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U.S. Senate runoff elections in Georgia
Regular Senate election runoff (Jan. 5)
Candidates: David Perdue Jon Ossoff
Special Senate election runoff (Jan. 5)
Candidates: Kelly Loeffler Raphael Warnock

Regular Senate general election (Nov. 3)
Special Senate general election (Nov. 3)

Filing deadline: March 6, 2020
Primary: June 9, 2020
Primary runoff: August 11, 2020
General: November 3, 2020
Runoff: January 5, 2021

Jon Ossoff (D) defeated David Perdue (R) in the runoff election to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate on January 5, 2021.

With Ossoff's win in the regular runoff election and Raphael Warnock's win in the special runoff election, Democrats won control of the U.S. Senate. Prior to the runoffs, Republicans had secured 50 seats and Democrats had secured 48 seats (including among them two seats held by independents who caucus with Democrats). As a result of the runoffs, Democrats and Republicans split the chamber 50-50, with the vice president (starting January 20, 2021, Democrat Kamala Harris) having the tie-breaking vote.

Ossoff became CEO of Insight TWI, a media production company producing investigative films and TV shows, in 2013. He ran in Georgia's 6th Congressional District special election in 2017. Ossoff said he would work for a public option, higher stimulus payments in response to COVID-19, a new Civil Rights Act, a $15 minimum wage, and overturning Citizens United. He said, "The health insurance, pharmaceutical, and fossil fuel industries have bought the allegiance of my opponent, Sen. David Perdue."

Perdue was elected to the Senate in 2014. Perdue said he helped bring federal COVID-19 relief funds to Georgia, fully fund the Port of Savannah, reverse regulations and create jobs, rebuild the military, protect people with pre-existing conditions, and improve medical care for veterans. A Perdue campaign ad said Ossoff, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) had an agenda that included defunding the police, D.C. statehood, and voting rights for people in the country without legal permission.

Click here for more on candidates' key messages, backgrounds, and campaign themes.

On December 31, 2020, Perdue announced he and his wife tested negative for COVID-19 but would quarantine after learning they had close contact with someone who tested positive.^[1]

In Georgia, a general election advances to a runoff between the two top finishers if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. Perdue received 49.7% of the vote and Ossoff received 47.9% in the November 3 election.

Background
Georgia's last Democratic senator, Zell Miller, left office in 2005. As of 2020, Republicans had a trifecta in the state—holding the governor's office and controlling both chambers of the state legislature—since 2005. And Republicans had a triplex—holding the offices of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state—since 2011.

Joe Biden won the presidential election in Georgia in 2020—the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1992. In 2018, Democrat Stacey Abrams lost the gubernatorial election to Brian Kemp (R) 48.8% to 50.2%.

Heading into the November 3, 2020, elections, Republicans held 53 seats in the U.S. Senate, with Democrats holding 45 and independents who caucus with Democrats holding the remaining two. Thirty-five of the 100 seats were up in 2020, including two special elections. Twenty-three of those seats were held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats, giving Republicans greater partisan risk in 2020.

Nov. 3 general election • Jan. 5 Loeffler vs. Warnock runoff • Analyses, commentary, and updates on both runoffs

This election is a battleground race. Other 2021 battlegrounds include:

1 Regular election (Perdue vs. Ossoff) results
2 Analysis
3 Georgia runoff FAQs
- 3.1 Recount laws in Georgia
- 3.2 More FAQs
4 Nov. 3 election results
5 Sample ballot
6 Candidate comparison
7 Race stats
8 Timeline
9 Influencers
10 Campaign organization
- 10.1 Republican joint fundraising committee
- 10.2 Democratic joint committees/campaign
  - 10.2.1 Fundraising
  - 10.2.2 Voter outreach campaign
11 Daily newsletter: The Runoff Report
12 Georgia Pivot County analysis
- 12.1 General election analysis
  - 12.1.1 Retained Pivot Counties
  - 12.1.2 Reverse-Pivot Counties
13 Pre-election analysis and commentary
14 Election and partisan history in Georgia
15 See also
16 Footnotes

Regular election (Perdue vs. Ossoff) results[edit]

General runoff election for U.S. Senate Georgia

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Jon Ossoff (D)	50.6	2,269,923
	David Perdue (R)	49.4	2,214,979

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,484,902
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Analysis[edit]

Around 4.5 million people voted in Georgia's runoffs, compared to 5 million during the November election.^[2] That's a turnout decrease of 10%. Before 2021, Georgia had held two runoffs for U.S. Senate: one in 2008 and one in 1992. In 2008, turnout between the general and runoff elections decreased by 43%. In 1992, turnout decreased by 44%.

Several outlets released turnout analyses attempting to identify factors that led to the elections' results. We present a few examples below.

The Washington Post's Bernard L. Fraga, Zachary Peskowitz, and James Szewczyk used race and ethnicity data from the Georgia Secretary of State office along with an analysis of November election results to gauge partisan leanings of those who did and did not vote in the runoff. They wrote that Black voter turnout decreased less between the two elections than white voter turnout and that turnout declined more in precincts that supported Trump by larger margins in November.^[3]

“

Record-breaking spending and grass-roots, Black-, Latino-, Native American- and Asian American-led efforts to mobilize voters meant that early voting alone exceeded total turnout for any previous runoff election. Runoff turnout was 89.6 percent of November’s showing, with over 4.4 million Georgians casting ballots.

Black turnout was 91.8 percent of that in November; White turnout was lower, at 89.5 percent of the November total. The share of voters that were Black in the runoff thus increased to 30.7 percent. If Black voters had shown up in roughly the same proportions as they had in the 2018 runoffs, Ossoff’s 55,000 vote victory would have been a roughly 30,000 vote loss; the Warnock-Loeffler race would likely have been mired in a controversial recount; and Republicans would control the Senate.
...
Precincts that had supported Trump at high rates in the general election reported more dramatic turnout declines than precincts in which Trump was less popular. For example, in precincts where Trump received 75 percent of the November vote, turnout dropped 8.3 percentage points from the general election to the runoff. Precincts where Trump received 25 percent of the vote showed a drop of only 5.9 percentage points from November to January.^[4]

”

FiveThirtyEight's Nathaniel Rakich, Geoffrey Skelley, Laura Bronner, and Julia Wolfe wrote that, according to county-level data shortly after the runoff, Black voters made up a larger share of the runoff electorate than the general election electorate, and counties that showed more support for Trump tended to have greater decreases in turnout:^[5]

“

Looking at county-level results, we can see a couple of trends, the most important of which is that Warnock and Ossoff both tended to improve on Joe Biden’s margin in places with a large share of Black voters. ... This includes both suburban counties like Clayton, in the Atlanta metropolitan area, where Warnock did 6 percentage points better than Biden, as well as more rural counties like Randolph, in Georgia’s Black Belt. And turnout among Black voters seems to have been up, as well: According to the Fox News Voter Analysis, Black Americans made up 32 percent of the runoff electorate, up from 29 percent in November. This corresponds with trends at the county level, which also show higher turnout in counties where a larger share of the population is Black.

At the same time, though, Warnock and Ossoff actually slightly underperformed Biden in counties with a particularly high share of college-educated voters, such as Forsyth, where 52 percent of the population has a college degree but only 3 percent is Black.

It’s obviously hard to know whether these demographic relationships we see at the county level will hold among voters across the state — we won’t know that until we have more detailed voter data. But after suburbanites, especially white college-educated ones, were credited with swinging the state blue in the presidential election, these charts suggest that the Democratic senators-elect owe their wins to Black voters. It seems that split-ticket voters from the general election — who voted Biden for president but Republicans for the Senate, and who were largely concentrated in the wealthy Atlanta suburbs — were not key to the Democratic victory after all.

The second trend we can spot at the county level is that GOP turnout seems to have been down. ... [T]he better Trump did in a county in November, the more its turnout tended to drop in the runoffs compared to the general election.^[4]

”

Fox News' Andrew Schwartz, Margaret Ann Campbell, Dana Blanton reported results from the the Fox News Voter Analysis, a survey of around 4,000 Georgians, shortly after the runoff. They wrote about demographic breakdowns and voter outreach efforts in the state.^[6]

“

The Democratic coalition centered on Black voters (Ossoff +88 points and Warnock +88 points), moderates (+34 in both races), those under age 45 (+16 / +18 points) and suburban voters (+4 / +6 points). Blacks made up 32 percent of the runoff electorate, up from 29 percent in November.
...
White voters, particularly those without college degrees and those living in rural areas, were a major source of strength for the Republicans. Non-college Whites went for both Perdue and Loeffler by 58 points; the Republicans’ margins among rural Whites (+64 each) were even greater. Overall, Perdue won White voters by 46 points and Loeffler won them by 44 points, improving on President Trump’s 40 points in November.
...
These Senate races showed that reaching out to potential voters can be key to victory -- especially in a runoff election. Both sides made extensive voter contact efforts. Fully 75 percent of voters were contacted on behalf of at least one candidate.

