Reverend Raphael Warnock is reflecting on his recent election to the US Senate this week, and he wants to encourage voters to stay involved.
In a conversation with V103’s The Morning Culture, Warnock expressed how grateful he is to have been elected. “Well, now that I’ve had a chance to take a quick nap, I feel great. Running for office is not for the faint of heart, I’ll tell you that,” he said in jest.
He continued on to say that the hardships of an election were not experienced in vain. “It is all worth it, and I got in this race as a continuation of my lifelong commitment to service, and to think that I get to take that into the halls of the US Senate is just such a deep honor,” he said.
When asked how he felt to be the first Black US Senator from Georgia, Warnock said, “I feel like I stand on the shoulders of my heroes.” In particular, Warnock credits the life and words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “He absolutely captivated me…when I was 10, 11, 12 years old,” he said.
“I’m thinking today about him. I’m thinking about John Lewis... I’m thinking about C.T. Vivian,” he said, listing off various other “heroes” of his own.
In regards to the riots that took the US Capitol on Wednesday, Warnock said, “We saw this terrible expression yesterday of violence, of lawlessness with a nice helping of bigotry. And that’s the complicated story of America.”
But Warnock is hopeful that we can use these periods of strain to rebuild. “We can build together a beloved community,” he said. “We have no right to give up, we have to fight for the best of the American spirit.”
“I’m proud of the state of Georgia,” he continued, speaking again about his election to the US Senate. “Those folks stood up and said ‘yes’ to a more inclusive America.”
It’s not lost on Warnock that the other election that took place, that of Jon Ossoff to the US Senate, was also a huge stepping stone for the country. “And that Jon and I get to go to the Senate together to bring the insight of our experience to the arguments about healthcare, criminal justice reform, voting rights, a whole range of issues, is reason to hope,” he shared.
And if there’s one thing Warnock wants voters to remember, it’s to not sit back now that the elections are over. “I want people to be clear – you voted for me, but you can’t outsource your democracy to anybody, including me. We need all hands on deck – not just to get me elected – we need all hands on deck to hold all of us accountable,” he said.
He continued on to say how important it is to contact Congress in the event of injustices that need to be addressed. “They count phone calls. They measure what’s going on based on how many people call, how many people write. You have to stay engaged,” he concluded.
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