Republican Herschel Walker has raised $3.7 million since launching his campaign for U.S. Senate about five weeks ago, as GOP donors came off the sidelines to support the former Georgia football star.
Walker’s campaign said Monday that it amassed the contributions from nearly 50,000 donors in all 50 states after he entered the race against Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock on Aug. 24.
It’s the biggest fundraising report yet this election cycle for the Republicans racing to unseat Warnock, who won a January runoff to fill out the remaining two years on retired U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s term.
The three other GOP Senate contenders have yet to report their fundraising figures. But many reliable Republican donors held off on stroking checks earlier this year as they waited to see whether Walker would enter the race.
Latham Saddler, a former NAVY Seal, emerged as the early fundraising leader in July by raising about $1.4 million during the three-month period. Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black collected about $700,000, while military veteran Kelvin King raised about $370,000.
When Walker announced his campaign in tandem with Donald Trump’s endorsement, the first-time candidate became the instant GOP frontrunner. Other potential candidates quickly indicated they wouldn’t join the contest, while others endorsed him.
Walker is trying to bank on high name recognition, along with the former president’s blessing, to power him to the Republican nomination. He’s avoided taking stances on some controversial issues, instead talking of the need to work across party lines in scattered campaign appearances.
His Republican critics contend a pattern of violent behavior in his past, his long-standing residency in Texas and his lack of political experience will weaken his bid against Warnock, the pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Warnock has yet to file his latest fundraising numbers. But he has built a formidable early edge in his quest for a full six-year term, reporting more than $10.5 million in the bank in July.
His $7.2 million haul between April to June was what his campaign said was the highest fundraising total for any Georgia candidate during an off-year fundraising quarter.
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