The next is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Raphael Warnock, Democrat of Georgia, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Oct. 20, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is Weijia Jiang reporting from Atlanta. We go now to Democratic Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia, good morning to you.
SEN. RAPHAEL WARNOCK: Good morning. Margaret, nice to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly earlier than we get to politics, Senator, I wish to ask you about one thing that occurred in a single day in your state. We perceive tragic information outdoors of Savannah, a minimum of seven folks have been killed when a ferry dock collapsed on a Georgia Island. The White Home says they’re on standby to supply assets. Does Georgia want them?
SEN. WARNOCK: Margaret, that is tragic information. The Gullah Geechee neighborhood is such a wealthy neighborhood of resilient custom, and there they have been celebrating, and as of us have been leaving a gangway to the dock collapsed. We all know that we have misplaced a minimum of seven folks, however my prayers exit to these households. I pledge all of the assets of my workplace to unravel this, and we stand with the neighborhood of Sapelo Island, Georgia, not removed from my hometown.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re sorry to listen to about that, sir. I wish to transfer on to politics. We’re so near election day. You understand, 33% of Georgia’s registered voters are black, greater than every other swing state. Our CBS polling exhibits that black voters are nonetheless voting closely Democratic, similar to in previous elections, supporting Harris on the similar fee they supported Biden again in 2020, however we’re seeing that expressed probability of turnout lags that of white voters. What do it’s worthwhile to do to assist activate folks to indicate up?
SEN. WARNOCK: Oh, we simply must maintain doing the work. And the excellent news is, that is precisely what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are doing. They don’t seem to be taking something without any consideration. You understand, I have been by means of a number of robust races in Georgia, and also you simply have to go away all of it on the sector. And so she’s been right here a number of instances. She’ll be right here later right now, worshiping on the New Start Church, and we glance ahead to- and I perceive she’s coming once more later, later this week, so we’ll maintain doing the work, and we will get her over the end line in Georgia and within the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, you realize the final time you have been with us, sir, again in March, you and I spoke about why Gaza was such a resonant situation with black pastors and black voters. Our newest ballot exhibits 60% of black voters say the US ought to push Israel to lower or cease navy motion. Simply this previous week, the administration despatched a letter to Israel calling on its authorities to permit in support to Gaza. It has dropped to its lowest stage in a yr, and warning that inside 30 days measures must be taken. Are you disenchanted that the Biden Harris administration has been unable to influence America’s ally to do extra on the humanitarian entrance?
SEN. WARNOCK: Hear, I’m deeply involved about what’s occurring in that space of the world, the Palestinian civilians, the Israeli civilians who have been caught up in the midst of this battle. We’ve got to heart the humanity of each the Palestinian and Israeli folks. I help our efforts to guarantee that our ally can defend itself. It is in a troublesome, robust neighborhood. I feel we’re at one other turning level. We’re at a important second. I used to be heartened to see vice chairman Harris lean into this second after the assassin- the killing of the Hamas chief, to name for peace, and that is what we want. We want peace, and we’ve got to make use of all of our assets to deliver that to bear.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However do you assume that is going to harm vice chairman Harris, with youthful voters? She hasn’t actually expressed a special coverage than President Biden?
SEN. WARNOCK: Properly, hear, let me be actually clear. I am principally involved about what’s occurring to the parents who’re in that area, not not the politics round this. As I, as I mentioned a number of months in the past, we’ve got to guarantee that that our kids are okay, Palestinian kids and Israeli kids. And here is the factor, here is, here is the distinction. Donald Trump is not going to even give full throttle help to a two-state resolution. He’s, he has been very, very clear together with his Undertaking 2025 that he would really finish support to Gaza and the West Financial institution. The distinction between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, they’re those who’re operating, couldn’t be extra stark. And we’ve got to proceed to attempt to deliver this battle to peace, deliver the hostages house and supply a peace that, or a path that, honors the humanity of Palestinian and Israeli folks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, we’ve got seen unimaginable turnout on the polls in Georgia thus far. On Friday although, Vice President Harris spoke about assaults on the liberty to vote, and she or he particularly referenced the state of Georgia, as you realize, the Division of Justice and the state had been combating going all the best way again to 2021 about some state legal guidelines that the Justice Division mentioned denied or abridged the precise of black Georgians to vote on account of their race or colour. The Justice Division didn’t win that case. Do you assume that the Vice President’s continued feedback might backfire right here by way of discouraging folks from displaying as much as vote?
SEN. WARNOCK: No, I feel the goal of voter suppression is to discourage folks from voting. Look, we noticed the shenanigans of the Georgia State Board of Elections for what they’re. This effort to actually change the principles whereas individuals are voting, and the courts rightly pushed again on that. Do not forget that throughout my runoff, my final runoff, I needed to sue the state of Georgia, State officers simply so folks might vote the primary weekend of the runoff. Fortunately, the courts bought it proper throughout my election, and by the best way, my margin of victory was near the quantity of people that voted that first weekend that they mentioned ‘we could not vote.’ The courts bought it proper in my case. They bought it proper once more this week, however I feel an important factor is for folk to indicate up. The best way to reply to that is to to not permit, to not permit anybody to silence your voice. I am glad that we’re seeing this unimaginable turnout all throughout our state. I feel it speaks to the vigilance of the folks of Georgia, and I hope they will stick with it all over early voting, which ends on November 1st. Then that they’ll get others there on November fifth.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However, your governor, Brian Kemp, mentioned the reality is that it is easy to vote and exhausting to cheat in Georgia, and he has criticized the Vice President and democratic officers, saying they lied about Georgia’s election legal guidelines to lift marketing campaign money and scare folks. Does not this excessive turnout assuage a few of what you name makes an attempt at voter suppression?
SEN. WARNOCK: Hear, I have been by means of a number of elections in Georgia, and what we noticed was traces wrapped round buildings. We noticed the hassle of state officers to make it unimaginable for folks to vote the primary weekend of our runoff, and Georgians stood up. Hear, the truth that voter voters end up doesn’t suggest there is no voter suppression. It simply signifies that folks aren’t keen to have their voices silenced or muted. And the excellent news is that they are displaying up, and we’ll maintain this going between now and November 1st, after which present up on Election Day on November fifth.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you stand by your your perception that there are makes an attempt to suppress the vote in Georgia?
SEN. WARNOCK: Hear, we noticed what the state board of elections did simply this final week-
[CROSSTALK STARTS]
MARGARET BRENNAN: -However the courtroom,
SEN. WARNOCK: They actually, are attempting to alter the principles in the midst of an election-
MARGARET: -However the courtroom struck these down,
[CROSSTALK ENDS]
SEN. WARNOCK: -And the courts, the courts, needed to undo what they have been attempting to do. And what I am saying to the folks of Georgia is that the best way to reply to that is to maintain displaying up, as a result of once we present up, we win.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And lastly, are you involved in any respect about political violence in your state?
SEN. WARNOCK: Hear, I feel it is essential that each one of us remind ourselves that in america of America, we’ve got sturdy arguments concerning the path of the nation, concerning the measurement of presidency, about what authorities ought to ship. And people arguments are sturdy and generally rambunctious with a purpose to keep away from violence. And so I belief that cooler heads will prevail, and that we’ll do not forget that on the finish of the day, that opposite to what Donald Trump has advised, our enemies should not inside. We’re an American folks. We do not at all times agree on all the things, however the great point is that we are able to have this dialog. That is what democracy appears like, and we’re seeing it play out proper now
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. Thanks on your time this morning.
SEN. WARNOCK: Nice to be with you
MARGARET BRENNAN: “Face the Nation” can be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
