Given that turnout has been high in Democratic strongholds, early voting in Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff election may have made Republican nominee Herschel Walker’s chances of winning worse.
Herschel Walker in Georgia runoff
Voting has already started, with Georgians able to cast votes last Saturday due to a court decision. Certain Democratic-leaning districts, notably Atlanta, have been taking advantage of the possibility.
Black voters turned up 32.4 percent of the early ballots cast for the runoff election through Thursday, which could also be a positive development for Warnock, who, according to an NBC News exit poll, received 90 percent of the Black vote on November 8.
According to political scientists who spoke with media sources, the race would still be quite close, and Walker may still win.
No Republican Urgency
Republicans were vying for control of the Senate during the midterm elections, and it appeared that the Georgia contest might be pivotal.
Paul Quirk, a political scientist, claims that Democrats could secure a majority without Georgia, and the GOP’s failure to gain control of the Senate may harm the turnout.
“The way Congress works nowadays, most voters don’t care very much about a Senate candidate’s character, intelligence, or experience. It’s gratifying to see your senator deliver a compelling speech, ask cogent questions in a hearing, or take the lead in advocating for a cause,” Quirk told sources.
“But the main thing is how they vote in numerous party-line votes that shape the country’s direction.
“Even then, a significant fraction of them bailed out, voting for the Republican candidate for governor but not for Walker,” Quirk went on. “But when the Democrats secured a 50th senate seat and control of the Senate, the urgency of that logic evaporated.”
Scandal-Plagued Candidate
Walker’s campaign has been marred by scandal, including claims that he paid for one ex-abortion girlfriend’s and coerced another into getting one, all of which he has denied, as well as his many public gaffes.
Close Race
Walker may appear to be losing, but polls constantly indicate that the election will be tight, and the outcome is still uncertain.
“This remains a very close race, still well within the margin for error, but where the polls suggest those few undecided voters left in Georgia may be edging towards Warnock,” said Mark Shanahan.
“Walker has always been a risky candidate for the Republicans with no political background before 2022. For many voters, the more he has opened his mouth, the clearer it has been that being an All-American Football hero is a poor preparation for the cut and thrust of a statewide political campaign,” Shanahan told sources.
Democratic Turnout
Voters who turn out on December 6 and during early voting will determine the Georgia Senate runoff. Warnock will try to increase the percentage of Democrats who vote.
Warnock is a “well-funded” contender who “seems to have performed well in the early voting cycle,” according to Shanahan.
