Sen. Raphael Warnock promises voters at Augusta Tech rally 'I work for you'

Drums banged and supporters cheered as Augustans made some noise for Sen. Raphael Warnock, who asked the audience to make a special prayer.

"Democracy assumes that all of us have value, and if we have value, we ought to have a voice, and the way to have a voice is to have a vote," he said. "I believe that a vote is a kind of prayer for the world that we desire for ourselves and for our children."

Warnock issued this call during a rally at Augusta Tech on Thursday, Sept. 1, as part of his campaign for re-election. He was introduced by several Augusta area leaders, who spoke to his character and how important it was to send him back to Washington D.C. for another six years.

"We have a man with empathy and humility," said District 126 Rep. Gloria Frazier. She explained at a prior rally in Burke County "I had Dori and Walter Scott come to this rally, they are the parents of little Israel Scott that drowned about six weeks ago. They came with their family, and Raphael Warnock met with that family right there after that rally, and he prayed with them. This is the type of man that we have."

"One of my favorite mottos: people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," said District 125 Rep. Sheila Nelson. "Senator Warnock has shown us how much he cares about people. This is one of numerous trips he's made to Augusta, GA, and will continue to send the dollars to Augusta, GA."

Warnock told the story of how he grew up in public housing, one of 12 children, and was the first college graduate in his family; how the American Dream is one where a man grow such humble beginnings to one day being a U.S. Senator; and how, if re-elected, he will support families like the one he came from.

More: Warnock: Inflation bill could extend tax credits to close healthcare gap in Georgia

"I will stand up for working and middle class families every single day because I think it's ordinary families that deserve a tax credit," Warnock said.

He also stressed the importance of leaders from all sides working together to solve the issues, a key one being infrastructure, describing how it's about "the house that we all live in together." Warnock went on to cite last year's bipartisan infrastructure bill and how he and Sen. Ted Cruz from Texas worked together to pass an amendment designating the proposed I-14 a “high priority corridor.” The new interstate would connect several areas of Texas and Georgia, including Augusta.

More: I-14 may be designated high priority corridor; Warnock, Cruz get Senate approval

"It doesn't matter to me that he's a Republican and I'm a Democrat," he said. "If you get the Interstate built out, I've been across roads my whole life, there's no toll both where people ask you 'Are you a Republican or a Democrat?'"

This was a particular sticking point for Augusta's Mayor-Elect Garnett Johnson, who was sitting among the crowd.

"We need help with getting more and better adequate transportation for Augusta," Johnson said. "On my campaign platform, I heard a lot from Augustans, especially in south Augusta, saying that they needed a way to get from south Augusta to downtown so they can get jobs and feed their families."

More: Herschel Walker finally agrees to debate Raphael Warnock — but at a new, fourth debate

Warnock spoke on a variety of topics, but in each, repeated one promise to voters: "I work for you."

Residents like Winston Harris and Leon Maben enjoyed hearing the senator speak, and explained how he reinstated their confidence in voting for him this fall.

"We've been knowing Rev. Warnock for a long time," Harris said. "My son and his wife is members of his church in Atlanta. So what we know about him: he work for all the people."

"I think he is the right person for the job," Maben said. "He has the character, he has the caring, and he has the will of the people. He's not one that just gonna go to Washington and just forget about who voted for him and what he stand for."

Warnock’s rival in the November election is political newcomer Herschel Walker. The two have yet to participate in a debate. Warnock previously committed to three different debates, which Walker declined, but in early August, Walker invited Warnock to a debate in Savannah on Oct. 14, whichWarnock has not accepted. While he was in Augusta, Warnock did not comment on that debate request.

More: Herschel Walker finally agrees to debate Raphael Warnock — but at a new, fourth debate

With or without that event, their face-off will culminate in the next election day on Nov. 8.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Sen. Warnock rallies at Augusta Tech, promises voters 'I work for you'