"Raphael Warnock is a prominent American politician and religious leader. He is currently serving as the junior United States Senator from Georgia, representing the Democratic Party. In addition to his political career, Warnock has been the senior pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta since 2005."
July 23, 1969: Birth of Raphael Warnock
Raphael Gamaliel Warnock was born on July 23, 1969. He would later become a prominent pastor and politician.
1987: Graduation from Sol C. Johnson High School
Raphael Warnock completed his high school education, graduating from Sol C. Johnson High School in 1987.
1991: Graduation from Morehouse College
Warnock earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Morehouse College in 1991, graduating cum laude.
October 22, 1995: Fidel Castro's Visit to Abyssinian Baptist Church
On October 22, 1995, Abyssinian Baptist Church, where Warnock was serving, hosted Fidel Castro. Warnock's role in the decision is unclear.
1997: Warnock Expresses Opposition to Rudy Giuliani's Workfare Reforms
In 1997, Warnock voiced his opposition to the workfare reforms implemented by then-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. He argued that such reforms could displace workers who receive fair wages and create unhealthy competition among the poor.
2000: Last Democratic Senators from Georgia
Prior to Warnock and Ossoff's election in 2021, the last time Georgia elected Democrats to the U.S. Senate was in 2000, with Zell Miller.
2000: First Democratic Senators from Georgia Since 2000
Warnock and Ossoff's victories marked the first time since 2000 that Democrats were elected to the US senate from Georgia, the last being Zell Miller.
January 2001: Appointment as Senior Pastor in Baltimore
Warnock was chosen to lead the Douglas Memorial Community Church in Baltimore, Maryland, as senior pastor starting in January 2001.
2001: Senior Pastor at Douglas Memorial Community Church
Warnock served as the senior pastor of Douglas Memorial Community Church from 2001.
2002: Arrest and Charges Dropped
Warnock and an assistant minister were arrested in 2002 for allegedly obstructing a police investigation at a church-run summer camp. However, the charges were later dropped due to a "miscommunication".
2005: Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church
In 2005, Warnock assumed the role of senior pastor at Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
2005: End of Tenure at Douglas Memorial Community Church
Warnock concluded his service as the senior pastor of Douglas Memorial Community Church in 2005.
2005: Resignation from Douglas Memorial Community Church
Warnock decided to step down from his role as senior pastor at the Douglas Memorial Community Church in 2005.
2005: Appointment at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Warnock was chosen to lead Ebenezer Baptist Church, the former congregation of Martin Luther King Jr., in 2005. He became the fifth person and the youngest to hold this position since the church's founding.
2011: Advocacy for Troy Davis
Warnock was a vocal advocate for clemency for Troy Davis, who was executed in 2011 despite controversy surrounding his case.
2013: Benediction at Obama's Inauguration
Warnock delivered the benediction at the public prayer service during President Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013, a testament to his growing national profile.
2013: Criticism of Governor Nathan Deal
Warnock publicly criticized Governor Nathan Deal in 2013 through an editorial in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, taking issue with the governor's lack of support for an integrated prom at Wilcox County High School.
March 2014: Sit-in at Georgia State Capitol
In March 2014, Warnock spearheaded a sit-in at the Georgia State Capitol to advocate for the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The protest led to his arrest along with other leaders.
2014: Criticism of Georgia's Gun Laws
In 2014, Warnock delivered a sermon where he criticized Georgia's gun laws, specifically the legislation permitting guns and concealed weapons in churches. He questioned the rationale behind the law, suggesting that the lawmakers had never experienced the dynamics of a church meeting.
2015: Consideration of a Senate Run
Warnock contemplated running for the US Senate in 2016 as a Democrat for the seat held by Johnny Isakson, but ultimately chose not to pursue the campaign.
2015: Democrats Regain Senate Control
With Warnock's win in the Senate election, the Democratic party gained control of the Senate for the first time since 2015.
February 14, 2016: Warnock Publicly Marries Oulèye Ndoye
Warnock married Oulèye Ndoye in a public ceremony on February 14, 2016. The couple had previously held a private ceremony in January.
2016: Reflections on Fidel Castro's Death
Following the death of Fidel Castro in 2016, Warnock addressed his congregation, urging them to pray for the Cuban people and acknowledging the complexities of Castro's legacy.
2016: Decision Against Running for Senate
Warnock ultimately decided not to run for the US Senate in the 2016 election.
June 2017: Chairmanship of the New Georgia Project
Warnock took on the role of chairman of the New Georgia Project, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to expanding voter registration, in June 2017.
May 2018: Warnock Criticizes Israel's Actions and Draws Parallels with Black Lives Matter
During a sermon in May 2018, Warnock criticized Israel's actions, particularly the shooting of Palestinian protesters. He drew parallels between the Palestinian cause and the Black Lives Matter movement.
2018: Warnock Criticizes Trump's Actions and Calls for Repentance
In 2018, Warnock criticized then-President Trump's "shithole countries" comment and his subsequent proclamation honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Warnock stated his belief that a proclamation without an apology was hypocrisy and that true redemption required repentance from the president.
