Raphael Warnock says Democrats’ path to a Senate majority runs through the South

The Georgia senator says Democrats should invest beyond traditional battlegrounds, pointing to Scott Colom’s Mississippi Senate race as an opportunity.

Sen. Raphael Warnock believes Democrats have a political opportunity in the South, but the party will have to do more than show up when elections are on the horizon.

In a wide-ranging interview with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin, published Sunday, Nov. 1, the Georgia Democrat argued that the party’s future depends on investing in states it has historically struggled to win, including Mississippi and South Carolina.

“I believe that the road to a sustainable majority in the Senate for Democrats runs right through the South,” Warnock told POLITICO.

The senator, who has become a prominent voice in the Democratic Party, said the party should not overlook Mississippi, where Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom is challenging Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Warnock has helped raise money for Colom’s campaign and has encouraged Democratic donors to invest in the race. He believes Mississippi could become competitive with the right organizing strategy and resources.

“I actually think Mississippi is a blue state that just needs to be organized,” Warnock said.

The comments come as Democrats look toward Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Warnock expressing optimism about the party’s chances of gaining ground in Congress.

“I think we have a great shot at the Senate,” he said, while warning that Democrats should not become overly confident.

Warnock also addressed questions about his own political future, including speculation about a potential 2028 presidential campaign. The senator, whose current term ends in 2028, declined to make a commitment, emphasizing that his immediate priority is the midterms.

“My focus is on winning the midterms,” he said.

The interview also touched on the role of faith in politics. Warnock, who serves as senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, said Democrats should be able to speak about faith without embracing Christian nationalism.

“I don’t want to live in anybody’s theocracy,” he said.

For Warnock, the challenge is building a Democratic coalition that can compete beyond traditional battleground states. His message is clear: Democrats cannot build a lasting majority by continuing to overlook the South.