Writer: Gabriela Enamorado
2 min read November 2022 — With a runoff now underway in Georgia, the Democrats have an opportunity to solidify their Senate majority.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced last Wednesday in a press conference that the runoff for Senate would be taking place.
“Ballots are being built as we speak, and counties are making preparations,” Raffensperger told reporters.
Incumbent Democrat Warnock holds a slight lead over Republican opponent Walker, but not enough to be declared victorious.
“Most of the races have a clear winner,” said Raffenserger in the press conference. “There is one race in our state that is going to go to a Dec. 6 runoff, and that is the race for United States Senate between Sen. Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker.”
Neither hopeful candidate gained the clear 50% threshold of votes last week to declare victory, with Raphael Warnock having 49.4% of the vote compared to Herschel Walker’s 48.5%. There is no threshold to win in the runoff election. One of the most prominent concerns at the top of voters’ minds is the economy, according to a poll done by the University of Georgia.
Inflation in Georgia and across the country has remained at a 40-year-high, causing Georgia residents to cut back on basic expenses.
Both candidates have clashed over issues such as gun control and abortion, both issues that are close to Georgia voters’ hearts as the state saw record levels of early voter turnout. Early voting records were shattered in Georgia with more than 2.2 million residents voting ahead of Election Day, according to the secretary of state’s office.
This runoff will also determine what Georgia voters are most concerned about, the economy under the democrats control or Walker’s concerning past, with allegations of domestic violence and accusations of paying for abortions for two women, despite his anti-abortion stance.
Walker has continued to frame Warnock as a staunch follower and supporter of President Joe Biden, amid inflation under Democratic Party control.
Warnock has separated and distanced himself from President Biden, working with Republicans on infrastructure, agriculture and other legislation. He has also made efforts to emphasize measures to cap insulin and other drug prices for Medicare recipients. Walker has also framed Walker, who is a former professional football running back, as underqualified for the position.
This will be the second runoff for Warnock. In the 2020 election, both of Georgia’s senate races went to runoff elections, with Warnock defeating Republican candidate Kelly Loeffler. That same year, Democrat Jon Ossoff also defeated Republican David Perdue who had been leading ahead of Ossoff before going into the runoff.
