Raphael Warnock's Campaign Cash Is Coming From Everywhere But Georgia

Georgia pastor and Senator Raphael Warnock leads his Republican opponent and former NFL player Herschel Walker by more than $100 million in campaign financing, and more than 90 percent of Warnock's funding is from outside the state.

Warnock and Walker are in a close race, one that will come to a head in the upcoming midterm elections and has the potential to flip the Democrat-led Senate. The two faced off for their only debate on October 14. Walker has failed to overtake Warnock in many polls, and a recent controversy over whether Walker, a staunch anti-abortion advocate, paid for an abortion for a girlfriend has contributed to his struggle to keep up with Warnock.

OpenSecrets, a nonprofit organization tracking campaign financing, found that most of Warnock's donations have come from New York. A little more than 8 percent—or $12 million—of his more than $145 million in campaign financing was sourced from Georgia, with more than $133 million coming from other states.

Warnock's campaign financing soared past that of Walker, who has raised more than $13 million, but saw a higher percentage of financing from his home state. Nearly 40 percent of Walker's campaign is funded by Georgia donations.

OpenSecrets, which details which metropolitan areas are funding the candidates, has Atlanta behind New York for Warnock, while Walker's top two spots are in Georgia— Atlanta and Savannah.

"Given that Raphael Warnock has voted with Biden over 96% of the time, it's no surprise that 90% of his funding comes from everywhere but Georgia," Walker campaign spokesman Will Kiley told Newsweek in a press release.

"Over the past two years, Warnock has only answered to California liberals and Joe Biden. It's time we send someone to the Senate who will answer to the people of [Georgia]. Herschel Walker will represent Georgians, not Joe Biden."

Warnock's campaign funds saw something similar in 2020, when he vied for the Senate seat against Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler. The New York Post reported in 2020 that most Warnock's funds also came from areas outside of Georgia, primarily liberal cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

In 2020, Warnock was named one of the best-funded candidates in Senate history, raising more than $100 million in two months for his campaign. According to an OpenSecrets report, Loeffler raised more than $92 million over a period of five years. During that race, almost all of Warnock's funds were sourced from outside of Georgia, with only 5 percent funded by Georgia donors. The fundraising paid off, with Warnock edging Loeffler with 51 percent of the vote.

Now, the Atlanta pastor is hoping for the same result against Walker.

Newsweek reached out the Warnock campaign and several political campaign finance experts for comment.

Update 10/17/22, 3:44 p.m. ET: This story was updated with a comment from Walker's campaign.