Democrats to take Senate as Ossoff wins runoff

Democrat Jon Ossoff has defeated Republican David Perdue in the
Georgia runoff, The Associated Press said Wednesday, giving
Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.

“It is with humility that I thank the people of Georgia for
electing me to serve you in the United States Senate,” Ossoff said
earlier Wednesday.

Perdue, whose Senate term expired earlier this week, has not
conceded the race.

“Everybody who cast your ballot, everybody who put your faith
and confidence in our democracy’s capacity to deliver the
representation that we deserve — whether you were for me, or
against me — I’ll be for you in the U.S. Senate,” Ossoff said. “I
will serve all the people of the state.”

Ossoff is the first Jewish senator from Georgia and will be the
youngest sitting U.S. senator at age 33. His victory comes along
with the historic win of Raphael Warnock, who will take office as
the state’s first Black senator. They are the first Democrats to
win Senate seats in Georgia since 2000.

It will take several days for the Georgia runoffs to be
officially certified, so they will not take office immediately.
Warnock’s term lasts only two years, but Ossoff has won a full six
year term in the Senate.

The Senate would be evenly divided between Democrats and
Republicans, but once sworn in as vice president, Kamala Harris
would have the power to break ties for Democrats.

The race was hard-fought and came after Democrats successfully
flipped the state blue in the presidential race. Both major parties
invested significant time and resources in seeking control of the
Senate.

On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden campaigned in the state in
support of Warnock and Ossoff, and Harris campaigned there
Sunday.

Between Nov. 4, 2020, and Tuesday, almost $500 million was spent
on advertising for the two races, according to the ad-tracking firm
AdImpact.

This is Ossoff’s second high-profile runoff in Georgia. In 2017,
he sought a seat in the state’s 6th Congressional District. He lost
by a slim margin in the historically Republican district that year
but remained visible in Georgia politics.

Like many Democrats this cycle, much of Ossoff’s campaign
centered on the coronavirus pandemic and providing relief to
Americans hit hardest by the virus.

In the runoff, Perdue stressed his vocal support of President
Trump, who lost Georgia by fewer than 12,000 votes.

Democrat Jon Ossoff has defeated Republican David Perdue in the
Georgia runoff, The Associated Press said Wednesday, giving
Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.

“It is with humility that I thank the people of Georgia for
electing me to serve you in the United States Senate,” Ossoff said
earlier Wednesday.

Perdue, whose Senate term expired earlier this week, has not
conceded the race.

“Everybody who cast your ballot, everybody who put your faith
and confidence in our democracy’s capacity to deliver the
representation that we deserve — whether you were for me, or
against me — I’ll be for you in the U.S. Senate,” Ossoff said. “I
will serve all the people of the state.”

Ossoff is the first Jewish senator from Georgia and will be the
youngest sitting U.S. senator at age 33. His victory comes along
with the historic win of Raphael Warnock, who will take office as
the state’s first Black senator. They are the first Democrats to
win Senate seats in Georgia since 2000.

It will take several days for the Georgia runoffs to be
officially certified, so they will not take office immediately.
Warnock’s term lasts only two years, but Ossoff has won a full six
year term in the Senate.

The Senate would be evenly divided between Democrats and
Republicans, but once sworn in as vice president, Kamala Harris
would have the power to break ties for Democrats.

The race was hard-fought and came after Democrats successfully
flipped the state blue in the presidential race. Both major parties
invested significant time and resources in seeking control of the
Senate.

On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden campaigned in the state in
support of Warnock and Ossoff, and Harris campaigned there
Sunday.

Between Nov. 4, 2020, and Tuesday, almost $500 million was spent
on advertising for the two races, according to the ad-tracking firm
AdImpact.

This is Ossoff’s second high-profile runoff in Georgia. In 2017,
he sought a seat in the state’s 6th Congressional District. He lost
by a slim margin in the historically Republican district that year
but remained visible in Georgia politics.

Like many Democrats this cycle, much of Ossoff’s campaign
centered on the coronavirus pandemic and providing relief to
Americans hit hardest by the virus.

In the runoff, Perdue stressed his vocal support of President
Trump, who lost Georgia by fewer than 12,000 votes.