There was a lot of talk about Stacey Abrams’ get-out-the-vote "machine" and her efforts showed. The FNVA survey finds more voters report being contacted on behalf of Democratic candidates than Republican.

The goal of voter contact is an action by the voter. They might sign a pledge to vote, get help registering, or donate money. The Democrats got reactions from more voters than the Republicans did.

Black voters were much more likely than White voters to take at least one action in response to a political contact, 53% vs. 33%.^[4]

”

Patrick Ruffini, Republican pollster and co-founder of the polling firm Echelon Insights, compared Georgia's November election turnout to Echelon's turnout projections. Echelon primarily based its turnout model on past voting behavior in recent elections. Overall turnout in Georgia's November election was 98% what they expected it would be. Ruffini wrote the following:^[7]

Key turnout takeaways from Georgia in the November 2020 election:

✅ White suburban turnout surged way above expectations
✅ Black (and Hispanic) turnout was below expectations
✅ Trump’s white working class base turned out as expected, there was no “hidden Trump voter” in GA
— Patrick Ruffini (@PatrickRuffini) February 9, 2021

Here’s how turnout broke down by race (& Georgia has good race data on the file)

White 99.4%
Black 95.0%
Hispanic 90.9%
Asian 107.8%
Others 99.4%

(It appears Black turnout recovered in the runoff, watch for a future thread on this.)
— Patrick Ruffini (@PatrickRuffini) February 9, 2021

Among nonwhite groups, Democratic turnout was generally higher than that among the smaller number of Republicans. Black non-party turnout underperformed most. Again, precinct education is a *huge* driver of turnout performance. pic.twitter.com/qV3rLYyVUH
— Patrick Ruffini (@PatrickRuffini) February 9, 2021

Georgia runoff FAQs[edit]

Recount laws in Georgia[edit]

See also: Recount laws in Georgia

The list below shows answers to common questions regarding recounts in Georgia.^[8]

Does state law require automatic recounts?
- No.

When must an automatic recount be completed?
- There are no automatic recounts in this state.

Can a recount be requested?
- Yes. Election officials, including the secretary of state, may request recounts under certain circumstances explained below. These recounts may be conducted before the certification of election results. A losing candidate may also request a recount if the margin is less than or equal to 0.5%. This threshold was set in 2019 following the passage of H.B. 319. There are no set deadlines for the completion of a candidate-requested recount.

Who pays for a requested recount?
- State law does not specify who is responsible for costs associated with a requested recount but the secretary of state's office has indicated that the state covers all costs.^[9]

Is a refund available for requested recount costs?
- Not applicable. According to the Secretary of State, the state covers the cost of requested recounts.^[10]

Can a partial recount be requested?
- No.

More FAQs[edit]

Last updated January 5, 2021
Why is Georgia holding runoffs for U.S. Senate?
Why do these races matter?
When is the last time Georgia held Senate runoffs?
Does any other state hold general election runoffs for Congress elections?
How long have Republicans held both of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats?
If I didn't vote in the general election, can I still vote in the runoff?
If I wasn't registered to vote before the November election, can I register for the runoff?
Can I vote early?
Can I vote by mail?
Can I vote in both races?
Do I have to vote in both races?
Do I have to vote for candidates from the same party in both races?
When will election winners be sworn in?

Why is Georgia holding runoffs for U.S. Senate?[edit]

Georgia's legislature passed a law in the 1960s requiring runoffs for general elections in which no candidate receives a majority of the vote.^[11] The top two finishers in the general election advance to the runoff. Runoff elections are required for all congressional, state executive, and state legislative elections in which a candidate does not receive a majority in the general election.^[12]

Why do these races matter?[edit]

Following the November 3, 2020, elections, Republicans had secured 50 seats in the Senate and Democrats, 48 (including independents who caucus with them). Democrats needed to win both seats to split control of the chamber 50-50. Since the vice president has the tie-breaking vote in the chamber, this would give Democrats an effective majority in 2021. Republicans needed to win one of the two seats to maintain their majority. They held 53 seats heading into the 2020 elections. Different perspectives on what control of the Senate would mean can be found here.

When is the last time Georgia held Senate runoffs?[edit]

Two other Senate runoffs took place before these ones. In 2008, Saxby Chambliss (R) won re-election in a runoff. The first Senate runoff occurred in 1992. Incumbent Wyche Fowler (D) lost in the runoff.

Does any other state hold general election runoffs for Congress elections?[edit]

The only state with anything similar is Louisiana. There, all candidates running for a local, state, or federal office appear on the same ballot in either October (in odd-numbered years) or November (in even-numbered years), regardless of their partisan affiliations. If a candidate wins a simple majority of all votes cast for the office, he or she wins the election outright. If no candidate meets that threshold, the top two finishers, regardless of their partisan affiliations, advance to a second election in December.

How long have Republicans held both of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats?[edit]

Since 2005. In 2000, Zell Miller (D) won a special election to complete the term originally won by Paul Coverdell (R), who died in office. Prior to the special election, Gov. Roy Barnes (D) had appointed Miller to the seat.^[13]

If I didn't vote in the general election, can I still vote in the runoff?[edit]

Yes.^[14]

If I wasn't registered to vote before the November election, can I register for the runoff?[edit]

Yes, if you registered by the December 7, 2020, deadline. Find info on registering to vote and checking your registration status here.

Can I vote early?[edit]

Yes. Early in-person voting began December 14, 2020. Find early voting locations here.

Can I vote by mail?[edit]

Yes. Most Georgia voters who wanted to vote by mail needed to request an absentee ballot. Click here for information on submitting a request online, by mail, by fax, or in person. Voted absentee ballots needed to be received by 7 p.m. on January 5.

Can I vote in both races?[edit]

Yes.

Do I have to vote in both races?[edit]

No. Voters have a right to undervote, or not cast a vote for an office on their ballot. Their votes for other offices are still counted.

Do I have to vote for candidates from the same party in both races?[edit]

No. Voters could vote for any candidate in either Senate race, as well as the Public Service Commission District 4 runoff race, regardless of who they voted for in the other races.

When will election winners be sworn in?[edit]

The winners will be sworn in once results are certified.^[15] Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) has until January 22, 2021, to certify results.^[16] David Perdue's term ended at noon on January 3, 2021. The seat he held will be vacant until the regular runoff election results are certified. Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed to temporarily serve the term Johnny Isakson won, which ends January 2023. She will remain in office until the election is decided, and whoever wins the race will complete the term.^[17]

Nov. 3 election results[edit]

General election for U.S. Senate Georgia

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	David Perdue (R)	49.7	2,462,617
✔	Jon Ossoff (D)	47.9	2,374,519
	Shane Hazel (L)	2.3	115,039

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,952,175
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Elbert Bartell (Independent)
Darrell McGuire (Independent)
Clifton Kilby (Independent)

Sample ballot[edit]

An image of Fulton County's sample runoff ballot is below.^[18] Ballots may have looked slightly different in other counties.

Candidate comparison[edit]

Candidate profiles[edit]

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.^[19] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

David Perdue

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office:

U.S. Senate (Assumed office: 2015)

Biography: Perdue graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in industrial engineering in 1972 and obtained his master's degree in operations research from the same school in 1976. Perdue worked as a management consultant with the firm of Kurt Salmon Associates before moving into corporate leadership roles. He has worked as president and chief executive officer of Reebok, chairman and chief executive officer of Dollar General, and senior vice president of Asia operations for Sara Lee. Perdue is the co-founder of trading firm Perdue Partners.

Key Messages

Perdue's campaign website called him "the Original Outsider in the belly of the beast, fighting to change the direction of our country."

Perdue said he had a record of delivering for Georgia on COVID relief, the economy, healthcare, global security, and veterans issues. He emphasized his background in business and said he worked with President Donald Trump to deliver a historic economic turnaround before COVID-19.

Perdue said Ossoff had a socialist agenda that included defunding the police, voting rights for people in the country illegally, and D.C. statehood. He also said Ossoff had business ties to communist China.

