Georgia Republicans have two problems in 2022. The first is Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, who won the Senate in the 2021 special election against Sen. Kelly Loeffler. The second is Republicans have many strong Republican candidates for US Senate in this year’s Republican primary: a former US Army General, a former Navy SEAL, a former US Air Force Academy football star, a former Georgia state senator, and a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL athlete. But who is best to represent Republicans and go up against Raphael Warnock in the November 2022 election?
As I searched online to understand who I was going to vote for in the 2022 Georgia Republican primary on Tuesday, May 24th, I struggled. As someone with an above average interest in politics, I could not find a good comparison among the Senate candidates. So how would someone who is less interested or simply has other priorities make an informed decision?
The goal of my analysis was to compare what is a very strong pool of candidates. I’ve included my analysis below which includes three tables that cover the candidates background information, their policies, and their campaign funding. At the end, I will tell you who I am voting for and why, but here’s what I learned.
NOTE: If you’re reading on your phone, rotate your phone to landscape orientation to better view the tables.
Table 1: Candidate Background & Bio
Understanding a candidate’s background and religious affiliation (and therefore worldview) is important to understand if that candidate can understand your interests and represent your values.
| Candidate & Summary | Professional & Educational Background | Family & Religious Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Herschel Junior Walker (60 years old) Former professional NFL athlete and business owner  | – Business owner of chicken distribution (Renaissance Man Food Services) – Professional athlete in NFL (Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles – 1992 Winter Olympics USA bobsleigh team (finished 7th) – All-star running back for University of Georgia – Has been public about his dissociative identity disorder and has advocated for mental health to veterans and his book | – Married to Julie Blanchard in May 2021 after a decade together – Has son Christian Walker who is a conservative internet personality – Married to Cindy Grossman for 19 years (1983-2002) ————— – Christian / Protestant |
| Latham Saddler (38 years old) Former Navy SEAL and Director of Intelligence Programs on National Security Council (NSC) in Trump Administration  | – Chief of Staff, Office of Chairman and CEO at Synovus (2020-2021) – Director of Intelligence Programs on National Security Council (2017-2018) – White House Fellow (2018-2019) Navy SEAL Officer (2011-2018) – University of Maryland, MPS: Persian Studies (2009-2010) – Georgia Tech: Master of Science International Affairs (2007-2010) – University of Georgia (BBA), Economics (2001-2005) | – Married to Melissa – Two sons ————— – Christian / Protestant |
| Gary W. Black (63 years old) Seasoned agriculture commissioner and leader  | – Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia (3rd term) – 21 years as President of Georgia Agribusiness Council (1989-2010) – University of Georgia – 40 years in farm business as a cattle farmer | – Married to Lydia Beavers, a K-12 teacher – 2 children ————— – Christian / Protestant – Maysville Baptist Church |
| Kelvin King Small business owner and Air Force Academy college star  | – Owner of construction services company – Former General Manager for international construction firm – US Air Force officer in logistics – All-Conference football player while at the US Air Force Academy | – Married to Janelle, a Fox 5 Atlanta commentator ————— – Christian / Protestant – Church at Church of the Apostles |
| Josh Clark (42 years old) Former 2-term Georgia state senator & real estate firm owner  | – Served two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and voluntarily left after term limit pledge – Owner of real estate firm – Former executive at multi-level marketing company, NeoLife | – Married to childhood sweetheart, Chelsey – Six children (ages 6 – 18) ————— – Protestant / Christian – Christ Place Church in Flowery Branch |
| Jonathan “Jon” McColumn 1-star General in the US Army, ordained minister, and government contractor  | – Government contracting administration for US Army (2017-2022) – Brigadier General (Retired), U.S. Army (1984 – 2017) – Associate / Assistant Clergy / Pastor while serving in the military across Arlington, VA; Atlanta, GA; and Japan – US Army War College: Master National Security, US National Security (2009-2010) – Webster University: Master of Business Administration (MBA) (2000-2002) – Elmira College: MS Education and Teaching (1990-1992) -Georgia College & State University: Business Administration & Management (1984-1986) | – Not able to find marital information – One daughter ————— – Christian / Protestant |
Table 2: Issues – Differentiation
Most Republican candidates had almost entirely the same stated issues on their websites, including being Pro-Life, so what I looked for was differentiation and unique ideas. The following are what seemed to me to be unique and/or differentiating ideas held by candidates. I’ve also included their stated campaign vision and issues as a reference as well.
