Results by Numbers

After a tough fight, Democrats officially swept the Georgia runoff election, called on January 6th. Via The New York Times, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won their races with 50.8% and 50.4% of the general vote respectively, leaving their opponents, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, trailing at 49.2% and 49.6% each. These triumphs can be attributed to not only the skillfully run campaigns, but the hard work of activists and community organizers like Stacey Abrams. Democrats should also be grateful for Black voters, who have once again paved the way for victory. According to Five ThirtyEight, 4.4 million people voted, breaking the previous record for a runoff set in 2008 by double the amount. With an unprecedented 60% of eligible voters participating, Ossoff and Warnock were able to overcome the odds set against them by living in a historically red state. 

Implications

On a national scale, the influence of Ossoff and Warnock’s wins will be massive. The Senate is now split 50-50, meaning Kamala Harris will be the deciding vote in any evenly split votes. Therefore, Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, with a reputation of being a bitterly partisan Majority Leader, will now be replaced by Democrat Chuck Schumer. With full control of the Legislative and Executive branches, a more progressive democratic agenda will have an opportunity to thrive. Higher stimulus checks, increased environmental regulation and investment in clean energy, and criminal justice reform will certainly be high on the list of priorities, which might not have been pursued to the same extent without Senate control. The trajectory of American life has changed drastically.

However, the nation as a whole is not the only one experiencing great change. The state of Georgia, once staunchly Republican, has elected a Democrat President, and two Senators in the past election cycle. This is representative of a greater demographic shift and increased urbanization. Georgia can safely be called a purple state, something that would have been unheard of just years ago.

History in the Making

It cannot be overlooked that Georgia’s elected Senators are breaking down barriers. Jon Ossoff is the first Jewish and youngest Georgia Senator. Raphael Warnock is the first Black Senator from Georgia. These victories are historic, representing the progress that has been made. In an interview with NPR, Warnock said of his mother, “The other day, because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else’s cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States Senator.” Putting into perspective the great disparities in America, especially in southern states like Georgia, Warnock’s story gives hope for the future. Undoubtedly, Ossoff and Warnock represent a more inclusive America.