Sources: David Perdue 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed November 19, 2020, YouTube, "David Perdue," accessed November 19, 2020; Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "PERDUE, David Alfred, Jr. (1949-)," accessed August 31, 2020, David Perdue 2020 campaign website, "Meet David," accessed August 31, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Georgia in 2020

Jon Ossoff

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "I run a small business that exposes corruption, organized crime, and war crimes for news organizations worldwide. My wife Alisha is an OB/GYN physician, and we both grew up in Atlanta. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a Master's of Science from the London School of Economics. Before embarking upon my career in journalism and media production, I worked as a national security aide for Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson, handling defense and economic policy. Since 2013, I have been the CEO of Insight TWI, a 30-year old media production company that produces investigations of corruption, organized crime, and war crimes that are broadcast internationally to a global television audience of hundreds of millions. In recent years, we have investigated and exposed sexual slavery of women and girls by ISIS, crooked judges, foreign officials who steal U.S-funded food and medical aid, contract killers, human traffickers, war crimes, and bribery."

Key Messages

The messages below are the candidate’s own.

Too many Georgians can't afford health care. The high cost is driven by the corrupt influence of the insurance and drug industries in Washington - a devastating product of our broken campaign finance system. In the U.S. Senate, I'll work to make quality health care a simple, affordable, and reassuring reality for all of us by supporting Medicaid expansion, a crackdown on price gouging, expansion of the U.S. Public Health Service, and federal investment in health clinics. I'll vote to add a nonprofit public option to the ACA exchange while defending every citizen's right to private insurance.

Lobbying and political contributions should not buy bailout money, unfair subsidies, or impunity for labor and environmental abuses. But as long as money buys political influence, our government's policies will favor the most powerful special interests. The health insurance, pharmaceutical, and fossil fuel industries have bought the allegiance of my opponent, Sen. David Perdue, and he in turn has voted in their interests rather than Georgia's interests. I run a business that investigates bribery and the abuse of power worldwide. I'm not taking contributions from corporate PACs, and my first act in the Senate will be to back a Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

The government's financial safety net for Wall Street is vast & instantaneous, while help for ordinary people & smaller firms has been meager & slow. Rather than relying on subsidies for investment banks as economic stimulus & hoping benefits trickle down, I'll support policies that help Georgia's families make & save more money: fast & direct emergency relief during economic crises, lower taxes for all but the wealthiest, debt-free public college, free vocational training, & health care guaranteed at an affordable price. And to create millions of jobs, revitalize our economy, and alleviate poverty, I'll support a historic infrastructure program to lay the foundation for decades of prosperity, sustainability, and health.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Georgia in 2020

Campaign themes[edit]

David Perdue[edit]

Perdue's campaign website stated the following:

“

COVID

As we forge a path forward, my number one focus is the safety and security of all Georgians during these challenging times.

Our phased reopening of the economy has allowed thousands of Georgians to safely return to work and support their families. Commonsense legislation like the SCHOOL Act will help our students and teachers safely return to the classroom or learn virtually.

I strongly encourage all Georgians to do their part to protect themselves and their communities by following the recommended safety precautions: wash your hands, watch your distance, and wear a mask.

ECONOMY

Over the last three years, we’ve proven that what we believe in actually works!

Rolled back onerous regulations and taken action to unleash our energy potential.
Cut taxes for Georgia families and small businesses.
Rolled back Dodd-Frank regulations that had crippled community and regional banks.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve secured billions in relief for Georgia small businesses and workers through the Paycheck Protection Program, saving more than 1.5 million jobs.

Our winning agenda created the greatest economic turnaround in U.S. history. Prior to COVID19, we saw the lowest African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic unemployment rates ever recorded and the lowest overall unemployment rate in 50 years. Now, as we continue fighting COVID-19 — prioritizing the health of the American people and relief for our economy — I know our policies can do it again.

SAFETY

Law & Order

I believe we need police and criminal justice reform in order to make sure equal justice for all Americans. The vast majority of our police officers serve honorably, and I’m committing to providing them the resources they need to keep our communities safe.

I oppose the lawless defund the police movement and will continue to fight to ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to keep our communities safe.
I’ve cosponsored the JUSTICE Act to ensure police are representative of the communities they serve, provide more de-escalation training to officers, equip more officers with body cams, and create a database for police misconduct offenses.
I’m a strong supporter of the First Step Act which removes mandatory minimums for first-time, nonviolent drug offenders.

National Defense

Our military installations in Georgia play a critical role in our National Defense strategy. I’m committed to supporting our military personnel and families in Georgia and across the country. I’m proud to have supported:

Largest military pay raising in a decade.
Relocating the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Withdrawing from the disastrous Iran Deal.
First ever Department of Defense Audit.

In addition to rebuilding our military, securing our borders and fixing our immigration law is necessary to ensure our national security.

We must close loopholes in our immigration law that allow dangerous criminals to enter our country and move towards a merit-based immigration system.
Our border patrol needs additional resources to stop illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and sex trafficking.
We need physical barriers at strategic points along our southern border.

SCHOOL

My mother, father, and my wife, Bonnie, were all public-school teachers and this issue is close to my heart.

I support school choice because a student’s zip code should not determine whether they have access to quality education.
When COVID hit, I wrote the SCHOOL Act – a commonsense plan to help students and teachers safely return to school or learn virtually until it is safe to return.
I proposed bipartisan School Safety Clearinghouse Act to enhance school safety nationwide through communication, innovation, and new technology.

HEALTHCARE

Since coming to the U.S. Senate, I’ve done everything I can to ensure Georgians and Americans have access to affordable, high-quality care.

I believe in protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, and I authored the PROTECT Act to do just that.
Worked to pass the 21st century CURES Act, streamlining regulations to get life-saving drugs to market faster and cheaper.
I’m working with President Trump and the Senate to ensure transparency in prescription drug pricing.

In response to the COVID19 crisis, I supported the bipartisan CARES Act. The CARES Act prioritized $6 billion for Georgia hospitals and healthcare workers and helped expand Georgians’ access to telemedicine.

OTHER ISSUES

Agriculture

I understand the important role agriculture, our state’s oldest and largest industry, plays in Georgia’s economy. I’ve worked to roll back onerous regulations hurting farmers in Georgia and across the country and secured critical disaster relief for Georgia farmers hit hard by devastating storms.

Energy Independence

I’m committed to unleashing America’s full energy potential. Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro will be home to the first new nuclear power units built in the U.S. in over 30 years. This project will help Georgia become a leader on 21st Century energy production and support our country’s long term energy independence.

Critical Infrastructure

I’m committed to strengthening our critical infrastructure. The Port of Savannah recently became the top U.S. port for agricultural exports and is the third fastest growing port in the country. After nearly 20 years of failures by career politicians, we’ve secured full federal funding for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP), which is expected to be completed by early 2022.

Term Limits

I support term limits for members of Congress because career politicians are not going to solve the problems they helped create.

Israel

I’m proud to be a strong defender of Israel, our closest Middle East ally. I support the major steps we’ve taken to recommit to our alliance with Israel, including withdrawing from the dangerous Iran Nuclear Deal and moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem.

Bipartisanship

I believe in bipartisanship, and I’ve worked across the aisle to help secure permanent funding for our Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

2nd Amendment

The right to bear arms is a freedom enshrined in the Constitution. We should focus on enforcing the gun laws already on the books to keep our families and communities safe.

Protecting Life

Being pro-life is a deeply held conviction for me. I believe we have a moral obligation to promote a culture that values life and protects the innocent, including the unborn.

National Debt/Balanced Budget

I support a Balanced Budget Amendment to fix the congressional budget process and reign in our national debt.^[4]

”

—David Perdue's campaign website (2020)^[20]

Jon Ossoff[edit]

Ossoff's campaign website stated the following:

“

The Economy

The COVID-19 outbreak is causing enormous economic hardship. Tens of millions are losing jobs. Businesses are shuttered. Banks and landlords are threatening foreclosure and eviction. Essential workers are underpaid, underprotected, and underinsured.

This crisis is laying bare structural inequity and corruption in U.S. economic policy. Similar to the 2007-2008 financial crisis, while hardship is concentrated among working- and middle-class families and smaller businesses, the fastest and biggest emergency relief has gone straight to the top.

The government’s financial safety net for Wall Street is vast and instantaneous, while help for ordinary people and smaller firms has been meager and slow.

Rather than relying on subsidies for Wall Street as economic stimulus and hoping the benefits trickle down, I’ll support policies that help Georgia’s families make and save more money: fast and generous direct emergency relief during economic crises, lower taxes for all but the wealthiest Americans, debt-free public college, free vocational training, and health care guaranteed at an affordable price.

To create millions of jobs, revitalize our economy, and alleviate poverty, I’ll support the most ambitious infrastructure program in history. Upgraded infrastructure will serve as the foundation for decades of prosperity, sustainability, and health.

