Washington DC (Washington Insider Magazine) — Raphael Warnock is an American Baptist pastor and politician. He has served as the junior United States senator from Georgia since 2021. Warnock is also a member of the Democratic Party, and he started to work in the office on January 20, 2021.
Since 2005, Warnock has been serving as the senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church. He also worked as the senior pastor of Douglas Memorial Community Church till 2005. Warnock came into the public eye when he became the leading activist in the campaign. He expanded Medicaid in the state under the Affordable Care Act.
Biography
Warnock was born on July 23, 1969 in Savannah Georgia. He grew up in public housing as the eleventh of twelve children born to his father and mother. Raphael worked at the U.S. Army during World War II, and this is where he learned automobile mechanics and welding. He opened a small car restoration business and restored many junk cars. His mother picked cotton and tobacco when she was a teenager and later became a pastor. Raphael spent his early life in Baltimore.
Warnock graduated from Sol C. Johnson High School in 1987 and attended Morehouse College, from where he graduated in 1991. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He enrolled an early college courses through Savannah State University and later earned Master of Divinity, Master of Philosophy, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. He is known as the master of philosophy because he earned so many degrees. Warnock earned a degree from union theological seminary after he graduated with a bachelor of arts in psychology.
Religious work
Raphael served as the youth pastor and then assistant pastor at Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York. He was a pastor at Abyssinian, and worked as a part of the organization for many years. He also served as the senior pastor at Douglas memorial community church. As a pastor, Warnock played an important role in helping the poor and needy. He advocated clemency for Troy Davis, who got executed in 2011. In 2005 he became the senior pastor and played an important role in improving society.
Warnock hosted an interfaith meeting that was held on the topic of climate change at a church. This event featured Al Gore and William Barber II as well. On Easter Sunday 2021, Warnock’s Twitter account tweeted, “The meaning of Easter is more transcendent than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whether you are a Christian or not, through a commitment to helping others we can save ourselves.”
Some conservative Christians and political commenters were not too happy with the Tweet. Benjamin Watson, Allie Beth Stuckey, and Jenna Ellis called this Tweet “heretical”. The tweet got deleted in the afternoon, and the spokesperson of Warnock said:
“the tweet was posted by staff and was not approved” but declined to say whether it reflected Warnock’s beliefs.
Political Activism
Warnock came out in the public eye as a politician when he entered Georgia politics. He served as the leader in the campaign that was aimed at expanding Medicaid in the state. In March Warnock worked with the other legislators and accepted the Medicaid offered by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Warnock campaigned for the Georgia Democrats to help increase the outreach to low-income communities. He was not in favor of the war and talked about how world war ii had affected the quality of living in the United States. In the 2016 election for the United States Senate, he gained the seat that was previously owned by Johnny Isakson.
Warnock supported the Affordable Care Act and called for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. He also participated in the COVID-19 relief funding and also worked in the favor of abortion rights and gay marriage. The politician supported Planned Parenthood and opposed the concealed carry of firearms. He participated in the general election and held a seat there. Warnock was also a religious leader and worked at the Abyssinian Baptist church. He promoted that religious leaders do not want guns in places of worship and he also opposed the death penalty.
Personal life
Warnock is currently living in Atlanta along with his family. He got married to Oulèye Ndoye in a public ceremony on February 14, 2016. They held a private ceremony to celebrate their wedding in January. The couple has two children. The couple separated in November 2019 and filed a divorce. Their divorce was finalized in 2020.
In March 2020, Ndoye accused Warnock of running his car over her foot during a verbal argument. Warnock denied the accusation. According to an Atlanta Police Department report, Warnock called police to the scene, and Ndoye was reluctant to show her foot. The police officer said: “did not see any signs that Ms. Ouleye’s foot was run over. Later medical professionals then arrived at the scene, but they could were”not able to locate any swelling, redness, or bruising or broken bones” on Ndoye’s foot.
In February 2022, Ndoye requested the court to modify their child custody agreement. She demanded “additional custody of their two young children so she can complete a Harvard University program”, and wanted to get a recalculation of child support payments. In October 2022, Savannah’s city government re-named Cape Street, where Warnock grew up during 1980s, Raphael Warnock Way.
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Net Worth
Warnock net worth is estimated to be around 8 to 10 million. He earns a basic annual salary of around $275,000. Interestingly, Warnock earned 164,816 for his senate salary in 2021. According to his federal election financial form, Raphael Warnock’s net worth is estimated to be around $800,000.
This net worth depends on the market values of his stock portfolio. His largest stock asset is the account which is worth between $500,000 and $1 million. Warnock has made dozen other investments that help him earn around $1,000 and $15,000 every year. His salary is expected to see an increase in the coming years because he is active in his political career.