| Candidate & Campaign Vision | Top 3 Unique Ideas (per AMBTimes analysis) | Other Common Campaign Issues |
|---|---|---|
| Herschel Junior Walker “Keep the American dream alive“ | 1. Keep the American dream alive 2. Defend, not defund, the police 3. Constitutional judges to our courts | – Job creation – Lower taxes – Less government regulation – Energy independence – Pro-life – Pro-family – Secure our borders and protect Americans – Support for small businesses and American workers – Defend the 2nd amendment – Invest in military – Freedom of speech |
| Latham Saddler “Security, Liberty, Prosperity” | 1. Technical and trades education to make Georgia the re-shoring capital of American manufacturing 2. Bring manufacturing opportunities home from China 3. Invest in military and intelligence community | Security – Invest in military and intelligence community – Prevail over Community China – Border security Liberty – Defend the 2nd amendment – Protect unborn life – Freedom of speech Prosperity: – Less dependence – Lower taxes – Fewer regulations |
| Gary W. Black “Take America back” | 1 Agriculture 2. Regressive power grabs – aka against packing the Supreme Court 3. Infrastructure 4. Georgia veterans | – Cancel culture – Communist China – Crime – Critical race theory – Education – Election security – Infrastructure – Illegal Immigration – Jobs and economy – National security – Pro-life – Defend the 2nd amendment – Lower taxes |
| Kelvin King “Preserve the American dream” | 1. Cut federal spending 2. Build the wall 3. Stand with Israel | – Protect Life – Ban CRT – Secure elections – Defend the 2nd amendment – Prioritize defense spending – Lower taxes – Improve veteran care |
| Josh Clark “Fighting for Georgia Family Values” | 1. Pass a balanced budget to stop irresponsible spending 2. Stop insider stock trades of politicians 3. Protect the 1st Amendment Against Big Tech | – Lower taxes – Secure the Border – Stand with Israel – Pro-Life – Protecting Family Values – Election Security – Constitutional Conservative – Defend the 2nd Amendment – Protect the 1st Amendment Against Big Tech – Term Limits – Education – Energy Independence – Strong National Defense – Law & Order |
Jonathan “Jon” McColumn | 1. Education Independence (vouchers follow children in event of failing school) 2. The sex one is born with is the appropriate designation 3. No State Taxes for Retired Military Citizen residing in Georgia | – Rising Inflation / Debt ($28T) – Misrepresentation of laws (voting) – Pro-life – No State Taxes for Retired Military Citizen residing in Georgia – Secured Borders States Retain Rights (per United States Constitution) – Healthcare available to all Georgians – Fiscal Accountability – Pro Fossil Fuels (until market determines otherwise) – Education Independence (vouchers follow children in event of failing school) – Low Taxes are Best – Existential threat to US (China, Cybersecurity, deception (some media), US Debt, education) |
Table 3: Campaign Funding & Trump Association
Campaign funding is a leading indicator of a campaign’s momentum. Herschel Walker was an early Republican favorite with wide name recognition and having secured a Trump endorsement, but Latham Saddler, a mostly unknown candidate last year, fundraised $4.1M to date. Candidates Gary Black and Kelvin King have raised $2M and $1.5M respectively, but have spent most of it already, apparently making a big push to separate themselves from the other candidates.
| Candidate | Association with Trump | Total Fundraised | Total Spent | Remaining Cash on Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herschel Junior Walker | Trump endorsement | $16.5M | $9.3M | $7.1M |
| Latham Saddler | Worked in Trump administration at National Security Council | $4.1M | $2.4M | $1.7M |
| Gary W. Black | Trump supporter | $2.0M | $1.5M | $468K |
| Kelvin King | None/limited | $1.5M | $1.4M | $111K |
| Josh Clark | None/limited | $347K | $241K | $105K |
| Jonathan “Jon” McColumn | None/limited | $0 | $0 | $0 |
* According to the FEC, “Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee.”
** According to the FEC, a disbursement “is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election,” plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
My Endorsement for US Senate Candidate: Latham Saddler
I was introduced to Latham Saddler after watching an interview with Warrior Poet Society’s John Lowell on the Two Greatest Threats to America. I monitored the US senate candidates make their case, but Latham Saddler’s positions’ most resonated with me – especially his stance on responding to China’s global aggression. Beyond his policies, which admittedly most Republicans are very similar, Saddler seemed to be the candidate who best represented what I believed to be a statesman: someone with a strong moral compass, the ability to make well-informed, decisions under pressure, and the ability to communicate effectively, and work within a team. (For another perspective on characteristics of a statesman, see The 4 Qualities of a True Statesman over at The Art of Manliness.)
His statesman-like characteristics to me seem further evidenced in his ability to fundraise $4M as almost completely unknown candidate within the last year. Clearly other people believe that Saddler is a statesman as well.
Last week, I actually ran into former Latham Saddler while getting a haircut and then again at a coffee shop. I got to speak to him for a few minutes. He asked about me and then shared about his conviction to run – a prayerful decision with his Bible study, confirmed through a Bible verse received out-of-the-blue from a mutual friend.
Saddler seemed like a genuine guy with a desire to run not from vanity, self-promotion, and a desire for power, but out of conviction. Those convictions are that the US needs to wake up to China’s encroachment and to strengthen our national security, to preserve our liberties and to protect the unborn, and to continue to promote economic prosperity through “dignity, not dependency.”
There are many great Republican senate candidates in Georgia, but this experience only confirmed my support of Latham Saddler for Senate in the Republican Primary on Tuesday, May 24.
Why Not Herschel Walker, who many Republicans consider the front runner?
Herschel Walker received an early Trump endorsement and with his name recognition quickly became the Republican front-runner. Walker has fundraised a large war chest and has been leading both in the Republican polls as well as in polls running against Sen. Raphael Warnock.
However, Herschel Walker’s campaign strategy has been one of fundraising & running ad campaigns and avoiding other Republican senate candidates and not defending his policies. It’s a wise strategy on his part given his name recognition, but it’s a strategy that worries me as a Republican.
The risk is that Herschel has not been forced to articulate his positions on the public stage and hasn’t been properly vetted to stand up and articulate in a nationally-watched senate election campaign against Raphael Warnock. (Sarah Palin anyone?). Given such a close senate majority, every Senate seat matters at the national level. Campaigns with this much visibility receive out-of-state funding as I would assume Walker has received. What that equates to is potentially massive opposition research and ad campaigns from the Democratic party and/or Super PACs.