Georgia is a growing economic powerhouse in agriculture, logistics, aerospace, technology, clean energy, and media. Georgia’s businesses and entrepreneurs are the crucial engine of job and wealth creation in our state.

I’ll work to make tax and regulatory compliance simpler and more efficient for our businesses. I’ll expose and attack unfair and unethical trade, labor, and environmental practices by overseas competitors that disadvantage American workers and businesses. I’ll work to reduce our dependence on Chinese supply chains and strengthen domestic producers. I’ll support strong antitrust enforcement and I’ll attack anti-competitive special interest subsidies secured by dominant firms with lobbying power at the expense of smaller competitors and startups. These policies will support long-term prosperity, competitiveness, and strength.

The health of the banking system is vital, but public funds and loans shouldn’t subsidize speculative short-term trading on Wall Street. That’s why I’ll vote to reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act, so Federal economic policy serves the long-term prosperity, stability, and financial security of families and productive enterprises, not short-term gains for investment banks, hedge funds, and private equity firms.

I’ve dedicated my career to fighting corruption. I run a business that investigates bribery and the abuse of power worldwide. I’m not taking contributions from corporate PACs or Congressional lobbyists. As Georgia’s Senator, I will be accountable exclusively to the people of our state.

Health Care

This pandemic should be a massive wake-up call for those who doubt the necessity of ensuring all Americans have health insurance.

The link between health and wealth must be broken. It is essential that every single American has great health care. And Georgia already faced a shocking health crisis, with among the highest rates of uninsurance and maternal mortality in the country.

In the U.S. Senate, I’ll work to make great health insurance a simple, affordable, reassuring reality for all of us. Other countries have achieved this. So can we.

Health insurance is too expensive and complex, and protections for women, young people, and pre-existing conditions are under attack. Few plans are available, premiums are high, surprise billing is frequent, and dealing with insurance companies can be a nightmare.

Even today, in the midst of a massive health crisis, the GOP, led by David Perdue, is still working to rip health insurance from tens of millions of Americans. The GOP and David Perdue have also long planned to cut Medicare, putting health care for seniors at risk.

I’ll vote to protect and strengthen Medicare, and I support offering all Americans a public health insurance option as an affordable alternative to private insurance.

The public plan’s premiums will be affordable for all and there will be no deductibles for necessary care. Its coverage will be comprehensive — including preventative care, prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, and neonatal and postnatal care. Medicaid expansion and auto-enrollment of the uninsured will ensure all Americans are covered regardless of wealth.

Your insurance will be your choice. Americans will be free to maintain exclusively private health insurance or to purchase supplemental private insurance on top of the public plan if they so choose.

For those with private insurance, I’ll vote to strengthen the Affordable Care Act’s protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, women, and young people. Those protections remain under attack by the health insurance industry and their allies in the GOP.

I’ll vote to crack down on price gouging by drug companies and make more generic medicine available.

I’ll work relentlessly to deliver federal funds to build more health clinics and hire more health care workers across Georgia, especially in rural and underserved communities, and to solve Georgia’s shocking and shameful maternal health crisis. Under my plan, the public option will include higher reimbursement rates for rural hospitals because they are vital assets in our communities.

And I’ll introduce legislation to expand the U.S. Public Health Service so it can recruit, train, and deploy more medical teams to clinics across Georgia and the nation.

Click here to read my full plan to ensure affordable, accessible health care for every Georgian.

Infrastructure

I’ll push for an unprecedented American infrastructure program that includes big, overdue investments in transportation and transit, clean energy, energy efficiency, public health, communications, research and development, emergency response, and environmental cleanup.

These investments will create job training and employment opportunities for millions of American workers and demand for products made by American businesses. They will revitalize our economy and lay the foundations for decades of prosperity, environmental sustainability, and health.

Infrastructure is often taken for granted. It includes energy production and the grid, transit, roads, bridges, tunnels, rail, aviation, ports and waterways, communications, cybersecurity, water treatment and distribution, housing, and public health.

Upgraded infrastructure will make life safer and more convenient, support commerce, attract investment, protect our environment, and improve our health.

Strong, advanced infrastructure is also essential for resilient and effective emergency response – whether pandemic, natural disaster, national security, or the totally unexpected.

Money spent on infrastructure is truly an investment in America, with positive returns across the entire economy and dramatic improvements to our quality of life.

The Environment

The health of the environment is vital to our own health, prosperity, and security. In the Senate, I’ll make energy and environmental policy on the basis of scientific evidence — not lobbying by polluters.

We face an urgent environmental crisis as out-of-control pollution is fast changing the climate, destroying ecosystems, killing off species, and damaging human health.

The scientific consensus is unambiguous: if pollution from fossil fuel combustion is not controlled, the consequences will be dire.

We can meet our energy needs without destroying the environment — but only by rapidly transitioning to clean energy sources, dramatically reducing carbon emissions, and increasing energy efficiency.

That’s why I’ll support a historic infrastructure plan that includes massive investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, and environmental protection.

I’ll push for America to immediately re-enter the Paris Climate Accords — and then to lead negotiation of an even more ambitious climate treaty.

I’ll work to reverse the Trump Administration’s rollbacks of clean air, clean water, and fuel economy standards — and then to strengthen them.

I’ll push for fast advances in sustainability — including a rapidly phased-in ban on single-use plastics, strongly enforced treaties to protect oceans and fisheries, aggressive protection of endangered species and habitats, increased fines for spills and contamination, and stricter controls on toxic chemicals.

Criminal Justice Reform

Our criminal justice system should render justice and protect the public while upholding due process, civil rights and civil liberties, and equal protection under the law.

Yet in the United States today, deep race and class disparities persist in policing, prosecution, and sentencing. Racial profiling, arbitrary detention, brutality, and abuse in detention and incarceration are widespread. We incarcerate tens of thousands guilty of non-violent, victimless crimes, destroying lives and incurring massive costs.

The deck is stacked against defendants who lack money, while those with wealth and connections often secure special treatment or outright impunity.

Our approach to punishment must respect the human dignity of incarcerated people and recognize that except for the most dangerous violent criminals, successful re-entry to society after incarceration is crucial for both the convicted and the public.

Nevertheless, brutal and inhumane conditions prevail in our prisons and jails.

Mandatory minimum sentencing, the drug war, and the misguided use of criminal enforcement as a response to addiction, mental illness, and poverty have contributed to mass incarceration that is a blight on our country.

In the Senate, I will champion and fight tirelessly to pass a New Civil Rights Act that strengthens civil rights laws and advances comprehensive criminal justice reform.

Race and class disparities in policing, prosecution, and sentencing must be ended nationwide.

I will work to reverse the militarization of local police forces, enhance due process and human rights protections for all citizens, ban private prisons, end cash bail, reform prisons and raise conditions of incarceration to humane standards, abolish the death penalty, legalize cannabis, and end incarceration for nonviolent drug offenses.

I’ll also support more federal law enforcement resources to attack organized crime, human trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, fraud, espionage, and corruption.

Roe v. Wade

I am pro-choice. I believe that women, not the government, should control the private, personal, and complex decision whether to terminate a pregnancy.

I run a business that investigates organized crime and corruption for news organizations worldwide. Our teams have gone undercover to expose how dangerous, unqualified, and unregulated abortion providers kill thousands of women in places where safe abortion services are not available legally.

In the Senate, I will only vote to confirm federal judges who pledge to uphold Roe v. Wade.

COVID-19

To contain this outbreak and prevent an economic depression, the Trump Administration’s gross incompetence must end.

It didn’t have to be this way. The White House ignored the warnings and dismissed the threat. But accountability will have to wait for November.

The immediate solutions are clear, but they must be implemented with the speed, competence, and focus demanded by a great challenge such as this.

Congress and the Administration should focus on boosting the health response, shoring up Americans’ finances, and speeding up containment and adaptation so Americans can return to work and normal life as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we must intensify short-term efforts to crack down on the spread.

First, every effort must be made to boost hospitals and the health response. The key immediate vulnerabilities are inadequate ICU capacity, insufficient testing capacity, a shortage of medical equipment for respiratory critical care, and lack of protective gear for doctors and nurses. The lack of protective equipment is personal for me — my wife Alisha is a doctor here at an Atlanta hospital — but we’re all at risk when medical teams fall sick.

The federal government should spend whatever it takes and cut through all the red tape to fill these gaps. (This effort should have begun in January.)

Use the Army Corps of Engineers, military logistical and medical units, and the Defense Production Act as necessary to build hospital capacity and properly equip medical teams. Give governors whatever they need. Be transparent about how many additional beds, respiratory critical care units, and isolation wards will be built, where, and by when. Go fast!

