Money Pouring Into Georgia for Senate Run-Offs

Political control of the Senate hangs on the results.

A year-end “sprint” in a pair of high-stakes run-off elections in Georgia could easily cost another $100 million. The two run-offs place Georgia in the center of the nation’s political contests.

Georgia law requires that a candidate in a statewide election receive an outright majority to prevail. On Friday evening, Jon Ossoff and incumbent Senator David Perdue narrowly advanced to a second-round after three days of vote counting.

There will also be a special election to decide which candidate will fill the unexpired term of former Senator Johnny Isakson, who retired at the end of 2019 due to Parkinson’s disease and other medical challenges. Kelly Loeffler has been serving as his replacement, appointed by Governor Brian Kemp. She is challenged by Raphael Warnock, and, again, as of Friday afternoon, neither candidate had received 50 percent of the vote.

The run-off elections are scheduled for January 5, two days after the 117^th Congress is seated. The Senate at that time will be split 48-48, so these two races are critical to the balance of power in that chamber. With that much at stake, funds are pouring into Georgia and many national leaders are showing up to campaign for their candidates of choice.