Trump -backed Herschel Walker has sought a seat in the Georgia Senate

[ad_1]

ATLANTA (AP) Herschel Walker on Tuesday filed papers to run for the U.S. Senate in Georgia after months of speculation, joining other Republicans seeking to oust the Democratic senator who Raphael Warnock in 2022.

Walker, 59, joined the race with high name recognition, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1982 as a University of Georgia running back. Perhaps more importantly toAYS the Republican Party, he carried the support of former President Donald Trump.

Walker has never run for the position and is likely to face investigation into his turbulent personal history as well as policy stances. But if he comes out of the Republican primary, the Senate contest will feature two Black men vying for a seat in the heart of the Deep South.

Walker remained a mother on Tuesday, continuing a pattern of some comments when she began placing a bid in the Senate. He registered to vote last week, using the Atlanta residence owned by his wife, Julie Blanchard. Walker signed Federal Election Commission papers on Tuesday declaring his candidacy, allowing him to raise money for a Senate run.

Republicans already running for the Senate seat include state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, former banking executive and Navy veteran Latham Saddler and contractor Kelvin King. Several other potential GOP candidates may not run with the Walkers entering the race, including the former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who lost to Warnock in a special election in January, and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, a four -term congressman from near Savannah.

Walker and Trumps ’relationship dates back to the 1980s, when Walker played for a Trump-owned team during the short United States Football League. Walker, who has played 12 seasons in the NFL, spoke in support of Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention and later attended Trump’s private birthday celebration.

Trump publicly urged Walker to enter the mainstream, saying on a radio show in June that he was a great man, he was a patriot and he was a very honest man, he was a very strong man. They love him in Georgia, I tell you.

With Trump the defining figure in todays GOP, University of Georgia political science Professor Charles Bullock said his support may be all Walker needs.

If he tells them they need to come out and vote for Herschel Walker, that’s the strongest endorsement he can get, Bullock said.

Walkers supporters expect him to reach out to moderate Republicans and peel off some traditional African American Democrats. But the support of former presidents could be a liability in a general election in closely divided Georgia, where a significant portion of wealthier GOP voters have rejected Democrat Joe Biden.

By the end of this long, divisive, and costly intra-party battle, it will be clear that none of these candidates are focused on the issues most important to Georgians, Georgia Democratic Party spokesman Dan Gottlieb said in a statement.

Walker could share a Republican ticket with Governor Brian Kemp, a frequent target of Trump’s attacks, as Kemp seeks re-election. Trump has vowed revenge against Kemp, saying he has done nothing enough to overturn Trump’s loss in the election. It’s unclear if that feud will hurt Republican chances, with Democrats likely to put up a united ticket by Warnock and Stacey Abrams. Walker endorsed Kemp, a staunch football fan in Georgia, on Kemps 2018 victory over Abrams.

Warnock has already raised $ 10.5 million for the 2022 race but reduced Walkers ’entry. He now travels the state promoting a work agenda.

And I hear the race is next year, Warnock told the Atlanta Press Club last week when asked about Walker.

Black tweaked Walker for his long absence from Georgia, and did so again Tuesday in a video welcoming Walker to the race and challenging him to go to a Republican fish fry Saturday south of Macon.

I think I always wanted an autograph, said Black, holding a timely football. But there are some things that matter more today: the future of our country, the future of our families.

Sadler said in a statement that he has a better choice as a next -generation conservative leader who can beat Raphael Warnock.

This campaign is not about the glories of yesterday; about the future of our nations, Sadler said.

Walker lives outside of Dallas and is making his first run for office. Undeterred as a candidate, it is unclear whether he will be an expert in campaigning or fundraising, while also stripping down positions on policy matters that he never needs to discuss in detail. Walker supported Trump’s absurd statements that he was cheated out of the re -election.

Walker also has a turbulent personal history that can cause a campaign.

An Associated Press review of public records uncovered detailed accusations that Walker repeatedly threatened the life of his ex-wife, Cindy Grossman, by telling his relatives that he would kill Grossman and his new girlfriend. Walker denied the accusations, but a judge issued a protection order in 2005 and for a time banned Walker from owning firearms.

In 2008, Walker wrote a book detailing his struggles with mental illness. He wrote that he had been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorders. He said he built up alternate personalities as a defense against the bullying he experienced as a stuttering, overweight child. Walker grew up in Wrightsville, 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Macon.

Walker also wrote of playing Russian roulette with a gun on his kitchen table in 1991. In general, Walker wrote his story as a rotation, claiming he found a path to companionship because of therapy and his belief in Christian.

The book caused problems for one of Walkers ’key business relationships. In a legal resignation in 2019, a manager for food distribution Sysco said the company nearly severed ties with Walkers poultry company, Renaissance Man Food Services, when the book created a stir. Eventually, Sysco stuck with Walkers ’company until the controversy died down.

Walker recently outsized Walker about success in his business. He has repeatedly claimed that his company employs hundreds of workers and earns $ 70 million or more in annual sales.

But the Walkers company reported only eight employees when they applied for a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan last year. In a recent court case, Walker said his company averaged nearly $ 1.5 million a year in revenue from 2008 to 2017.

State election officials opened an investigation into his spouses ’residence after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that records show Blanchard voted in Georgia despite living in Texas. Walker is among Trump supporters who continue to repeat to presidents false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him through fraud. Election officials across the country found no widespread fraud.

___

Follow Jeff Amy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[ad_2]