Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Raphael Warnock criticized Gov. Brian Kemp and President Donald Trump’s leadership during the pandemic in an interview with Flagpole.
“The stumbling we’ve seen at the state level has been the same as the stumbling coming out of the White House,” he said. “At this time, we need leadership that believes in science and will act with integrity.” He said Kemp has been “waging war against local leaders” by blocking more stringent regulations to slow the spread of the virus.
In regard to UGA’s waffling on early voting, Warnock said his campaign is pushing voting by mail, but voters should be able to cast a ballot in whatever way they feel most comfortable. “You have to always be on watch paying attention to something like voter suppression,” he said.
Warnock also said he’s looking beyond the pandemic to ways the country can not only survive, but thrive. He proposed a “massive” infrastructure package,” including roads, bridges and broadband internet, a $15 minimum wage, better benefits, equal pay for women, expanding Medicaid and adding a public option to the Affordable Care Act. He is not, however, in favor of Medicare for all.
Although he’s currently running third behind Loeffler and Collins, not only did Warnock express confidence he’ll be in the runoff, he said he’s hoping to win outright in November.
The interview took place before the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and news that Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plan to replace her before the election.
Warnock is the leading Democratic candidate in the polls for U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s seat and has the support of most of the party establishment. Loeffler, who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp after Sen. Johnny Isakson stepped down due to illness, is facing 20 other candidates in a November “jungle primary” where everyone is on the same ballot together. A runoff in January is likely.
Warnock—the pastor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s old church, Ebenezer Baptist in Atlanta—was endorsed by members of the WNBA team Loeffler owns after she criticized the Black Lives Matter movement.
He will host a meet-and-greet at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at Bishop Park.
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