ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Ex-NFL star and former Senate candidate Herschel Walker was confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas Monday.

Walker’s nomination was one of over 100 confirmed en banc by the Senate in the middle of the government shutdown.

President Donald Trump had recruited Walker to enter Georgia’s 2022 U.S. Senate race .

Walker lost to Sen. Raphael Warnock, and the race saw Ebenezer Baptist Church’s senior pastor defeat Walker by a 51% to 49% margin. Walker recently graduated from the University of Georgia, where he is considered the greatest running back in the state’s sports history.

Sen. Jon Ossoff and Warnock, both Democrats, voted against Walker’s nomination.

Walker will be the first U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas since 2011.

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