Walker has big, early lead in GOP primary contest for Georgia Senate seat

A new survey shows former NFL star Herschel Walker has a big early lead in his bid to win the GOP primary for a Georgia Senate seat.

The survey from OnMessage Inc., a Republican political consulting firm, shows 74% of state GOP primary voters said they would vote for Walker, compared to 6% for his closest rival, Gary Black, while 16% remain undecided, according to Politico.

The survey was conducted from Oct. 11-14, suggesting the primary electorate had already coalesced around Walker, backed early by former President Trump, before Senate GOP leaders publicly offered their support for his 2022 bid, Politico also reports. Among them were Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. 

Walker starred at the University of Georgia before playing football professionally for the Dallas Cowboys. GOP leaders were reluctant early to back Walker amid news coverage of past business dealings and domestic violence allegations. 

Walker announced his bid in August. 

The survey also shows 61% of self-described moderate Republican voters are backing Walker, compared to 81% of conservatives. 

Walker will face Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock, who along with fellow Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff won runoff races in Georgia in January to give their party the Senate majority.