Herschel Walker declares Senate candidacy in Georgia

, , , 0

Former football star running back Herschel Walker on Wednesday officially declared his candidacy for the Senate in Georgia, jumping into a Republican primary race to challenge Democratic freshman Sen. Raphael Warnock in the 2022 midterm elections, in a crucial contest that could ultimately decide which party controls the majority in the chamber.

The announcement by the former star professional football player and college gridiron legend in the Peach State – Walker won a Heisman Trophy and helped steer the University of Georgia to a college football national championship – comes one day after he filed paperwork setting up his campaign.

It also comes after months of support and encouragement to run for the Senate by former President Trump, his longtime friend – and amid concerns from some Republicans over the first-time candidate’s ability to win a key seat for the GOP.

“Our country is at a crossroads, and I can’t sit on the sidelines anymore,” Walker wrote in a statement.

“America is the greatest country in the world, but too many politicians in Washington are afraid to say that,” Walker charged. “In the United States Senate, I will stand up for conservative values and get our country moving in the right direction. It is time to have leaders in Washington who will fight to protect the American Dream for everybody.”