Herschel Walker Shuns Both GOP Governor Candidates in Georgia

(Bloomberg) -- Republican U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker, the handpicked choice of former President Donald Trump, isn’t supporting either man in Georgia’s GOP primary battle for governor, a contest that could sway the state’s presidential vote in 2024. 

The former University of Georgia football player told a group of college students that he’s mad at both Governor Brian Kemp and challenger David Perdue.

“I don’t support either one of them,” Walker said at a Monday gathering at the University of North Georgia, according to a tape of the event obtained by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I’ve known Governor Kemp since I was 16 years old. I’ve known Senator Perdue since I was 19. This is what I want to say to everyone here: I want to bring this party together. We’ve got to bring this party together.”

Perdue, who lost his Senate re-election bid in 2020, is challenging Kemp with the support of Trump, who blames the governor for certifying the election results in the presidential race. Adherence to the former president’s untruths about the election has become central to the contest. The state has since made election officials more vulnerable to partisan actors.

Walker said the primary race is dividing the party.

“What has happened now is some people get sour grapes and they don’t get out and vote. And I want to say whoever loses that race -- whether it’s Governor Kemp or Senator Perdue -- he needs to tell his people to go out and vote for the other. It’s time for you to stop having sour grapes and think about this party.”

The winner will face Stacey Abrams, a voting-rights activist whom Democrats have lauded for delivering the state to Joe Biden in the presidential race and helping elect two Democratic senators.  

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