An historic day in the state of Georgia with not one but two senate runoffs.
The Republicans need just one of the seats to retain control of the United States senate while the Democrats need both to get in the drivers seat.
The races were called back in November after the candidates didn’t reach the 50 per cent majority-vote requirement.
Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Purdue face challenges in Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff respectively.
The last time a senate runoff occurred was in 2008 between Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.
Andrew Karch, a Political Science Professor with the University of Minnesota, feels the races will be close but gauging voter turn out is tough to predict.
“With an election like this that’s at an odd time of year, people who are maybe just marginally interested in politics may not be as inclined to turn out. I think the challenge for both political parties is to find those marginal voters and convince them to turn out and vote,” says Karch.
If the votes go in the Republicans favour, they would either hold a 52-48 or 51-49 majority; Should the Democrats win both seats, Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris would have a deciding vote in the 50-50 tie.
The University of Minnesota Political Science Professor notes the agenda of President-Elect Joe Biden will be tough to push through should Republicans hold on to power.
“President-Elect Biden could still use things like Executive Orders and other means to try and accomplish goals but it does seem like GOP control of the senate would foreclose him from some of the biggest legislative goals that he’s bringing with him into office,” adds Karch.
Historical Significance
- First time a state has ever had two runoffs for the Senate at the same time
- First time where the control of the Senate hung in the balance awaiting the outcome of a runoff
Previous Run-Offs
- 1992 Democrat Wyche Fowler and Republican Paul Coverdell
- 2008 Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin
- Georgia secretary of state run-off in 2018 featuring Republican Brad Raffensperger and Democrat John Barrow
Any Other States?
- Seven states require a run-off election if no candidate receives an absolute majority in a primary election (Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas)
- In Louisiana, if no one reaches 50 percent, the top two vote-getters advance to a December runoff regardless of party
