One of two federal lawmakers representing Georgia in the US Senate
- The US Senator is a member of the United States Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress. There are a total of 100 US Senators. Georgia, like every other US state, has two senators.
- US Senators have a great deal of power when it comes to bringing the concerns of their state to the national arena. US Senators can author, sponsor, amend, debate and vote on bills which may become national law.
- US Senators have an important role in deciding who runs the federal government. They hold confirmation hearings for most presidential appointees, including new Supreme Court Justices and Presidential Cabinet Members.
- Senators can be appointed to committees which focus on particular issues. Examples include the Appropriations Committee, which handles budget planning, or the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is a diplomatic body that welcomes foreign delegations.
- Senators are elected to six-year terms in statewide elections. US Senators are paid a salary of $174,000/year.
Currently, there is a runoff election for Georgia US Senator between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker.
How this impacts you
- Economic Growth — The Senate passes bills which can stimulate the economy, such as the American Rescue Plan of 2021 which provided $1.9 trillion in stimulus money for Americans struggling to work or maintain businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Foreign Policy — The Senate can affect foreign policy by passing bills which fund foreign involvement or passing symbolic resolutions, such as the recent resolution condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
2022 Runoff Candidates for Georgia’s US Senate
| The Issues that Matter | Raphael Warnock Democrat | Herschel Walker Republican |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | Supports reinvesting in a clean economy based on green transportation and energy infrastructure. Supports investing in broadband internet access across the country. Wants to fight for fair wages and equitable employment practices. Opposes tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. | Wants to lower taxes. Wants to reduce regulations on businesses. Wants to make America energy independent to lower gas prices. |
| Immigration | Promises to prevent family separation at the border. Supports an end to the use of private prisons as detention centers. Wants to protect the status of DACA recipients. Supports keeping Title 42 program in place, for now. Title 42 was created in 2020 and has been used to prevent asylum-seekers from entering the US during the COVID pandemic. It has been used to deport 1.7 million people, according to the AJC. The Biden Administration announced Title 42 will end on May 23, 2022. | Wants to secure the US-Mexico border. Said that he “is fully supportive of those who follow the legal immigration process”. |
| Foreign Policy | Wants to “advance America’s values around the world.” Supports the use of diplomacy as the first and best resort for solving global crises. Promises to speak out against tyrants and dictators. | Said that he will “always put American interests first at home and abroad”. Wants to increase military spending. On the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said, “[t]his was completely avoidable. President Biden’s disastrous foreign policy has moved America from a position of strength to one of weakness.” |
| Environment | Said fighting “climate change is a moral issue.” Wants to address the lack of access to clean water and air in many Black and brown communities. As a US Senator, he cosponsored the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act, which gave tax credits for solar energy production. | As of October 24, 2022, Herschel Walker’s website did not contain information on this issue and Herschel Walker did not complete our questionnaire. |
| Healthcare | Wants to expand Medicaid. Promises to protect the Affordable Care Act. Supports creating a public option for healthcare, but opposes getting rid of private insurance. Wants the federal government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep drug prices affordable. | Opposes abortion. |
| Voting & Representation | Wants to restore the Voting Rights Act. As a US Senator, he introduced the Preventing Election Subversion Act, which requires cause for governments to remove local election officials from office. It also makes it a federal crime to harass an election poll worker. The bill has been referred to committee but has not been put up for a vote in the Senate as of March 2022. Opposes Georgia’s recent passage of SB 202, which he calls, “a sweeping voter suppression law.” | As of October 24, 2022, Herschel Walker’s website did not contain information on this issue and Herschel Walker did not complete our questionnaire. |
