Georgia Senate Runoff Elections: Democrats and Republicans in Neck and Neck Contest

Strategic Insights -

The two crucial elections in Georgia that will determine which party controls the US Senate for the beginning of the Biden administration are neck and neck, with Georgia Republican Senate candidates David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler facing off against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock. In a last-ditch effort to sway voters, Perdue and Loeffler have joined President Donald Trump in objecting to the Electoral College's results, despite Trump's refusal to concede his own election loss. Meanwhile, the Democratic candidates have been pushing policy goals, including debt-free public college and a new Voting Rights Act, while attacking the Republican senators for their multi-million dollar stock transactions during the pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Republican candidates, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, are neck and neck with Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock in the Georgia Senate runoff elections.
  • Perdue and Loeffler have joined President Donald Trump in objecting to the Electoral College's results, despite Trump's refusal to concede his own election loss.
  • The Democratic candidates have been pushing policy goals, including debt-free public college and a new Voting Rights Act, while attacking the Republican senators for their multi-million dollar stock transactions during the pandemic.
  • The Georgia Senate elections could be the first in which urban Georgia casts more votes than rural Georgia, according to Dr. Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia political science professor.
  • The elections have attracted enormous attention due to the stakes for the first years of the Biden administration and the state's shift from red to purple.
  • Political groups spent about $520 million to advertise in the two runoff races, with Republicans outspending Democrats by tens of millions of dollars.
  • The Democratic candidates have been focusing on policy issues, such as the COVID-19 health care crisis and the economy, while the Republican candidates have been identified with President Trump's support.
  • The Loeffler-Warnock election will be groundbreaking, as Loeffler would be the first woman elected senator from the state, and Warnock would be the first Black senator from Georgia.

Statistics:

  • The Senate elections have attracted about $520 million in advertising spending by political groups.
  • Republicans outspent Democrats by tens of millions of dollars in the two runoff races.
  • The Democratic candidates have been focusing on policy issues, such as debt-free public college and a new Voting Rights Act.
  • The state has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 2000.
  • The Biden administration is likely to be significantly impacted by the outcome of the Senate elections, with Democrats and Republicans trading promises about the future of the country.
  • President-elect Joe Biden has endorsed the Democratic candidates, while President Donald Trump has endorsed the Republican candidates.

Sources:

  • CNN
  • Kantar Media/CMAG
  • Fair Fight Action
  • University of Georgia political science professor Dr. Charles Bullock
  • Former Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson's campaign manager Heath Garrett
  • Former Republican Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue's chief of staff Eric Tanenblatt