Despite promises to slash prescription medicine prices, Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock earned more than $240,000 in campaign contributions from executives and employees of Big Pharma during the current midterm election cycle.
Major Haul!
Warnock also previously reported a huge fundraising tally for the second quarter, rolling in $17.2 million, which was more than twice the number his Republican contender Herschel Walker reported in the same time span.
Herschel Walker is running against Warnock for the seat.
🚨 Raphael Warnock is the third-largest beneficiary of money from Big Pharma execs, despite constantly decrying the pharmaceutical industry on Twitter & swearing off corporate PAC donations. #gasen #LeadRight #gapolhttps://t.co/RULimo60OP
— Dani Repass (@DaniMRepass) August 17, 2022
According to data obtained by Axios, Warnock’s campaign boasted more than 258,000 persons who gave between the months of April and June, reporting an average donation of $37 from each of those contributors.
As a direct consequence of this, the Democratic incumbent had an available cash balance of over $22.2 million as we entered the third quarter.
According to information compiled by OpenSecrets regarding political fundraising, Warnock has now also received a minimum of $240,364 from people who work for health companies.
This places him in third place among those who have benefited financially from the pharmaceutical industry.
Warnock spent a significant portion of his campaign criticizing large pharmaceutical corporations and calling for lower prices for prescription drugs. This is despite the fact he has accepted donations from pharmaceutical executives.
“Prescription drug prices are too high because Big Pharma pays for the campaigns of Washington insiders like @Kloeffler.
When we win this Senate seat for Georgia, “We can ensure that prescription drugs are affordable for everyone.” ~ Rev. Raphael Warnock #SenateRunoffs pic.twitter.com/2JBkKywOub— diane #ForAll straub (@didikins4life) November 27, 2020
“I won’t sit idly by when corporations take advantage of families in Georgia,” he said.
“I’m fighting against rising costs for health care and Rx drug prices for people all over our state,” Warnock expressed in a tweet back in July.
The Democrat from Georgia, in the past, lambasted former rivals for accepting similar payments, laying the blame for high medication prices on donations made by Big Pharma to “Washington elites like Kelly Loeffler.”
Smells Like Hypocrisy
According to information regarding political donations provided by the Federal Election Commission, upwards of a third of the money contributed by the pharmaceutical industry came from executives and staff of Pfizer, Merck, and Novartis.
In addition, Warnock accepted funding from three of the most prominent insulin manufacturers around the world: Sanofi, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk.
Insulin makers have been under fire for the exorbitant cost of the crucial diabetes drug. Warnock made it clear that he intends to bring those costs down.
An edge in terms of fundraising has been enjoyed by Warnock over his opponent Herschel Walker, particularly in the most recent quarter. The incumbent received $17.2 million, compared to Walker’s total of $6.2 million.
On November 8, the election will take place. Walker and Warnock will compete against one another. Despite the fact it is anticipated the race will be close, Warnock has been enjoying higher poll ratings than his Republican opponent.
A Quinnipiac poll found that 54% of respondents said they would vote for Warnock rather than Walker (44%).
Both candidates did not respond to news outlets’ requests for comments on their campaigns.
This article appeared in NewsHouse and has been published here with permission.
