Georgia runoff elections are exciting, but costly for voters and democracy
The ConversationOct 19, 2022
The Facts
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker made their final pitches to voters on Sunday, two days before the Dec. 6 US Senate runoff. More than 1.85M Georgians have already cast their votes during early voting.
Warnock, a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, used his time at the pulpit Sunday to remind his parishioners to vote, and joked that they have a choice between two candidates whose "last name starts with W."
The Spin
Republican narrative
Warnock’s record as a senator proves he doesn’t care about Georgians’ economic well-being or their safety. His votes will cost taxpayers, who will be easier targets for IRS agents, more of their money. And the state will be less safe because of his vote to reject adding more Border Patrol agents. Walker is offering Georgians relief from government theft.
Democratic narrative
There’s a long list of reasons not to vote for Walker. He supports restrictions on abortion access, places the rights of gun owners over safety, and might not even be a resident of Georgia. Warnock cares about what Georgians care about, and the same most certainly cannot be said for Walker.
