U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., in a speech to Wisconsin Dems at their state convention today urged them to remember that “we are not at war with one another” amid political violence.
Warnock noted the shootings of two Dem lawmakers from Minnesota and their spouses. Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed. Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot several times in an assassination attempt and underwent surgery, but are expected to survive.
He also referenced the handcuffing and forced removal of his colleague, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., from a press conference with Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem this week, an altercation he labeled “abuse.”
“We are in a fight, but we are not at war with one another,” Warnock said. “At the end of the day, we’re all we’ve got — Democrats, independents and Republicans, red, yellow, brown, Black and white, urban and rural, liberal and conservative, male and female, whoever we are, we are all we’ve got. And if you want to fight, you ought to fight for the U.S., you ought to fight for us.”
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Warnock also criticized Republicans’ reconciliation bill and cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, also known as food stamps. He said residents of counties like Clay County, Georgia, and Menominee County in Wisconsin rely heavily on food stamps.
“Those people in these rural communities are scratching their heads,” Warnock said. “They’re wondering why Washington politicians are giving tax cuts to billionaires while taking away programs that help families afford groceries, all the while putting on them tariffs that are increasing the cost on everything from groceries to baby supplies. It simply does not make sense.”
Warnock also praised Wisconsin Democrats, including fellow U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison. He said the last time he visited Wisconsin, he was there to send Baldwin back to the Senate.
“But here’s what I said: You sent us Ron Johnson, the least you can do is send Tammy Baldwin back. And she’s back in place, and we’re working on him next,” Warnock said.
