The pastor of Atlanta’s renowned Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was once headed by Martin Luther King Jr., is considering a run for U.S. Senate, which would pit him directly against Republican Sen. John Isakson, who will be running for his third term, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Rev. Raphael Warnock, 46, in an exclusive interview, told the Journal-Constitution that he would meet with friends, family and congregation members this month to make a final decision.
“I’ve been around Atlanta now for 10 years now, advocating for issues,” Warnock told the news site. “The question now for me is should I continue to advocate from the outside, or should I consider a venture on the inside?”
The AJC notes that Warnock would be the first Democrat to confront Isakson for his seat. Isakson, the site notes, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease but has said it would not hinder him in performing his duties.
From his post as pastor, Warnock has been outspoken on numerous issues, including pushing for strong voting-rights laws and demanding that Republicans expand Medicaid.
“I’m very concerned about a host of issues that have to do with public policy,” Warnock told the AJC. “I am a pastor, but I see, on the ground, the ways that decisions made in Washington impact the people I love and care about.”
According to the AJC, Isakson, for his part, is not bothered by the possibility of Warnock’s running.
“We have been preparing for a serious Democratic challenger from day one of this campaign. We have a tremendous amount of respect for Pastor Warnock and look forward to a robust debate on the issues if his candidacy materializes,” said Hearth Garrett, the senator’s campaign chief strategist, according to the AJC.
Read more at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.