Dems sweep Ga. runoffs, flip control of U.S. Senate
ATLANTA — Democrats swept Georgia’s two U.S. Senate runoffs on Wednesday to flip control of the chamber, pulling off stunning victories that will shape President-elect Joe Biden’s administration and transform the state’s political landscape.
Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock narrowly defeated U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler after a nine-week runoff that attracted record-setting spending, legions of volunteers and unprecedented political attention. The races were called by national outlets after final tallies from metro Atlanta were counted.
Each made history with the improbable victories. Warnock will become the first Black senator in state history, while Ossoff will be the first Jewish senator from Georgia and, at 33, the youngest member of the chamber.
The twin victories were the crowning achievement of Georgia Democrats who narrowly flipped the state in November, when a diverse coalition of African American voters and white liberals helped Biden become the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the state since 1992.
