David Perdue won’t be running to take back his Senate seat in 2022, leaving the field open for other Republican candidates to challenge newly elected Democratic Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Perdue said the decision was personal, not political, and that he would “do everything I can” to make sure that Warnock is replaced by a Republican in 2022.
The decision comes a week after Perdue filed the paperwork required to run for the post currently held by Warnock, who defeated Georgia’s other former Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler in the Jan. 5 runoff.
In the statement, Perdue parroted unfounded claims spread by former President Donald Trump — who also lost Georgia — regarding the security and validity of Georgia’s election, and referenced the election reform bills currently making their way through the Georgia General assembly.