Georgia early voting hits new record in Senate runoff

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Herschel Walker pleased with record voter turnout in Senate runoff: 'I think it looks good for me'

Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker says the record voter turnout in the runoff election is good for Georgia voters, and maintains confidence about his chances against Sen. Raphael Warnock less than a week from election day.

Early voting in Georgia's runoff election is breaking records, with more absentee ballots returned and voted than in any midterm runoff ever. 

Gabriel Sterling, the Georgia secretary of state's chief operating officer, tweeted Friday morning that the count was at 116,362. 

"That's about 8% of turnout so far. And, they can still be returned up to 7 p.m. on election day at the County Elections HQ," he said. 

Sterling also said in a Friday tweet that "I imagine we've already eclipsed 2018 voting."

HERSCHEL WALKER SAYS GEORGIA'S RECORD SENATE RUNOFF VOTER TURNOUT 'LOOKS GOOD FOR ME'

Signs that encourage people to vote are seen outside a polling station on Nov. 29, 2022, in Atlanta. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

On Thursday night, he said the state had seen 293,795 voters that day, meaning it would "likely break 1.8 million before the Tuesday election." 

"To put that in perspective, the last midterm runoff had less than 1.5 million votes total in the four-week runoff in 2018," Sterling added.

More than a quarter million voters turned out on Monday for the race.

Residents wait in line to vote early outside a polling station on Nov. 29, 2022, in Atlanta. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

About 7 million people are listed as active voters in Georgia, according to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's Georgia Active Voters Report.

Early voting concludes on Friday and election day is set for Dec. 6.

OBAMA TAKES AIM AT WALKER AS HE RALLIES WITH WARNOCK AHEAD OF GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFF ELECTION

Former President Obama campaigns with Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., at a rally Dec. 1, 2022, in Atlanta. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The contest, which The Wall Street Journal notes is one of the most expensive in congressional history, could help raise the Democrats' Senate majority by one, should Warnock best Republican challenger Herschel Walker.

The candidates have garnered support from some of their parties' heaviest hitters. 

Former President Obama stumped for Warnock in Atlanta on Thursday – his second trip to the Peach State in just over a month.

Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker speaks during a campaign rally on Dec. 1, 2022, in Columbus, Georgia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

President Biden is poised to support Warnock from afar, with appearances in Boston.

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Walker, who has campaigned with Sens. Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, said earlier this week that he believes the record turnout looks "good" for his bid. 

"I think the people that are coming out from what I hear and see, it's going to be a good thing for us," he told Fox News.

Former President Trump will hold a tele-rally with Walker ahead Tuesday's runoff, Republican sources confirmed to Fox News. However, the former president will not travel to the Peach State to hold an in-person rally with Walker.

Fox News' Danielle Wallace, Paul Steinhauser and The Associated Press contributed to this report.