Herschel Walker concedes election to Sen. Raphael Warnock
Republican Herschel Walker said he will not contest the results of the Georgia Senate election, as he conceded to Democrat Raphael Warnock on Tuesday.
Social media users unleashed on former NFL star Doug Flutie for appearing onstage with U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker before the Republican's concession speech to Rev. Raphael Warnock in the Georgia runoff Tuesday night.
"I’m so proud of him, we’re all so proud of him for all he’s gone through and what he’s done," Flutie said of Walker, who he called his "brother for life." "He gave it everything he had from day one, and he did it all for the right reasons. He cares about this state, and he cares about this country."
Flutie and Walker were teammates in 1985 on the New Jersey Generals, a USFL team once owned by Donald Trump. The quarterback later played in the NFL for a handful of teams, including the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie looks to pass in a game against the New York Jets in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Oct. 29, 2000. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Social media users and former fans of Flutie expressed disappointment that he was campaigning for the Republican candidate, making several sports jokes at his expense.
Some, for instance, said it was time to throw out their box of Flutie Flakes, the player's signature box of cereal popularized during his tenure with the Bills.
Others referenced his famous Hail Mary pass at the Orange Bowl on Nov. 23, 1984, when he was the quarterback for Boston College. Dubbed the "Miracle in Miami," Flutie's touchdown pass secured a 47-45 win against the University of Miami.
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Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker speaks as (L-R) Republican National Committeewoman for Georgia Ginger Howard, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, Walker’s wife Julie Blanchard and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley listen during a campaign rally in Kennesaw, Georgia, on Monday. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Some sports fans who had previously looked up to Flutie said it was "time" to pick a new hero.
"Sad day for my great hometown of Natick," digital content producer for Audacy Sports Alex Reimer wrote. "Time to pick a new townie hero."
Western Mass News weekend anchor Matt Sotile said Flutie was proof that Boston College football programs are "beyond embarrassing."
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Herschel Walker takes photos with supporters during a campaign rally in Greensboro, Georgia, on Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Some progressive media figures disparaged Walker's candidacy up until the final stages of the campaign. MSNBC anchor Joy Reid and Democratic Party strategist LaTosha Brown claimed Tuesday ahead of the final results that Black voters in Georgia have been "insulted" by the way Walker had been "walked around" and "used" by Republicans.
MSNBC contributor Jen Psaki also slammed the Walker campaign last week, claiming that the candidate’s "craziness" and his history of "attacking transgender people" would boost Warnock to a win.
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Warnock led Walker by roughly 37,000 votes out of nearly 4 million cast in November’s general election. However, since neither candidate topped 50% of the vote required by Georgia law to secure victory, the race required a runoff.
"But one of the things I want to tell you is you never stop dreaming," Walker said in his concession speech. "I don't want any of you to stop dreaming. I don't want any of you to stop believing in America. I want you to believe in America and continue to believe in the Constitution and believe in our elected officials. Most of all, continue to pray for them."
Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.
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