“He's got a genuine concern for the country, he loves Georgia. Certainly he has a longstanding relationship with President Trump,” said Randy Evans, a previous ambassador in the Trump administration and longtime Georgia Republican operative.
The combination, he said, is a “formidable package.”
Just a single tweet the previous week from Walker sparked a new round of discussions about Republican chances of defeating Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in his bid for a full Senate term.
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) speaks as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer listens during a news conference on April 20, 2021. | Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images
“Georgia on my mind,” Walker said in a tweet Thursday, which featured a short video of him in a sweaty t-shirt, revving the engine of his car. Amid questions about his residency, the Georgia license plate did not go unnoticed — the previous Heisman Trophy winner must move from Texas to Georgia to run.
“I’m getting ready and we can run with the big dogs,” he said in the video, which said nothing about a Senate bid.
Walker’s storied career as a professional athlete is only part of his appeal to several Georgia Republicans. He also has the enthusiastic support of previous President Donald Trump, with whom he has a relationship that dates back four decades.
Walker’s three seasons as the marquee player with a USFL team owned by Trump in the 1980s kicked off a longstanding friendship that would afterwards see Walker become a contestant on Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice television show. In a speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention, the previous football star defended the previous president against accusations of racism; he remains a close friend of the Trump family.
Walker was seated next to the previous president at his birthday celebration the previous week, according to an Instagram video from the previous president’s son, Donald Trump Jr.
In a statement, Trump Jr. praised Walker as the best possible candidate in the Senate race.
“Not only is Herschel Walker a long-time family friend, he’s a strong America First conservative and would immediately enter the Senate race as the frontrunner if he decides to pull the trigger on it,” Trump Jr. said.
An aide to the previous president, who requested anonymity, said the “team is very pleased Herschel is close to making a decision. He's a star, great friend of 45, and perfect candidate.”
Yet even with Trump’s endorsement, some Georgia Republicans are hesitant. Walker’s long deliberation has frustrated some who worry that the party is losing time rebuilding in the wake of two devastating Senate runoff defeats in January. Warnock’s reelection campaign has already raised more than $5 million through March, a sum that’s likely increased substantially in the last three months — his new total will become public in mid-July.
“We're getting really late in the process,” said one GOP operative in the state. “Our nominee, whomever that person is, should be in the race by now and should be raising money.”
Walker could not be reached for comment.
Should Walker declare his candidacy, he’ll have to navigate a GOP primary field that could be competitive. Gary Black, the state’s agriculture commissioner, announced a run earlier this month and two military veterans, Kelvin King and Latham Saddler, are also in the race. And previous Sen. Kelly Loeffler continues to consider a rematch against Warnock.
Some Republicans are concerned that Walker’s popularity as a professional athlete isn’t necessarily transferable, especially in such a closely divided state.
“I love Herschel Walker, I’m a double Dawg,” said Republican strategist Martha Zoller, referring to her two college degrees from the University of Georgia. “I think he's an amazing person. But I think there's a big difference between being a football star 40 years ago and being a candidate for [the] United States Senate.”
“He'll be a great test of Trump's support,” Zoller added.