Herschel Walker’s notoriety as a result of being a football player could not help him win the election, but he did come close — scarily close. The Georgia Senate runoff, which occurred after neither candidate won the general election in November, ended with a win for Democrat Raphael Warnock.
Though this race may be over, its effects are not. Walker, known for his endorsement by former President Donald Trump and extremist views, proved to be unreasonable, arbitrary, and not fit for a senate seat. No matter how irrelevant, untrue, or hypocritical his statements were, he stated them unequivocally and stood by them. The closeness of this race revealed many of the issues America still faces with its polarizing political candidates, and his run will have lasting effects on our nation’s politics.
One of the most divisive issues America currently faces is abortion. Walker took a firm stance on this topic, saying he would support a full abortion ban with no exceptions. It was later revealed that Walker had paid for multiple abortions in his past, showing that he is willing to abandon this ideal when it benefits himself. Walker also had accusations of domestic violence levied against him, with a judge stating he demonstrated “a clear and present danger of family violence.” Once again, a man accused of crimes has ended up coming too close to securing a powerful position in the country. This tolerance of
damaging behavior is dangerous and encourages those who view Walker as a role model to
do the same.
Walker has also demonstrated to voters that he’s comfortable disseminating fraudulent information to his benefit. He claimed to have been in the FBI, which has been proven false. He claimed to have served in the military, when a CNN fact check stated that he only “worked as a paid spokesman for a for-profit company that preyed on veterans.” The lies he pursued were harmful to the integrity of the election, and even when he was fact checked and proven wrong, his supporters continued to stand by his side.
Trump’s presidency should have been a wake-up call that politicians need to be held accountable and should have emphasized the importance of calling out lies from our politicians. The former president was known for making outlandish comments that frequently demeaned marginalized groups and women. Nothing seemed to bring down his poll numbers. On the contrary, it seemed as though his derogatory comments only riled up his base and strengthened his supporters’ commitment to his cause. Similarly, Walker could state inflation is a women’s issue because “they’ve got to buy groceries,” a sexist and ignorant comment, and he still garnered an immense amount of support.
Walker lost this election by only 2.7%. His statements and actions, no matter how harmful, did not seem to sway many voters. Dana Loesch, a Republican commentator, even said, “I don’t care if Herschel Walker paid to abort endangered baby eagles. I want control of the Senate.” With the check of a box, voters decide what type of person will have a say in major policies that affect people’s lives. Yet, as seen in this runoff, it is no longer about integrity and purpose; it is about one party having control at any
cost. Walker’s close call with victory demonstrated how far America has strayed from its original ideal of democracy.
Though it’s easy to brush off the circumstances because of Walker’s loss, this is just one election and just one candidate. There will be more, and it is clear many still have no problem with voting for someone with the temperament of Herschel Walker.
