NBC: Sen. Raphael Warnock has won his second statewide runoff election in the last two years, defeating Republican Herschel Walker in the increasingly purple state of Georgia to capture a six-year term in the Senate, NBC News projected.
The contentious contest caps a 2022 midterm cycle that was unexpectedly bright for Democrats as GOP candidates faltered in key contests, particularly those backed by former President Donald Trump, like Walker. Warnock’s victory gives Democrats a more comfortable 51-seat majority in the Senate, NBC said.
At the time NBC called the race for Warnock, Warnock was leading with 50.6% of the vote to Herschel Walker, 49.4%. 94% of the votes were in with primarily Blue Atlanta counties left to count. NBC was the first to call the race, but the Associated Press and Fox News have since followed in projecting a win for Raphael Warnock.
More than 1.85 million votes were cast ahead of Tuesday’s contest, breaking records.
Moments before NBC News called the race for Warnock, President Joe Biden predicted the Democratic incumbent would win re-election in the Senate runoff race.
“We’re going to win. We’re going to win Georgia,” Biden said in response to questions regarding his outlook on the Georgia Senate runoff contest as he exited Air Force One Tuesday night.
