Herschel Walker For Georgia Senator? Questions Surround Ex-NFL Star's Judgment
In an appearance Sunday on Fox News, former Dallas Cowboys and University of Georgia running back Herschel Walker was asked about plans to run for U.S. Senate.
Walker spoke with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, who specifically asked about running in 2022. The seat is held by Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. In 2021, Democrats won two senate seats in the traditional red state.
Walker, a Republican, did not provide a firm answer but said it was "serious" to even consider running for senate and that he would take his time to make a decision.
“Stay tuned. I'll tell you what: it's going to be exciting," he said.
Herschel Walker, Trump’s pick to run against Warnock in 2022, gave a comical interview where he was unable to answer the easiest questions. Here, he says that athletes who don’t ‘love America’ shouldn’t be allowed on the Olympic team. His #1 priority? He really doesn’t have one. pic.twitter.com/ZaPzxpnfzR
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 11, 2021
Walker did not provide specifics about what platform he would run on. He said his priority would be "America" and that "he wanted to bring people back together."
Bartiromo also asked Walker about voter identification, a hot topic in Georgia.
Herschel Walker challenges companies, CEOs to help people get voter IDs https://t.co/uJ5Sr6AOvO @SundayFutures @FoxNews @HerschelWalker
— Maria Bartiromo (@MariaBartiromo) April 11, 2021
The comments about a senate run come after former President Donald Trump in March encouraged Walker to run in 2022.
“Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the legendary Herschel Walker ran for the United States Senate in Georgia?” Trump said in a statement. “He would be unstoppable, just like he was when he played for the Georgia Bulldogs and in the NFL. He is also a GREAT person. Run Herschel run!”
Walker was a contestant in the second season of the reality television show "Celebrity Apprentice," which featured Trump.
He has been active in Republican politics. Walker, who has made appearances on Fox News, attended the recent Republican National Convention and publicly endorsed Kelly Loeffler in her failed reelection bid and has supported several other Republican candidates.
Let's empower Georgians without ID to get one.. you need ID to drive, cash a check, open a bank account -almost anything to function in life today! Makes better sense to improve lives! Walker challenges companies, CEOs to help people get voter IDs https://t.co/90wyjgVlsk
— Herschel Walker (@HerschelWalker) April 11, 2021
Walker, 59, was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) shortly after his NFL career ended and has said that he has played Russian Roulette.
He has been an advocate for mental health problems.
"I talk about it now because there are still people out there today that are suffering. There’s guys in the league [NFL] that I’ve helped so much, that I’ve saved their lives," Walker said on an ESPN program.
Herschel Walker, who had been encouraged by Trump to run for Senate in Georgia and is a Texas resident, says on Fox he is considering a 2022 bid against Warnock
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 11, 2021
Walker currently lives in Texas and has no public sector experience.
Some on social media called into his question his judgment and qualifications to run for senate. It's unclear if he would face a big field of Republican candidates in a primary run.
MAGA Loon Herschel Walker is considering running against Senator Rev. Rafael Warnock in 2022.
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) April 11, 2021
Warnock is pastor at the same exact church that Dr. Martin Luther King led his congregation in Atlanta.
Walker lives in Texas and cheered on deadly insurrection.
They’re not the same.
The fact that Herschel Walker choked-out, stomped-on —and nearly killed his wife— along with his other “non-traditional” political views and the fact that *he lives in Texas* you’d think would give Georgia Republican second thoughts about voting for him pic.twitter.com/Axlxj1YM5L
— Jeremy / anti-partisan (@Moderateleft) April 11, 2021
Herschel Walker is living proof that chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a very real disease among football players who have taken too many shots to the head.
— Bleeding Heart Liberal Marine (@BleedingMarine) April 11, 2021
In her introduction of Walker, Bartiromo said Walker "now owns several successful companies."
Walker entered professional football in 1983 when he joined the United States Football League, and played for a team owned by Trump. The USFL ceased operations in 1986.
Walker played his first NFL season in 1986. He played for the Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. Walker rushed for 8,225 yards and retired in 1997.
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