Second, shore up Americans’ finances. Millions are losing jobs. Families are staring over a financial cliff. This isn’t the time for partisan bickering and gridlock. Congress must immediately send generous emergency cash to tide over people and businesses.

The fastest and most generous help should go to those who need it the most. And no secret slush funds or special favors for powerful corporations. We need complete transparency and rigorous accountability. The president’s dismissal of the Inspector General for the $2 trillion relief program just days after it was enacted is outrageous. A repeat of the bank bailout debacle would destroy what little public trust in government remains.

Third, speed up containment and adaptation so we can find a “new normal” quickly and get back to work. Study countries that are seeing success. Equip medical experts to track the virus, defending privacy and civil liberties along the way. We have to know where the virus is and isn’t. That means widespread testing and free COVID-19 treatment (so no one is afraid to get tested).

Isolate the virus. Establish clear policies for the self-quarantine of infected Americans until they are healthy. Tighten and enforce regulations to protect seniors from exposure.

Reinforce strong hygiene. Implement widespread temperature checks. Mandate the routine disinfection of public spaces and surfaces.

Finally, intensify short-term efforts to crack down on the spread. Our highest hopes are that these efforts are swiftly effective and the virus is less lethal than suspected. But severe illness is still spreading exponentially, and many hospitals are warning they’ll soon be overwhelmed. Governors and mayors should listen to them and slow down the virus by implementing strong distancing policies now, not later, including shelter-in-place orders where necessary.

This buys time to build health care capacity and to develop therapies and vaccines.

Social distancing at such scale cannot continue indefinitely. That is precisely why we must boost the health response and speed up containment and adaptation — so we can return to our lives without overloading hospitals and causing unnecessary deaths.

We can do these things and defeat the virus together. This won’t last forever. But at minimum, the next few months are going to be hard.

It is vital that the federal response become more effective and coherent. In 2014, my company investigated the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, where government mistakes cost lives. We can’t afford any more mistakes here.

I truly don’t know if our elected officials in Washington realize how selfish and incompetent they look. The President has been negligent and erratic. Senators were briefed and adjusted their stock portfolios instead of preparing the public. They all have to get real now, and I pray for all our sakes they are successful.

We’re still America. We have huge resources and brilliant people.

Consider what we’ve achieved together when we‘ve brought to bear all that we must: the miraculous industrial mobilization of World War II, the New Deal, the Apollo program.

We’re still Americans. This is what we do. Let’s get to work!

Education

We all want and we all deserve the basics in life: a steady job that pays a living wage and helps us save for retirement, good health care, a nice home, and a great education for ourselves and for our kids.

But in America today, equality of opportunity isn’t a reality — and in so many ways that inequality starts in our educational system.

To improve the quality of primary and secondary education, I support increasing teacher pay and breaking the link between a community’s wealth and the funding available for its public schools.

When discussing higher education, the national political debate tends to focus on four-year college degrees. We need greater emphasis on vocational training. For someone currently making $10 an hour without benefits, a commercial driver’s license or a welding certificate can be life-changing.

That’s why in the Senate I’ll work to make trade school and vocational training free for every American.

And I’ll work to make four-year degrees at our public colleges 100% debt-free.

So many Americans today are held back by student debt — can’t start a business, start a family, or buy a home — because they can’t keep up with student loan payments.

But the cost of education shouldn’t hold us back. Education should expand our opportunities.

I support a generous forgiveness program for those struggling to pay off their student loans, caps on interest rates to relieve financial stress for all borrowers, and a program that links Federal student loan payments to income so paying off student loans is never a financial hardship.

Gun Safety Reforms

A clear majority of Georgians support reforms to reduce injuries and deaths from gun violence while protecting the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

I support the Second Amendment and I respect the overwhelming majority of gun owners who recognize that guns aren’t toys; they are lethal and dangerous tools.

Firearms possession comes with great responsibilities for safe ownership, storage, and use.

The shocking level of gun violence in America today makes plain the need for gun safety reforms, which will not preclude any responsible and qualified American from owning firearms for home defense, hunting, marksmanship, collection, or recreation.

I support universal criminal history checks for gun purchases, red flag laws to protect family members and domestic partners concerned about the mental health of their loved ones, and closing the gun show loophole.

I support a ban on the sale of semi-automatic rifles (“assault weapons”) and high-capacity magazines to the general public.

Americans who would purchase high-powered weapons derived from modern military technology should be required to demonstrate high qualification and compelling specific needs.

Most gun owners are responsible, qualified, and own weapons in good faith. However, the only objective of the firearms industry lobbyists is to drive up gun sales and enrich shareholders — even at the expense of public safety and common sense.

I’m not taking a dime from the gun lobby, and I’ll fight to end their corrupt influence in Washington.

Immigration

My mother is an immigrant. She came to this country when she was 23 because she believed in the American Dream, and she’s lived it. She became a successful entrepreneur, a U.S. citizen, and an active participant in our democracy.

Our country, like any country, must know and control who crosses our borders, and strong border security doesn’t require us to sacrifice our moral principles, our commitment to human rights, or our American identity as a haven for people fleeing persecution and striving for opportunity.

Ripping children from their parents and disappearing them into federal custody is an atrocity.

I’ll support an immigration policy that strengthens our borders, puts American workers first, respects human rights, and creates a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants who are already here and otherwise follow the law, especially those brought here as children.

We must reform the horrifically dysfunctional Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement so that these agencies carry out their duties with competence and humanity.

And instead of making life hell for migrants, immigration enforcement should crack down on the employers of undocumented immigrants, like The Trump Organization.

LGBTQ Equality

In the Senate, I’ll fight for equal rights and equal protection under the law for all Americans, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

I will defend marriage equality and the right of gay couples to adopt children.

I will support the Equality Act and vote to expand Federal anti-discrimination statutes to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation.

I will oppose efforts to re-impose the ban on military service by openly gay Americans. Any American’s desire to serve and defend their country should be honored without discrimination.

I’ll support strengthening anti-bullying programs for LGBTQ youth, and I will defend and support the safety and human rights of transgender Americans.

The LGBTQ community will be able to count on me to stand with them as a strong and outspoken ally.

Strengthening HBCU's

In the Senate I will champion HBCUs to strengthen these gems of America’s higher education system.

Georgia is home to ten HBCUs and the Atlanta University Center (“AUC”) Consortium, making Georgia a national HBCU headquarters.

Georgia’s HBCUs are: Albany State University, Fort Valley State University, Savannah State University, Clark Atlanta University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Morehouse School of Medicine, Morris Brown College, Paine College, and Spelman College.

HBCUs are vital ladders to opportunity for Black Americans — and these institutions train leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors, theologians, and academics who make vital contributions to American society.

HBCUs face devastating hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These vital institutions need immediate support to avoid long-lasting damage.

At the strategic level, HBCUs need and deserve deepened long-term public investment. Following a series of meetings with HBCU administrators, faculty, and alumni leaders this summer, it is clear these long-term policy priorities must include:

Tuition affordability
Facilities & technology
Endowment growth
Morris Brown accreditation
Program expansion in vital fields to train STEM professionals, health care workers, and educators.

To develop this plan I convened a series of meetings with Presidents, Vice Presidents, staff, and alumni leaders from Albany State University, Fort Valley State University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center Consortium to listen and understand the immediate and long-term needs of these institutions.

This paper will serve as a framework for my legislative approach to supporting Georgia’s HBCUs and HBCUs nationwide when I represent Georgia in the United States Senate.

