Raphael Warnock Georgia Senate Election Results Speech Transcript January 5

Raphael Warnock: (00:00)
… Baptist church, the spiritual home of Martin Luther King Jr, and Congressman John Lewis. A son of my late father, who was a pastor, a veteran and a small businessman. And my mother who was a teenager growing up in Waycross Georgia, used to pick somebody else’s cotton. But the other day, because this is America, the 82 year old hands that used to pick somebody else’s cotton, went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States Senator. So I come before you tonight as a man knows that the improbable journey that led me to this place in this historic moment in America could only happen here. We were told that we couldn’t win this election, but tonight we proved that with hope, hard work and the people by our side, anything is possible. May my story be an inspiration to some young person who is trying to grasp and grab hold of the American dream.

Raphael Warnock: (01:22)
And so Georgia, I am honored by the faith that you have shown in me. And I promise you this tonight: I am going to the Senate to work for all of Georgia. No matter who you cast your vote for in this election, in this moment in American history, Washington has a choice to make, in fact, all of us have a choice to make. Will we continue to divide, distract and dishonor one another? Or will we love our neighbors as we love ourselves? Will we play political games, while real people suffer? Or will we win righteous fights together, standing shoulder to shoulder for the good of Georgia, for the good of our country? Will we seek to destroy one another as enemies or heed the call towards the common good building together, what Dr. King called the beloved community. Here’s what I know: I know that we can beat this pandemic, with science and good old fashioned common sense.

Raphael Warnock: (02:42)
I know we can rebuild a fairer economy by respecting the dignity of work and the workers who do it. And the economy that honors those whom we now call essential workers by paying them an essential wage and providing for them essential benefits. And so to everyone out there struggling today, whether you voted for me or not, know this: I hear you. I see you. And every day I’m in the United States Senate, I will fight for you.

Raphael Warnock: (03:22)
I will fight for your family. To our supporters: our incredible campaign team and to my family, thank you from the bottom of my heart. And to every Georgian who marched with us, organized with us, prayed for us, fought for us, believed in us, or shared their story and their pain with us: thank you for all of your love and support. In the words of Dr. King who grew up just a few blocks from where I’m sitting right now, we are tied in a single garment of destiny.

Raphael Warnock: (04:08)
We are caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. I remember my dad in this moment, he used to wake me up every morning at dawn. It was morning, but it was still dark. It’s dark right now, but morning comes. And scripture tells us that weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Let us rise up, greet the morning and meet the challenges of this moment. Together we can do the necessary work and when the future for all of our children. Thank you. God bless you, Georgia. And God bless these United States of America.