Ag Commissioner Gary Black details why he entered Senate race
News, Politics, State & National June 7, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga – Georgia Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black (R) spoke about the importance of the Republican party retaking Senator Raphael Warnock (D)’s seat in 2022.
“They (President Joe Biden and Warnock) said they want to fundamentally change America. I fundamentally object to that,” Black stated before listing the rising gas prices, Middle East conflict, and small business crisis erupting in the United States.
Black believes he can provide the leadership that Georgians need in the U.S. Senate and that people choose to vote for him, not against someone else.
He also believes the GOP is healthy in Georgia with approximately 60 percent new attendees turning out for the state’s Republican Convention over the weekend.
“We’ve had the need for a cycle or two to get back to ownership of campaigns at the local level. Ownership of our values and a willingness to share them wherever we go particularly during campaign season. To put forth a positive message and a positive vision for the future of the state and the country,” Black commented.
The Agriculture Commissioner has worked closely with the Trump administration on Georgia’s farming issues. He would love to have the former President’s endorsement, but more importantly, Trump’s economic message doesn’t change. Black wants to keep Trump’s policies in place.
Black’s the first candidate to enter the U.S. Senate race with a statewide base in place. He’s served as the Agriculture Commissioner since 2011 and many across the state have already reached out to show their support for his candidacy.
Two Republicans Kelvin King and Latham Staddler entered the Senate race earlier in the year. Many wait to see if UGA great Herschel Walker will enter the race after Trump urged him to earlier in the year. However, Walker hasn’t taken any steps toward declaring his candidacy. Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, who lost to Warnock in January, did recently meet with Trump and could be contemplating another run.
Former Senator David Perdue and Former Congressman Doug Collins have opted not to run for the Senate in 2022.
Perdue opts out of 2022 Senate race
News, Politics, State & National February 23, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga – After taking the first step and filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, former Senator David Perdue (R – Ga) announced this morning that he would not seek a Senate seat in 2022.
Perdue would have faced off against Senator Raphael Warnock (D – Ga), who beat Kelly Loeffler in the January runoff. Senator Jon Ossoff won Perdue’s seat in the same runoff.
In a statement, the former Georgia senator called his decision a “personal, not political one” and expressed confidence in the Republican Party defeating the Democrats in 2022. He added that Georgia “is not a blue state.”
He also put pressure on the General Assembly to close any election law loopholes, so every legal vote counts.
See the full statement below:
“Dear Friends,
After much prayer and reflection, Bonnie and I have decided that we will not enter the race for the United States Senate in Georgia in 2022. This is a personal decision, not a political one. I am confident that whoever wins the Republican Primary next year will defeat the Democrat candidate in the General election for this seat, and I will do everything I can to make that happen. As we saw in my race in November, Georgia is not a blue state. The more Georgians that vote, the better Republicans do. These two current liberal US Senators do not represent the values of a majority of Georgians.
I am hopeful that the Georgia General Assembly, along with our statewide elected officials, will correct the inequities in our state laws and election rules so that, in the future, every legal voter will be treated equally, and illegal votes will not be included. I will do everything I can to be helpful in this effort.
It has been the honor of my life to have represented the people of Georgia in the United States Senate.
Bonnie and I want to thank my fantastic staff and everybody in the state and around the country for all the help they have given us. May God continue to bless Georgia and the United States of America.God Bless,
David and Bonnie Perdue”
With Perdue officially bowing out, it opens the Republican field to potential newcomers. Trump’s promised to participate in Georgia’s primaries after the 2020 election. He’s unhappy with Governor Brian Kemp (R – Ga) for not overturning the results.
David Perdue takes steps to run against Warnock in 2022
Featured News, Featured Stories, News February 15, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga – The 2022 U.S. Senate race starts heating up with former U.S. Senator David Perdue (R – Ga) filing paperwork to potentially run against Senator Raphael Warnock (D – Ga).
The former senator, who lost his runoff against Jon Ossoff on January 5, established the “Perdue for Senate” campaign on Monday with the Federal Election Commission.
This move doesn’t necessarily mean Perdue will enter the race, and Fox News is reporting, he will decide in the coming weeks. However, the conservative news outlet also indicates Perdue is leaning toward running.
If Perdue runs against Warnock, it leaves another prominent Georgia Republican and former Ninth District Representative Doug Collins in an interesting position. Sources say Collins’ also considering another Senate bid in 2022.
Taken from the FEC website on February 15, 2021.
In a jungle primary, Collins came in third against Warnock and former Senator Kelly Loeffler (R). Warnock later beat Loeffler in the runoff.
Related: Doug Collins will appear on BKP Politics on Tuesday, February 16 at 8 a.m.
Perdue won his Senate seat in 2014 and quickly aligned himself with President Trump in 2016. The President has strongly indicated that he would be involved in the Georgia 2022 elections following Governor Brian Kemp’s refusal to overturn the election.
Ossoff received 50.6 percent of the vote in the runoff to 49.4 percent for Perdue. On November 3, Perdue led Ossoff before dropping below 50 percent to push the race to a runoff.
Warnock and Ossoff’s wins handed the Senate control over to the Democrats, with 50 Senators and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) serving as the tie-breaking vote.
Senator Raphael Warnock
2022 will see Georgia become a political hotbed once again with Governor Brian Kemp (R), Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan (R), and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) up for reelection. Many in the Republican Party aren’t happy with the incumbents following the November 3 election. Trump’s stated he intends to find primary candidates against Kemp at least. Politicos look for Stacey Abrams (D) to run against Kemp in the general election as a 2018 rematch.