March 2019: Interfaith Meeting on Climate Change
Warnock organized an interfaith gathering at Ebenezer Baptist Church in March 2019 to address climate change. The event included prominent figures like Al Gore and William Barber II.
November 2019: Warnock and Ndoye Separate
In November 2019, Warnock and his wife, Oulèye Ndoye, decided to separate.
January 2020: End of Chairmanship
Warnock stepped down from his position as chairman of the New Georgia Project in January 2020.
January 2020: Decision to Run for Senate
Warnock made the decision to run in the 2020 special election for the Senate seat vacated by Johnny Isakson, aiming to challenge the appointed incumbent, Kelly Loeffler.
January 30, 2020: Announcement of Senate Candidacy
Warnock announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat in Georgia's special election on January 30, 2020, aiming to unseat incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler.
March 2020: Ndoye Accuses Warnock of Running Over Her Foot
During their divorce proceedings in March 2020, Ndoye accused Warnock of driving over her foot with his car during an argument. Warnock denied this accusation, and police found no evidence to support her claim.
July 2020: Presiding over John Lewis's Funeral
In July 2020, Warnock officiated the funeral of Representative John Lewis at Ebenezer Church, marking a significant event in the church's history.
November 2020: Warnock Reverses Course on Some Positions Regarding Israel
During his Senate campaign in November 2020, Warnock shifted his stance on some previous positions related to Israel. Notably, he labeled the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel as "anti-Semitic" and claimed it denied Israel's right to exist.
December 2020: Warnock Declines to State Stance on "Packing the Supreme Court"
During a debate in December 2020, Warnock chose not to reveal whether he supported the idea of "packing the Supreme Court" by adding more justices.
December 2020: Open Letter from Black Ministers on Abortion Stance
In December 2020, during his campaign for Senate, Warnock received an open letter from a group of 25 Black ministers. The letter questioned his stance on abortion, arguing that it contradicts Christian teachings and disproportionately affects African Americans. Warnock's campaign responded by emphasizing the deeply personal nature of healthcare decisions and advocating for the separation of such decisions from political influence.
2020: Warnock and Ndoye Finalize Divorce
Warnock and Ndoye's divorce was finalized in 2020.
2020: Warnock Receives Endorsement from Human Rights Campaign
In 2020, Warnock received an endorsement from the Human Rights Campaign for his stance on LGBT rights.
2020: Campaign Silence on Castro Event
During the 2020-2021 Senate race, Warnock's campaign chose not to comment on whether he attended the event with Fidel Castro at the church.
January 5, 2021: Victory in Senate Runoff Election
Raphael Warnock won the runoff election against Kelly Loeffler on January 5, 2021, securing his position as the junior US Senator from Georgia.
January 2021: Start of Senate Term
This date marks the beginning of Raphael Warnock's term in the Senate, which lasted until January 2023.
January 20, 2021: Sworn into the United States Senate
Raphael Warnock was sworn into the United States Senate in the 117th Congress on January 20, 2021, by Vice President Kamala Harris.
January 27, 2021: Announcement of Re-election Bid
On January 27, 2021, Warnock declared his intention to run for a full term in the Senate in the upcoming 2022 election.
February 13, 2021: Vote to Convict Former President Trump
On February 13, 2021, Raphael Warnock voted to convict former President Donald Trump for inciting the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
March 5, 2021: Co-Sponsors Amendment to Raise Minimum Wage
On March 5, 2021, Warnock showed his support by co-sponsoring an amendment, alongside 29 other Democratic and independent senators, to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
March 17, 2021: First Speech on the Senate Floor
Raphael Warnock delivered his first speech on the Senate floor on March 17, 2021, showing his support for the passage of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
April 2021: Politico Reports on Warnock's Progressive Agenda
In April 2021, Politico published a report characterizing Raphael Warnock's agenda in the U.S. Senate as "progressive."
April 20, 2021: Warnock and Stacey Abrams Testify on Voting Rights
On April 20, 2021, Warnock, along with activist Stacey Abrams, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Their purpose was to advocate for both the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act.
June 2021: Warnock and Ossoff Secure Funds for Veteran Homelessness Reduction
In June 2021, Warnock, alongside Jon Ossoff, helped six organizations in Georgia focused on reducing veteran homelessness to receive between $375,000 to $500,000 each in federal funds.
September 2021: Warnock and Hyde-Smith Introduce Bill for Gold Star Families Remembrance Week
In September 2021, Warnock collaborated with Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith to introduce a bill to nationally recognize September 19-25 as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week. The bill successfully passed in the Senate.
October 2021: Securing Funding for Health Centers in Georgia
In October 2021, Warnock, along with Senator Jon Ossoff, announced they had secured federal funding for various health centers across Georgia. The funding, allocated under the American Rescue Plan, benefited two health centers in Macon and four in Albany, with each center receiving between $500,000 and $1,100,000. Warnock expressed his support for the American Rescue Plan, emphasizing the need to provide consistent support and funding for healthcare infrastructure and frontline workers during the pandemic.
