Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Georgia runoff results – live: Warnock’s win cements Democrats 2024 blueprint as women celebrate Walker’s loss

Warnock’s victory gives Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate

Oliver O'Connell,Shweta Sharma
Thursday 08 December 2022 10:14 EST
Comments
Georgia run-off: Who are Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock?

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Democratic incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock sailed to victory over Republican challenger Herschel Walker on Tuesday night as the two candidates went head-to-head in the runoff race for Georgia’s crucial Senate seat.

The race was called in Mr Warnock’s favour at around 10.30pm, sending him to Washington DC for a full six-year term and giving Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate.

Following Mr Walker’s defeat, several of his former partners and the football star’s son celebrated the election results.

One woman who had a relationship with him in 2006 told The Daily Beast that it spelled a victory for the many women who had come forward to accuse him of encouraging them to have abortions or of being absent from his children’s lives – claims that directly contradicted the stance Mr Walker ran on.

“The Senate race tonight not only vindicates that democracy has won but the women that he betrayed, have won,” she said.

In a lengthy Twitter thread, Mr Walker’s son Christian Walker also branded his father “pathetic” and claimed that he had ignored everyone but Donald Trump around whether or not he should have ran.

How the AP called the Georgia runoff for Warnock

Here’s how the Associated Press decided when to call the results of the election.

Why AP called the Georgia Senate runoff for Warnock

There weren't enough uncounted votes in Republican-leaning areas for Republican challenger Herschel Walker to make up his runoff election night gap with incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock

Oliver O'Connell7 December 2022 21:10

What next for Walker?

After a bitterly fought campaign ended in a loss, what is next for the man dubbed the greatest college football player of all time after he dabbled in politics?

Eric Garcia and Andrew Feinberg report.

Herschel Walker’s campaign hits a dead end. What’s next for the GOP football star?

The former University of Georgia running back is perhaps the greatest college football player of all time. He leaves the Senate race a laughingstock in Republican politics Eric Garcia and Andrew Feinberg report

Oliver O'Connell7 December 2022 21:40

A 51-seat Senate for Democrats, and much more

For Senate Democrats, an oh-so-slim 51-49 majority never sounded so good.

Sen. Raphael Warnock’s victory in swing-state Georgia gives Democrats a welcome “lift,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday at the Capitol -- newly confident of sidelining Trump-inspired Republicans in Congress and reaching across the aisle to other GOP lawmakers to deliver on bipartisan priorities with President Joe Biden.

“If we can get some bipartisan things done, it will of course be better for the country. And it will be better for the Republican Party,” he said.

Warnock delivers 51-seat Senate for Democrats, and much more

Raphael Warnock’s victory in swing-state Georgia gives Senate Democrats a 51-49 majority

Oliver O'Connell7 December 2022 22:10

Majorie Taylor Greene thinks she knows what Walker campaign’s major mistake was

Not enough Marjorie Taylor Greene., apparently.

Oliver O'Connell7 December 2022 22:40

How much do Republicans blame Trump for Senate flop?

Eric Garcia investigates after the Georgia runoff rounds out a painful midterms season for Senate Republicans.

Republicans ‘disappointed’ after Georgia Senate flop but most won’t blame Trump

Herschel Walker’s loss in Georgia caps off a painful midterm for Senate Republicans

Oliver O'Connell7 December 2022 23:10

Watch: Who is Senator Raphael Warnock?

Who is Georgia senator Raphael Warnock?

Democrat Raphael Warnock won the Georgia runoff against GOP candidate Herschel Walker on Tuesday, 6 December. Born in Savannah, the senator began his professional career ordained in the ministry, and has served for more than 16 years as a senior pastor at a church in Atlanta. Mr Warnock made his first foray into politics by becoming a leader in the campaign to expand Medicaid in Georgia. In 2021, Mr Warnock was elected to the Senate as the first Black Democratic senator in the south. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Oliver O'Connell7 December 2022 23:40

Watch: Biden congratulates Warnock

Oliver O'Connell8 December 2022 00:40

Voices: Georgia Senate runoff proves once and for all that candidate quality matters

Ahmed Baba writes:

Once again, we’re closing out election season with a Georgia runoff. And, once again, Democrats delivered a historic victory that further shifted power in the Senate and dealt a devastating blow to the Republican Party and Trumpism.

The dynamics of this race were clear. Candidate quality matters.

Read on:

Georgia Senate runoff proves once and for all that candidate quality matters

Democrats can look forward to 2024 knowing they have a winning formula against an increasingly extremist Republican Party

Oliver O'Connell8 December 2022 01:40

Klain hails Democrat success in midterms

Following the Democratic Party’s midterm success in the Senate, White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain tweeted today: “I’m not going to say that the success of @POTUS, @SenSchumer and @SenGaryPeters in getting every Senator of the President’s party re-elected is historic, but... the last time [it] happened there were only 96 Senators.”

Oliver O'Connell8 December 2022 02:40

Watch: Running for Senate was ‘best thing’ he’s ever done says Walker

Herschel Walker says running for Senate was ‘best thing’ he’s ever done

Herschel Walker delivered his concession speech accepting defeat in the Georgia runoff to Democrat Raphael Warnock. The Republican candidate urged his supporters to pray for elected officials and to “never stop dreaming” or “believing in America.” He said: “There are no excuses in life, and I’m not gonna make any excuses now because we put up one heck of a fight.” “The best thing I’ve ever done in my whole entire life is run for this Senate seat right here,” he told the crowd, who applauded him. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Oliver O'Connell8 December 2022 03:40

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in