Click here to read my full plan to strengthen Georgia’s HBCUs.^[4]

”

—Jon Ossoff's campaign website (2020)^[21]

Campaign ads[edit]

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

David Perdue[edit]

Supporting Perdue

"Total Democrat Control" - Loeffler and Perdue campaign ad, released December 31, 2020

"Toss" - Loeffler and Perdue campaign ad, released December 20, 2020

"Man Of His Word" - Perdue ad, released December 15, 2020

"Vote" - Perdue ad, released December 14, 2020

"The Original Outsider" - Perdue ad, released December 9, 2020

"Oh, Georgia" - Senate Georgia Battleground Fund ad, released December 7, 2020

"Even Stronger" - Perdue campaign ad, released November 28, 2020

"Believe" - Perdue campaign ad, released November 20, 2020

"Military" - Perdue campaign ad, released September 9, 2020

"Corona" - Perdue campaign ad, released August 13, 2020

"Pre" - Perdue campaign ad, released August 13, 2020

"Drugs" - Perdue campaign ad, released July 23, 2020

"Health" - Perdue campaign ad, released October 19, 2020

Opposing Ossoff

"Paid" - Perdue campaign ad, released December 18, 2020

"Save" - Perdue campaign ad, released December 1, 2020

"Stock Lies" - Perdue campaign ad, released December 1, 2020

"Save Georgia, Save America" - Perdue campaign ad, released November 13, 2020

"Change" - Perdue campaign ad, released November 12, 2020

"China" - Perdue campaign ad, released October 28, 2020

"Radical" - Perdue campaign ad, released September 22, 2020

"Lie" - Perdue campaign ad, released September 16, 2020

"Experience" - Perdue campaign ad, released September 9, 2020

"You Won't Be Safe In Jon Ossoff's America" - Perdue campaign ad, released August 28, 2020

"Jon Ossoff supports the Harris Agenda" - Perdue campaign ad, released August 26, 2020

"Stop Socialism" - Senate Georgia Battleground Fund/Loeffler/Perdue ad, released November 18, 2020

Jon Ossoff[edit]

Supporting Ossoff

"Georgia" - Ossoff and Warnock campaign ad, released December 30, 2020

"We The People EVO" - Ossoff and Warnock campaign ad, released December 30, 2020

"Raise the Wage" - Ossoff and Warnock campaign ad, released December 20, 2020

"Asking You" - Ossoff and Warnock campaign ad, released December 17, 2020

"Selma" - Ossoff campaign ad, released December 17, 2020

"The Talk" - Ossoff campaign ad, released December 10, 2020

"Look" - Ossoff campaign ad, released December 4, 2020

"Prepared" - Ossoff campaign ad, released December 1, 2020

"Thanksgiving" - Ossoff campaign ad, released November 23, 2020

"Succeed" - Ossoff campaign ad, released November 17, 2020

"Path to Recovery" - Ossoff campaign ad, released November 9, 2020

"My Friend Jon Ossoff" - Ossoff campaign ad, released October 22, 2020

"On The Trail" - Ossoff campaign ad, released October 21, 2020

"Gift" - Ossoff campaign ad, released October 11, 2020

"Police and 2A" - Ossoff campaign ad, released September 29, 2020

"Negotiate" - Ossoff campaign ad, released September 22, 2020

"Together" - Ossoff campaign ad, released September 2, 2020

"Health Care" - Ossoff campaign ad, released August 10, 2020

"At Home" - Ossoff campaign ad, released July 31, 2020

"Dignity" - Ossoff campaign ad, released July 30, 2020

"Justice" - Ossoff campaign ad, released July 30, 2020

"Un Plan" - Ossoff campaign ad, released November 26, 2020

Opposing Perdue

"Blood Sweat and Tears" - Ossoff and Warnock campaign ad, released December 30, 2020

"Crooked David" - Ossoff campaign ad, released December 20, 2020

"Priority" - Ossoff campaign ad, released December 11, 2020

"Family Business" - Ossoff campaign ad, released November 29, 2020

"Echo" - Ossoff campaign ad, released November 16, 2020

"In The Middle" - Ossoff campaign ad, released October 2, 2020

"Hurting" - Ossoff campaign ad, released August 21, 2020

Runoff campaign stops by political region[edit]

Where did candidates spend the most facetime?

The Washington Post delineated six political regions in Georgia: Atlanta, Atlanta Burbs, Black Belt, North Georgia, Piedmont, and South Georgia. David Weigel wrote:

“

Atlanta and its suburbs are bluer than ever; the Black Belt is strongly Democratic, but with some Republican opportunities. North Georgia, South Georgia and the Piedmont region drive any Republican win, and the Senate races may come down to whether loyal conservative voters decide, amid all the noise, to hit the polls again.^[4]

”

Click here to see a map of the regions and more information on each.

We emailed campaigns and used social media posts, events pages, and news articles to document campaign stops between the Nov. 3 election and the Jan. 5 runoff. The table below shows the number of individual days we found that a candidate held one or more in-person campaign events in a region. Most-visited regions for each candidate are highlighted in yellow.

Note: Warnock's campaign sent us a list of campaign stop locations that fell within each of the six political regions. We were unable to obtain dates for all those stops. Those for which we found dates are included below.

Race stats[edit]

Campaign finance[edit]

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name

Party

Receipts*

Disbursements**

Cash on hand

Date

Jon Ossoff

Democratic Party

$156,145,527

$151,813,794

$4,331,733

As of December 31, 2020

David Perdue

Republican Party

$99,202,974

$88,492,643

$12,414,002

As of December 31, 2020

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," .

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

Self-funding[edit]

Ossoff loaned his campaign $450,000 on May 29.^[22]

Polls[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

The table below includes polls released in this race that meet Ballotpedia's criteria for inclusion in our coverage, including polls that disclose their methodology and the questions asked of respondents. Examples of polls we do not include are those that use interactive voice response (IVR) and online polls with unweighted results. See FiveThirtyEight for a more complete list of polls released in this race.

U.S. Senate election in Georgia, 2020: Runoff election polls
Poll	Date	Perdue	Ossoff	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size	Sponsor
SurveyUSA	Dec. 16-20	46%	51%	3%	± 5.1 (credibility interval)	600	WXIA-TV

SurveyUSA broke down responses by various demographics, including the following:

Democrats: 97% Ossoff, 2% Perdue
Republicans: 93% Perdue, 5% Ossoff
Independents: 53% Ossoff, 34% Perdue

White: 67% Perdue, 31% Ossoff
Black: 90% Ossoff, 6% Perdue
Hispanic: 52% Ossoff, 45% Perdue

Loeffler runoff voters: 95% Perdue, 3% Ossoff
Warnock runoff voters: 96% Ossoff, 4% Perdue

U.S. Senate election in Georgia, 2020: Runoff election polls
Poll	Date	Perdue	Ossoff	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size	Sponsor
SurveyUSA	Nov. 27-30	48%	50%	2%	± 5.2 (credibility interval)	583	WXIA-TV

SurveyUSA broke down responses by various demographics, including the following:

Democrats: 94% Ossoff, 5% Perdue
Republicans: 96% Perdue, 4% Ossoff
Independents: 47% Ossoff, 45% Perdue

White: 71% Perdue, 28% Ossoff
Black: 92% Ossoff, 5% Perdue

Loeffler runoff voters: 97% Perdue, 3% Ossoff
Warnock runoff voters: 93% Ossoff, 6% Perdue

Click [show] to see poll results for the Nov. 3 election
Poll	Date	Perdue	Ossoff	Hazel	Undecided	Other	Margin of error	Sample size	Sponsor
Morning Consult	Oct. 22-31	46%	47%	--	--	--	± 2	1,743	--
Public Policy Polling	Oct. 27-28	44%	47%	3%	6%	--	± 3.8	661	--
Monmouth	Oct. 23-27	46%	49%	2%	1%	1%	± 4.4	504	--
Civiqs	Oct. 23-26	45%	51%	2%	1%	1%	± 3.3	1,041	Daily Kos
YouGov	Oct. 20-23	47%	46%	--	4%	2%	± 3.4	1,102	CBS
University of Georgia	Oct. 14-23	45%	46%	4%	5%	--	± 4.0	1,145	Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New York Times/Siena College	Oct. 13-19	43%	43%	4%	8%	1%	± 4.1	759	--
Opinion Insight LLC	Oct. 12-15	44%	44%	--	8%	5%	± 3.5	800	American Action Forum
Quinnipiac	Oct. 8-12	45%	51%	--	3%	--	± 3	1,040	--
Data for Progress	Oct. 8-11	43%	44%	3%	10%	--	± 3.5	782	Indivisible/Crooked Media
Public Policy Polling	Oct. 8-9	43%	44%	4%	9%	--	± 4.3	528	--
Civiqs	September 26-29, 2020	46%	48%	3%	2%	1%	+/- 3.5	969	Daily Kos
Quinnipiac	September 23-27, 2020	48%	49%	--	2%	--	+/- 2.9	1,125	--
Redfield & Wilton Strategies	September 23-26, 2020	42%	47%	--	9%	3%	+/- 3.5	789	--
YouGov	September 22-25, 2020	47%	42%	--	8%	3%	+/- 3.3	1,164	CBS
Monmouth	September 17-21, 2020	48%	42%	4%	6%	1%	+/- 4.9	402	--
New York Times/Siena College	Sept. 17-21	41%	38%	5%	16%	--	± 4.9	523	--
University of Georgia School of International and Public Affairs	September 11-20, 2020	47%	45%	4%	5%	--	+/- 4.3	1,150	The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Redfield & Wilton Strategies	September 12-16, 2020	43%	43%	--	11%	3%	+/- 3.5	763	N/A
SurveyUSA	August 6-8, 2020	44%	41%	--	10%	4%	± 5.3	623	N/A
YouGov	July 28-31, 2020	45%	43%	--	10%	3%	± 3.4	1,101	CBS News
Monmouth University	July 23-27, 2020	49%	43%	1%	7%	--	± 4.9	402	N/A
SPRY Strategies	July 11-16, 2020	46%	44%	--	6%	4%	± 3.7	700	American Principles Project
Gravis Marketing	July 2, 2020	48%	43%	--	9%	--	± 4.3	513	One America News Network
Beacon Research, Shaw & Company Research, and Braun Research, Inc.	June 20-23, 2020	45%	42%	--	8%	3%	± 3	1,013	FOX News

Ballotpedia Power Index[edit]

See also: The Ballotpedia Power Index

The Ballotpedia Power Index (BPI) is an election forecasting tool that factors in polling averages from RealClearPolitics and share prices on PredictIt to project the overall chances of each candidate winning election. We updated the chart weekly.

