Former Senator David Perdue is reportedly "leaning heavily" toward running against Sen. Raphael Warnock in 2022. Perdue filed paperwork to run against Warnock next year, but aides close to the former Senator said he has not yet made a final decision.
"He is close to making a decision, leaning heavily towards it, but will decide in [the] next few weeks," an adviser told Politico.
Perdue ran against Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2020 after one term in the United States Senate. Ossoff emerged victorious and began his first term in Congress last month. Meanwhile, Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated incumbent Kelly Loeffler in a special election. As a result, Warnock must win an election in 2022 before serving out a full term in Congress.
Prior to filing for the 2022 election, Perdue's name has been synonymous with scandal. During his time in office, he was a supporter of former President Donald Trump and polarizing Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanagh and Amy Coney Barrett. Not to mention, he was investigated for insider trading last year while serving in Congress. He was accused of using his knowledge of the impending COVID-19 pandemic to make beneficial moves in the stock market. The federal inquiry was closed last summer without any charges.
Perdue is not the only polarizing former GOP lawmaker considering a run against Warnock. Sen. Kelly Loeffler is reportedly considering challenging Warnock for his seat again. Also, former Rep. Doug Collins is considering challenging the freshman Senator. Both politicians have been tied to former President Donald Trump. Furthermore, Loeffler has supported Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and was investigated for insider trading alongside Perdue. Neither candidate has formally announced their intention to run next November,
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