A run-off election is a second election that takes place when there is no winner during the first. In Georgia, the winner must claim 50% of the votes. None of the candidates claimed the majority leading to an intense runoff election that will decide the fate of the Senate.
Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are up against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, respectively. If both Democrats win, they will split the Senate 50-50 leaving any decisive votes to Democrat VP Kamala Harris. If both Republicans win, Republicans will maintain 52-48 majority power in the Senate.
After Georgia swung left during the Presidential election, some are hopeful for the two Democratic candidates. Others believe the state’s tendency of swinging to the conservative side will prevail. Both sides have been taking quick hits at each other. Notably, Ossoff made a video criticizing Senator Perdue’s absence at a debate.
The election will take place on January 5th, just 15 days before President-Elect Biden’s inauguration. Until then, all eyes are on Georgia similar to the nail-biting days leading up to the presidential election.