Race ratings[edit]

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from three outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.^[23]
Tossup ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.^[24]^[25]^[26]

Last updated: December 23, 2020

Race ratings: Senate runoff election in Georgia
Race Tracker	Race rating
The Cook Political Report	Toss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Toss-up
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Toss-up

Timeline[edit]

Joint campaign events[edit]

Jan. 4, 2021:
- President-elect Joe Biden (D) held a rally with Warnock and Ossoff in Atlanta.^[27] Biden said Ossoff and Warnock would help deliver $2,000 relief checks to most Americans. "If you’re like millions of Americans all across this country, you need the money. You need the help and you need it now. Now, look, Georgia, there’s no one in America with more power to make that happen than you. … The power is literally in your hands. By electing Jon and the reverend, you can break the gridlock that has gripped Washington." Biden also said, "It’s not hyperbole, you can change America." He said of the presidential election, "Your voices were heard. Your votes were counted. The will of the people prevailed."^[28]^[29]
- Ossoff and Warnock campaigned together in Augusta, according to a Warnock campaign email.

Jan. 3, 2021: Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (D) held a rally with Ossoff and Warnock in Savannah.^[30]

Dec. 28, 2020:
- Ossoff and Warnock held a drive-in rally in Lithonia.^[31]
- Perdue and Loeffler campaigned together in Greensboro.^[32]

Dec. 21, 2020:
- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (D) headlined a rally in Columbus with Ossoff and Warnock.^[33]
- Ivanka Trump attended an early vote event with Perdue and Loeffler in Fulton County.^[34] Loeffler and Perdue also campaigned in Walton County.^[35]

Dec. 20, 2020: Loeffler and Perdue held a rally with Nikki Haley in Forsyth County.^[36]

Dec. 19, 2020: Ossoff and Warnock held a rally with rapper Common in Garden City.^[37]

Dec. 17, 2020: Vice President Mike Pence (R) headlined two "Defend the Majority" rallies in Columbus and Macon with Loeffler and Perdue.^[38]

Dec. 15, 2020: President-elect Joe Biden (D) held a drive-in rally in Atlanta. Ossoff, Warnock, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D), and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D) attended.^[39]

Dec. 14, 2020: Warnock and Ossoff held an early vote car rally in Atlanta.^[40]

Dec. 12, 2020: Loeffler and Perdue campaigned together in Savannah.^[41]

Dec. 8, 2020: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) headlined a virtual fundraiser along with Ossoff and Warnock.^[42]

Dec. 5, 2020:
- President Donald Trump (R) headlined a rally with Perdue, Loeffler, and Public Service Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald (R) at the Valdosta Regional Airport. The Republican National Committee hosted the rally.^[43]
- Ossoff and Warnock campaigned together in Lithonia.^[44]

Dec. 4, 2020:
- Vice President Mike Pence (R) headlined a "Defend the Majority" rally with Loeffler, Perdue, and Public Service Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald (R) in Savannah.^[45]
- Former President Barack Obama (D) headlined a virtual get-out-the-vote rally with Ossoff and Warnock. U.S. Rep.-elect Nikema Williams (D) and 2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams also attended.^[46]

Nov. 24, 2020: Loeffler, Perdue, and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) campaigned in Thomasville.^[47]

Nov. 20, 2020: Vice President Mike Pence (R) headlined two rallies with Loeffler and Perdue.^[48]

Nov. 19, 2020: Loeffler and Perdue held a joint campaign event in Perry.^[49]

Nov. 18, 2020: Warnock and Ossoff campaigned together in Clayton County.^[50]

Nov. 15, 2020: Ossoff and Warnock held a joint campaign event in Cobb County.^[51]

Debates and forums[edit]

Dec. 6, 2020: Ossoff appeared at an Atlanta Press Club event. Perdue declined the Atlanta Press Club's invitation to debate.^[52]

Highlights from the event are below.

On potential lockdowns:

"I will listen to the public health experts. And if they recommend that more aggressive mitigation measures are necessary to save lives, it would be foolish for politicians to ignore their advice."

On Perdue missing the debate:

"[Y]our senator feels entitled to your vote. Your senator is refusing to answer questions and debate his opponent, because he believes he shouldn’t have to; he believes this Senate seat belongs to him. This Senate seat belongs to the people."

On Perdue's stock trades:

"I haven't seen one shred of evidence that David Perdue has presented that any federal agency has cleared him. What I observe is that he has not yet been indicted for obvious financial misconduct. … The standard for our elected officials must be higher than merely evading prosecution."

On COVID stimulus aid package:

"Point one: Stimulus checks directly for the people. I mentioned Senator Perdue opposed even the first round of stimulus checks. … Direct relief for small businesses. The PPP program has not been reauthorized since the summertime. It needs to be reauthorized, it needs to be expanded. And checks need to be put in place to make sure that larger firms are not exploiting that program and small and black-owned businesses are not being denied access to it. We need to get significant financial support to our public health infrastructure. … And … we need a significant infrastructure and jobs package to invest in long-term economic recovery."

From his closing statement:

"We can pass legislation to secure equal justice for all under the law. We can get out of this health crisis by empowering doctors and scientists. We can rush short-term financial relief to working families and businesses. And then we can pass an infrastructure and jobs package … We can raise the minimum wage to $15. We can make Georgia the leading producer of clean energy and tackle the climate crisis. … I may not always vote the way you want me to, but you can rest assured I will come to forums like this one and answer questions in open."

Other topics included immigration, climate and environmental policy, and policing. Click here to view a video of the event.

Perdue's campaign manager, Ben Fry, issued a statement about Ossoff's appearance: "Jon Ossoff came out in support of blanket amnesty, a national lockdown and made clear he doesn't want to 'get bogged down in the details' about additional COVID relief. … These are serious times and Jon Ossoff just showed how unserious — and unprepared — he really is."^[53]

Oct. 29, 2020: Gray Television hosted a debate. View a video here.

Oct. 12, 2020: The Atlanta Press Club hosted a debate. View a video here.

Timeline of other events[edit]

Jan. 5, 2021: On Fox & Friends, Perdue said of Ossoff that "most of his money comes from big tech out in California. You better bet he's going to be in their deep pocket as we turn around and try to hold big tech accountable for their vagaries over the last 10 years. And also, when we stand up to China, ask this young man what he's going to do to the people who put money in his pocket the last two years."^[54]

Jan. 4, 2021:
- President Donald Trump (R) held a rally in Dalton. Trump said, "Everything that we achieved together is on the line tomorrow. ... Our fight to take back our country from the big donors, the big media and the horrendous big tech giants." Trump said Loeffler and Perdue would protect Social Security, Medicare, and patients with pre-existing conditions. He also discussed his claims about election fraud in the state's presidential election while urging Republican voters to vote in the runoff: "The only way to combat the Democratic fraud is to flood your polling places with a historic tidal wave of Republican voters tomorrow."^[55]
- Vice President Mike Pence held a "Faith Community Call To Action" event supporting Loeffler and Perdue in Milner.^[56]
- Perdue remained in quarantine and participated in several media interviews.^[57] Perdue tweeted that he urged senators to object to the Electoral College certification process. Perdue's term ended on Jan. 3, so he would not be able to participate on Jan. 6.^[58]
- Ossoff campaigned in Conyers and Augusta. Ossoff also tweeted a video of him saying, "When the president of the United States calls up Georgia's election officials and tries to intimidate them to change the result of the election, to disenfranchise Georgia voters, to disenfranchise Black voters in Georgia who delivered this state for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, that is a direct attack on our democracy. And If David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler had one piece of steel in their spines, one shred of integrity, they would be out here defending Georgia voters from that kind of assault."^[59]^[60]

