Democrats On Track to Take Senate as Warnock and Ossoff Appear to Beat the Odds

Democrats looked to be on track to retake the Senate early on Wednesday following results overnight in two runoff elections in Georgia. Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler and Jon Ossoff was ahead of Senator David Perdue by a wider margin than President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over President Donald Trump in November.

Warnock becomes the first Black person to represent Georgia in the Senate and just the 11th Black senator. He also becomes the first Democrat to win a Senate race in the state in 20 years. Ossoff also appeared on course to victory as votes continue to be counted.

Democrats generally do poorly in special elections in Georgia but Trump’s attacks on the presidential election and attempts to reverse the results of the vote in the Peach State may have encouraged voters to come out and vote against the Republican incumbents.

The results will have major implications for the incoming Biden administration. If both Democrats are ultimately successful, there will be a 50-50 split in the Senate and incoming vice president Kamala Harris will be able to cast the deciding vote.

This is likely to mean an easier confirmation process for Biden’s cabinet picks and judges and possibly a stronger Democratic agenda over the next two years. It also means Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell will have to relinquish his position as Majority Leader, a role he’s held since 2015.