While the Senate majority had already been decided during midterms, The Senate runoff in Georgia was called for Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock last night, growing the Democrat majority even further.
With Vice President Kamala Harris acting as a tiebreaker, the 50 Democrat senate seats were enough to serve as an effective majority. However, with Warnock’s victory, the Democrat advantage in the Senate now stands 51 to 49. That’s a step backward from the 50-50 Senate split before midterms.
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“Thank you, Georgia. We did it again,” Warnock tweeted quickly after his projected victory.
Thank you, Georgia. We did it again. pic.twitter.com/jikuO5Kt8S
— Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) December 7, 2022
In his victory speech, Warnock said, “after a hard-fought campaign, or should I say campaigns, it is my honor to utter the four most powerful words ever spoken in a democracy – the people have spoken.”
In a concession speech in Atlanta, Walker emphasized that “we put up one heck of a fight.” Walker told his supporters, “I’m never going to stop fighting for Georgia. I’m never going to stop fighting for you.”
12/6/2022 age 60 #HerschelWalker loses runoff in Georgia to age 53 #RaphaelWarnock.
60 + 53 = (11)(3)(2) years (33) days after the #influencers 59th election #covid19 (11)/(3)/20 #59 @KamalaHarris age 56 + @JoeBiden age 77 = 1(33) 81 mill votes
Walker won NC 1/1/19(81) pic.twitter.com/vb7LycH8wd— Martin Brian Ansah (@DaAnsahonSports) December 7, 2022
This is the second straight election cycle where Georgia has been the battleground for the final electoral fight. Last
Two years ago, the Democrats’ sweep of the twin Georgia Senate run-offs gave them the majority. This time, Warnock’s victory gives his party something else, control of committees. Former President Barack Obama, headlining a large rally for Warnock late last week, asked, what is the difference between 50 and 51?
“The answer is a lot,” Obama highlighted as he answered his own question. “Let me break it down for you. An extra senator gives Democrats more breathing room on important bills. It prevents one person from holding out everything.”
Walker, on the other hand, in a Fox News interview over the weekend, emphasized that “by putting me in the Senate, all the committees would be even.”
While there’s no question that Warnock’s victory allows Democrats to advance legislation and nominations more quickly to the Senate floor, Republicans hold an advantage in the House of Representatives, placing a severe damper on Democrat legislative goals.
Warnock dramatically outspent Walker in the run-off campaign. According to Fox News, Warnock and allied groups outspent Walker and allies nearly 2 to 1.
Before 2020, Georgia was a reliably red state, and while the senate elections were lost, that was evident in other ways. Republicans swept this year’s other statewide elections in Georgia, led by GOP Gov. Brian Kemp’s comfortable victory over Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams in a rematch of their 2018 showdown.
While Democrats are predictably joyous over the Warnock victory, Republicans are a mixed bag. While all are disappointed, many were quick to play the blame game, with some looking to the GOP establishment. Since November’s disappointing midterms, the GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has been under close examination.
And just to be clear, I did not vote for Walker either and quite frankly I think the @GOP should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for trying to run him. They got what they deserved w/this. At the end of the day tho, it is not 'them' that loses. It's us.
— Angela Pence (@AngelaFor14) December 7, 2022
If Herschel Walker loses tomorrow, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to blame @GOPChairwoman, who will be 0-5 on election wins.
If he does win, it’s fair for her to take some credit.
But if he does lose, it’s absolutely criminal to suggest her for another term of failure.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) December 6, 2022
RINO Lt. Governor of Georgia: “don’t vote for Herschel Walker.”
*Herschel loses*
RINOs on Twitter: “iT’s aLL tRuMpS fAuLt.”
Clowns.
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) December 7, 2022
Others pointed to Donald Trump as responsible for Walker’s ‘inevitable’ loss. For his part, Trump wrote, “OUR COUNTRY IS IN BIG TROUBLE. WHAT A MESS!” on his platform Truth Social shortly after the race was called.
Before the result former Republican congressman Will Hurd said on Twitter "If Walker loses it will be the 6th time a Democrat beat Trump or a Trump-endorsed candidate in Georgia. It’s time to move on, build the future with conservative principles, & get rid of the crazy bullshit"
— Paul Whelan (@PaulWhelan745) December 7, 2022
Assuming Walker loses tonight (he will) it's so close that it shows once again how Trump screws over the GOP at every turn. He didn't bother to show up in person and campaign for his handpicked candidate and had he done so it might have changed the outcome. @GOP
— NoelCaslerComedy🌙 (@caslernoel) December 7, 2022
Walker was the frontrunner in the Republican primaries due to his Heisman-winning history and Trump tried to boost Walker. Besides his lack of political experience, Walker was also plagued with accusations regarding his family life which hurt him, despite his strong denial. His son Christian Walker, a rising right-wing influencer, took to Twitter to reiterate the accusations and attribute his father’s loss to them.
Christian blamed Trump for recruiting his father in the first place.
The Truth: Trump called my dad for months DEMANDING that he run. Everyone with a brain begged him: “PLEASE DON’T DO THIS. This is too dirty, you have an insane past… PLEASE DONT DO THIS.”
We got the middle finger. He ran.
— Christian Walker (@ChristianWalk1r) December 7, 2022
Don’t compare Warnock running over his wife’s foot to my father holding guns and knives to my mothers throat, threatening to kill his therapist, her, and one of his adultresses in a therapy session, and telling my mom and I he was going to beat our asses. Get off my page.
— Christian Walker (@ChristianWalk1r) December 7, 2022
One Twitter user noted the best way to look at the loss might be inward.
How come Walker didn’t hit the numbers he needed in all the R rural areas either? If he’s running 6-8% behind Kemp’s numbers in these areas he loses all day long. Maybe some introspection is needed instead of making excuses. Very poor candidate.
— Ger (@NantucketBhoy) December 7, 2022
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