“Experience absolutely matters. I've been blessed to be elected three times,” Black said in an interview, touting his network around the state.
“We've been able to carry the day for Republicans in the previous elections, and I expect to do so again in 2022,” he added.
It could be a crowded fight for the nomination to take on Warnock. Two Republicans, Kelvin King and Latham Saddler, both military veterans, are already running. Previous President Donald Trump has encouraged Walker to enter the race, though Walker has not taken any public steps toward a campaign. And previous GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who lost to Warnock in January, is contemplating another run and met with Trump recently, tweeting out a photo of both of them on Friday.
GOP Rep. Buddy Carter has also encouraged Walker to run for Senate, but Carter has said he'll run if the previous running back doesn’t.
Previous GOP Sen. David Perdue and previous Rep. Doug Collins, both of whom lost Senate races in the state last cycle, have passed on 2022 campaigns.
Black said in the interview he expected a “vigorous contest” in the primary, but that Walker’s decision would matter “not one bit” for his own campaign. Black is working with several experienced operatives: His general consultant is Scott Rials, who was a top aide for previous Gov. Sonny Perdue and Newt Gingrich. Dan McLagan, who was a spokesperson for Collins’ campaign, will be in a similar role. Maggie Bohannon will lead his fundraising, Brandon Howell will lead digital operations, and veteran operatives Ron Butler and Jason Mashburn will do direct mail.
Asked how he’d contrast with Warnock and Democrats, Black criticized President Joe Biden’s policies on taxes and border security, and he criticized Biden and Warnock over rising gas prices.
“We start and end at different places,” Black said. “From a standpoint of what's coming out of the administration so far, there's been pretty much universal support by the Democrat side.”
Georgia should be one of Republicans' best pickup opportunities if the midterm political environment is in their favor. But it’s also a state where the party remains divided over the 2020 election, and Trump continues to push for primary challenges to Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Black, who was not on the ballot in 2020, said the state’s voting in 2020 was a “mess” and blamed Raffensperger. He did not directly answer when asked if he believed the 2020 election was legitimate, but he praised the changes to state election law recently passed by the Legislature and signed by Kemp over furious opposition from Democrats.