November 2021: Legislation to Prioritize Interstate 14 Construction Approved
Warnock collaborated with Senator Ted Cruz to introduce legislation that would prioritize the construction of Interstate 14. This interstate is planned to connect Augusta, Macon, and Columbus in Georgia to Texas, passing through several other states along the way. The prioritization of the interstate, intended to benefit military installations and economic growth in the region, was incorporated into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in November 2021.
November 2021: Warnock's Bill for Studying Racial Disparities in Veterans Affairs Benefits Enacted
In November 2021, a bill put forward by Warnock, which proposed a government study to examine potential racial disparities in benefits given by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was put into effect.
2021: Start of US Senate Term
Raphael Warnock began serving as the junior United States Senator from Georgia in 2021.
2021: Controversial Easter Tweet
On Easter Sunday in 2021, a tweet from Warnock's Twitter account sparked controversy for suggesting the meaning of Easter transcends the resurrection of Jesus. The tweet was later deleted and attributed to staff, with a spokesperson declining to clarify Warnock's personal stance on the matter.
January 2022: Senate Resolution to Honor Johnny Isakson
In January 2022, following the death of former U.S. senator Johnny Isakson, Warnock introduced a Senate resolution to honor Isakson. The resolution, which received bipartisan support, highlighted Isakson as a dedicated public servant and patriot.
February 2022: Ndoye Requests Modification to Child Custody Agreement
Ndoye filed a request in court in February 2022 to change their child custody arrangement. She sought additional custody of their two children to facilitate her studies at Harvard University and requested a recalculation of child support payments.
March 2022: Bipartisan Maternal Health Bill Incorporated into Spending Package
A bipartisan bill focusing on maternal health, co-sponsored by Warnock and Senator Marco Rubio, was integrated into a $1.5 trillion federal spending package passed by Congress in March 2022. This bill, allocating funds for various healthcare initiatives including integrated healthcare services grants, innovation grants, training of healthcare workers, and a study on reducing discrimination in healthcare, aimed to improve maternal health outcomes in Georgia, a state with high maternal mortality rates.
March 2022: Opposition to Closing of Air National Guard Training Center
In March 2022, when President Joe Biden suggested closing the Air National Guard's Combat Readiness Training Center in Savannah, Georgia, Warnock joined other Georgia lawmakers in opposition, arguing that the closure would negatively impact both Savannah and national security.
June 2022: Response to the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
Following the June 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Warnock expressed his disapproval, characterizing the ruling as "misguided" and "devastating" for women and families, particularly in Georgia and across the nation.
June 2022: House Appropriations Subcommittee Rejects Biden's Recommendation
In June 2022, the House of Representatives' Appropriations subcommittee rejected President Biden's recommendation to close the Air National Guard's Combat Readiness Training Center in Savannah, Georgia.
August 2022: Senate Passes Inflation Reduction Act with Warnock's Proposals
In August 2022, the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included two proposals by Warnock. These were a $2,000 annual limit on prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare and a $35 monthly limit on insulin costs for people on Medicare.
October 2022: Bill to Name Post Office After John Lewis Enacted
In October 2022, a bill put forward by Warnock and Senator Jon Ossoff to name a United States Post Office building in Atlanta, Georgia, after the late U.S. representative John Lewis was signed into law.
October 2022: Savannah Renames Street in Honor of Warnock
In October 2022, the city government of Savannah, Georgia, decided to rename Cape Street to Raphael Warnock Way. This street holds significance as it was where Warnock resided in public housing during the 1980s.
November 8, 2022: Georgia General Election
On November 8, 2022, Raphael Warnock participated in the Georgia general election, where he faced Herschel Walker in a runoff election as no candidate received a majority of the vote.
December 2022: Alignment with President Biden's Stated Position
By December 2022, data revealed that Raphael Warnock's voting record aligned with President Joe Biden's stated position 96.5% of the time.
2022: Re-election to the Senate
Warnock secured a full term in the Senate by defeating Republican candidate Herschel Walker in the 2022 election.
2022: Seeking a Full Senate Term
Warnock ran for a full term in the Senate in 2022.
2022: Warnock Receives Second Endorsement from Human Rights Campaign
In 2022, Warnock was once again endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign for his continued support of LGBT rights.
January 2023: End of Senate Term
This date signifies the conclusion Raphael Warnock's term in the Senate, which began in January 2021.
September 2023: Vote Against the SAFER Banking Act
During September 2023, Warnock distinguished himself as the sole Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee to vote against the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act. This Act aimed to provide legal marijuana dispensaries and growers with access to federally regulated banks.
October 2023: Warnock Condemns Hamas's Attacks on Israel
As the Israel-Hamas War began in October 2023, Warnock publicly condemned the violence perpetrated by Hamas against Israel. He categorized the acts as "heinous" and stressed the importance of pursuing lasting peace that prioritizes justice and dignity for everyone.
February 2024: Warnock Advocates for American Leadership in Israeli-Palestinian Peace
In February 2024, Warnock delivered a speech in the Senate underscoring the role of American leadership in achieving peace between Israel and Palestine.