started. Public office should be about service and relationships, not "What's in it for me?"
I'm running for US Senate. A lot of people don't realize how big of a job that is. When the people of Kentucky elect me, I'll represent not just Kentucky but America. The Senate has constitutional authority -- oversight -- over the Executive. Congress can wage war. It controls the purse. Constitutional amendments and international treaties are Senate jurisdiction, Senate authority.
Our system is entrenched in warfare and corruption. Members of Congress all profit from it to an extent. Kentucky needs more people in Washington who are set against forever wars and corrupt dealing. Unless we're a lawful nation, we won't have peace or prosperity. I think we've gotten away from that. We elect too many people who say, "How much money can I make while I'm in the Senate?" That's a problem.
The war on Iran isn't lawful. Congress stood in dereliction of its duty when it let the President get us in this mess. We need a military for defense. We're not supposed to go around finding reasons to kill. US and international law have clear definitions of when war is allowable and when it's not. If the Senate had done its job, there'd be less bodies in the ground and gas would cost half what it costs now.
I didn't like the Ayatollah's leadership in Iran, but assassination is illegal, and it doesn't work. The established political system is still there. If anything, it's more hard-line. Blowing up civilians, launching missiles at schools, made Iranian dissidents into patriots. Now we're at war with them, too. The Senate needs to return this country to lawful action, and do its oversight job.
Our armed forces are overextended. 800 foreign bases are too many. Extended deployments break up families. We sacrificed soldiers and airmen, planes and helicopters, radars and half our stock of interceptor missles to defend Israel and Ukraine. They won't return the favor. If we don't change course, how will we defend America, defend Kentucky? It's time to bring our military forces back into the geographical borders of the United States -- to save taxpayer money and make us stronger.
It's time for it to be against the law for members of Congress to take campaign contributions from corporations and foreign countries that fall under the jurisdiction of their committees. Public servants who decide on tax rates, regulate banks and insurers, and spend the government's money should not be bribed.
Voters need to be more stern with how they vet US Senators. You're giving us power you want us to use, and use wisely. You can look at my life and see I'm not attracted to money for its own sake. I'm attracted to making ends meet so I can be of service.
You should be able to win a US Senate campaign with 100 grand or less. I have met and listened to a lot of Kentuckians. I hope to keep that up; a few ads, a few billboards. I'm a working-class guy, I don't need much for just my family. I want more for us all instead.
My campaign is volunteer-driven. Come help out. Phone bank, knock doors, organize house parties, town halls, kitchen table meetings, interview me on your podcast or short-form video, there's room for you to be of service, too.
I think it's worth saying my campaign is part of something bigger, the Kentucky Party. It's a ballot line for independents, who are at least ten percent of our electorate. Our members are running for municipal and county elections across the state, state legislature, and US House and Senate seats this November. This will be our second time participating in statewide elections.
We work across the aisle. Some of us used to be Republicans, some used to be Democrats. We found that for war, corruption, and putting Kentucky instead of political party first, there were limits to what we could do as Republicans or Democrats. But there's common ground on bread-and-butter issues. We'll get normal people in office, people voters can relate to, and work across both aisles for the common good.
I have a website: candidates.goodparty.org/campbell4congress2026. Why the Good Party? Because it's free. Google "Campbell 4 Congress 2026" -- it should pop up. There's a Facebook group called the Kentucky Party, a Twitter page, an Instagram, and a website. Google will take you to it all.
Thank you for the interview. I look forward to more of these conversations.
This article, like all original content in The Kentuckian, is released into the public domain. The Kentuckian is an independent publication. It doesn't represent the opinion of the Kentucky Party or any of its committees.