President Joe Biden labels Herschel Walker’s campaign ‘ultra MAGAism’, congratulates Raphael Warnock on Senate race win
Former NFL star Herschel Walker lost his US Congress bid to incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock in the Georgia election runoff on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. Walker ran as a Republican while Warnock ran as a Democrat. The win gives the Democratic Party a slim hold over the US Senate chambers in Washington DC.
Immediately after the results, President Joe Biden took to Twitter to announce that he personally called Warnock to congratulate him on the win. The president also added that the win represented a defeat over "Ultra MAGAism."
'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) is a popular rallying cry for former President Donald Trump and his followers.
Just called @SenatorWarnock to congratulate him on his win.
Tonight Georgia voters stood up for our democracy, rejected Ultra MAGAism, and most importantly: sent a good man back to the Senate. Here’s to six more years. https://t.co/ibx5aprVs3
Warnock first ran for the Senate in 2020 in a special election after Johnny Isakson resigned due to health issues. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appointed Kelly Loeffler in the interim, and Warnock ran against her in the special election. In 2022, both Warnock and Walker decided to run for the full-term election.
The election in November saw neither candidate getting a majority of the votes, so, as per laws in Georgia, the two leading candidates had a run-off election to decide the winner.
The contentious election cycle often pitted Raphael Warnock's profile as a pastor against Herschel Walker's questionable character and past actions. Despite the heated political battle, the election results and polling showed that voters focused more on policies that both political parties endorsed.
Herschel Walker enjoyed a successful NFL career
Although he lost his bid for the US Senate, former NFL running back Herschel Walker is no stranger to success.
The former football star had a storied collegiate career at the University of Georgia from 1980 to 1982. He would then play in the USFL. Former President Donald Trump would later inherit Walker's $4.2 million contract, as the quarterback's team, the New Jersey Generals, was purchased by the business tycoon.
After the USFL's demise, he would go on to have a great career in the NFL. Walker played for the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and the New York Giants.
When Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, he would name Jimmy Johnson as head coach. Johnson would be the architect of the biggest lop-sided trade in NFL history when he flipped Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for four players and eight draft picks.
The picks would yield running back Emmitt Smith, defensive tackle Russell Maryland, cornerback Kevin Smith, and safety Darren Woodson. As a result, these players were a key part of the Cowboys' Super Bowl dynasty in the 1990s.
Smith would have a Hall of Fame career and holds the NFL's all-time rushing title to this day. Maryland and Smith became All-Pro defensive players while Woodson would also be a perennial All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and a potential nominee for the Hall of Fame.
Although Herschel Walker made his mark with the Cowboys, their Super Bowl title would not be possible without the blockbuster trade that Jimmy Johnson engineered.