Herschel Walker.Photo: NBC News
Papers filed with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesdayshow that Walker— who recently changed his voter registration from Texas to Georgia — is running in the Republican Party primary hoping to face Warnock.
On Wednesday, the 59-year-old businessman and former athlete released his first ad. In it, he reflected on his career and his childhood in Wrightsville, Georgia, and drew on familiar campaign themes of perseverance and hard work.
Even before the official announcement was made, Walker had the backing of former PresidentDonald Trump, who had said in a statement that he believed the athlete — despiteconcerns from other conservatives— would be “unstoppable” as a candidate.
He had not shied away from publicly speaking about politics even before his candidacy and is a vocal Trump supporter. He appeared at the2020 Republican National Conventionto support and defend the then-president against accusations of racism, which he called a “personal insult.”
“I take that as a personal insult, that people would think I’ve had a 37-year friendship with a racist,” Walker said in his RNC speech. “People don’t know what they’re talking about. Growing up in the Deep South, I’ve seen racism up close. I know what it is. And it isn’t Donald Trump.”
He has also in recent months spoken out against reparations for slavery, appearing at avirtual congressional hearingin February to say, “Slavery ended over 130 years ago. How can a father ask his son to spend prison time for a crime he committed?”
Walker’s son, Christian, has also grabbed headlines as a rising right-wing social media star, where he has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers — including plenty of critics — with provocative videos on platforms such as Instagram.
Herschel Walker (left) and son Christian Walker.Christian Walker/Twitter
Like Trump, Christian echoed baseless claims thatJoe Bidenhadn’t really won the election and has appeared on Fox News. The younger Walker, who is openly gay, led aGays for Trumpmarch in West Hollywood in 2020.
Walker’s candidacy doesn’t come without baggage, including past statements in which he described the challenges of having dissociative identity disorder and an account from his ex-wife, Cindy, that he attacked her.
In 2008, he wrote abouthaving dissociative identity disorder, hoping to show a different portrayal of the condition.
At the time, his ex-wife said that he had violent episodes in their marriage, including holding a gun to her head — whichCNN reportedhe did not deny, saying he had blackouts and memory loss.
If he wins his primary, Walker will face off against Rev. Warnock, a Democrat who made history in January when he won ahotly-contested special electionin the state.
Warnock is serving the remainder of retired Sen. Johnny Isakson’s six-year term, which is set to expire in 2022.
source: people.com