Jan. 3, 2021:
- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (D) held a rally with Ossoff and Warnock in Savannah.^[61]
- Former First Lady Michelle Obama's organization When We All Vote hosted a get-out-the-vote concert in Atlanta.^[62]
- Former Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski campaigned for Loeffler and Perdue in Sugar Hill.^[63]
- Perdue's term in the Senate ended. Former Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) campaigned on David's behalf, making several stops throughout the weekend while the latter was in quarantine. David Perdue participated in several interviews throughout the weekend, including with Fox & Friends and Breitbart News Radio.^[64]^[65]
- Ossoff held a virtual get-out-the-vote event with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).^[66]

Jan. 2, 2021: Ossoff held a rally in Macon and other campaign events in Eatonton, Stone Mountain, Athens, and Savannah.^[67]

Jan 1, 2021: Ossoff held a "Swag Bag Giveaway" event in East Point.^[68]

Dec. 31, 2020:
- This was the last day of early in-person voting in most Georgia counties.^[69]
- Perdue announced he and his wife tested negative for COVID-19 but would quarantine after learning they had close contact with someone who tested positive.^[70]

Dec. 30, 2020:
- This was the last day of early in-person voting in Bibb, Butts, Camden, Fulton, Henry, Pickens, Taylor, and Upson counties. (Voting open at main election office only in Henry Dec. 31.)^[71]^[69]
- Perdue was on Fox & Friends and three radio shows. He discussed early voting, COVID-19 stimulus checks, election security, and more.^[72] Perdue said of Mitch McConnell introducing a bill combining stimulus checks with other provisions, "The Democrats themselves held this up for months, and so here in the last minute, they're complaining about the normal operation of the Senate. … I can tell you the three things that Mitch McConnell is trying to do are in line with what the president has said."^[73] Perdue also campaigned in Hiawassee, LaFayette, Summerville, and Bremen.^[74]

Dec. 29, 2020:
- Perdue tweeted, "President @realdonaldtrump is right — I support this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people."^[75] He also campaigned in Forsyth, Thomaston, Milner, Jackson, and McDonough.^[76]
- Ossoff said in a statement about Perdue's support for $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks: "The people have needed help, but for the past year, David Perdue has opposed all direct relief for working Georgians even while he cashed out personally on the pandemic by trading medical stocks. He hasn’t had a change of heart — he’s exclusively focused on his own political survival. Georgians deserve a Senator who will always look out for them, not just when it’s politically convenient."^[77]

Dec. 28, 2020:
- Ossoff appeared on MSNBC's The ReidOut Monday night, where he called on Perdue to commit to voting for $2,000 relief checks.^[78]
- Perdue participated in an interview on The Hugh Hewitt Radio Show. He discussed early voting numbers, his ideas about the effects of the runoff elections on military funding and foreign policy, and COVID-19 relief.^[79] He also campaigned in Greene County, Milledgeville, Sandersville, Laurens County, and Eastman.
- Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) campaigned for Loeffler and Perdue in Savannah.^[80]

Dec. 27, 2020: Ossoff held an "Artists for Ossoff" kickoff event in Atlanta, unveiling a mural his campaign commissioned to encourage voting in the runoff.^[81]

Dec. 24, 2020: Updated campaign finance reports showed the following fundraising totals for the candidates through Dec. 16. Overall election cycle totals are presented first, following by the most recent reporting period's totals in parentheses:^[82]
- Perdue: $89.5 million ($68 million Oct. 15-Dec. 16)
- Ossoff: $139.6 million ($107 million Oct. 15-Dec. 16)

Dec. 22, 2020:
Perdue campaigned in Clarke, Jackson, Barrow, Oconee, and Morgan counties.^[83]
Ossoff spoke at Morris Brown College. He said he would work to secure funding for historically black colleges and universities if elected.^[84]
The day after Congress passed a $900 billion spending bill with COVID-19 relief provisions, which Loeffler and Perdue voted to pass, the candidates weighed in on the bill.
- Perdue tweeted an ad saying Ossoff "opposed past COVID relief and encouraged Democrats to block additional aid for months, but Sen. Perdue never gave up. Perdue again delivered real, meaningful help for Georgians: $900 billion in new COVID relief, direct checks to Georgians, critical funding for vaccine distribution, small businesses, public schools, and help for folks out of work."^[85]
- Ossoff tweeted, "Even @realdonaldtrump says $600 is a joke. @Perduesenate, do better." Ossoff said in an interview with MSNBC that he would have voted for the bill because people need help, but that the direct payments are not enough and that Republicans in the Senate, including Perdue, held up relief. Ossoff said, "We need additional, substantial, direct COVID relief, and the only way we'll get it is by winning these two Senate races in Georgia."^[86]

Dec. 20, 2020: Perdue campaigned with Reps.-elect Michelle Steel and Young Kim (R-Calif.) in Norcross.^[87]

Dec. 19, 2020:
- Perdue and Donald Trump Jr. appeared in Bulloch County and Catoosa County.^[88]
- Ossoff held meet-and-greet events in Statesboro and Hinesville.^[89]

Dec. 18, 2020:
- Perdue held a rally with Donald Trump Jr. in Ocilla.^[90]
- Ossoff held meet-and-greet events in Bainbridge and Thomasville.^[89]

Dec. 17, 2020: **Ossoff continued his “Health, Jobs, and Justice” bus tour with stops in Albany and Americus.^[91]

Dec. 16, 2020:
- Ossoff held a rally in Columbus.^[92]
- Perdue made stops in Musella, Americus, Leesburg, and Cataula.^[93]
- Ossoff and Warnock held a livestream with Alyssa Milano, Leslie Jones, and Misha Collins.^[94]
- Local news outlet News4Jax published comparisons of runoff candidates' backgrounds and statements about their positions on 18 issues: Perdue/Ossoff comparison

Dec. 15, 2020:
- Ossoff's campaign hosted a virtual "Women to Women Friendbanking" event with actress Emmy Rossum.^[95]
- Perdue campaigned in Fayetteville, Newnan, LaGrange, Carrollton, and Dallas.^[96]
- Facebook Product Manager Sarah Schiff announced that Facebook was lifting its post-election advertising ban for Georgia's runoffs starting Dec. 16. She wrote the following:^[97]

“

We are maintaining our temporary pause for ads about social issues, elections or politics in the US. However, in recent weeks we’ve heard feedback from experts and advertisers across the political spectrum about the importance of expressing voice and using our tools to reach voters ahead of Georgia’s runoff elections. We agree that our ad tools are an important way for people to get information about these elections. So we have developed a process to allow advertisers to run ads with the purpose of reaching voters in Georgia about Georgia’s runoff elections.^[4]

”

Dec. 14, 2020:
- Perdue appeared on Fox & Friends and encouraged Georgians to turn out and vote. He said of the general election, "52-and-a-half percent of Georgians rejected Jon Ossoff in my race and this liberal leftist agenda, so I'm confident if we get our vote out, we will win again."^[98] Perdue also started his "Early Vote Tour" in Glynn County. Former Gov. Sonny Perdue (R), David's cousin, joined him in Macon and Albany. The senator also stopped in Savannah, Augusta, Dalton, and Atlanta. Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.) joined him in Augusta.^[99]
- Loeffler and Perdue published an op-ed in The Washington Times. They wrote, in part:^[100]

“

Instead of shutting down the economy, we will continue to lower taxes and create jobs. Instead of taking away private health insurance, we will fight for more affordable health care that covers pre-existing conditions. And instead of eliminating individual choice in areas like education, we will work to ensure school choice for parents and students alike.

Above all else, we will always fight back against those who wish to impose dangerous agendas and turn America into a socialist nation.^[4]

”

Dec. 13, 2020: Ossoff launched a "Health, Jobs and Justice" bus tour in Augusta.^[101]

Dec. 12, 2020: Perdue also campaigned in Uvalda, Hazlehurst, and Douglas.^[102]

Dec. 11, 2020: Club for Growth Action launched a Save America Tour across Georgia in support of Loeffler and Perdue, set to include Republican officeholders and candidates who recently won election and to continue until Dec. 21.^[103]

Dec. 10, 2020:
- President-elect Joe Biden announced the Flip Georgia Fund, where donations would be split evenly between the Ossoff campaign, the Warnock campaign, and the Democratic National Committee.^[104]
- Perdue campaigned in Richmond County and Louisville. He also attended a "Defend the Majority" rally in Augusta with Vice President Mike Pence.^[105]
- Ossoff spoke with radio station WAOK's Juandolyn Stokes about healthcare and economic recovery.^[106]
- Perdue and Loeffler joined the Georgia Republican Party and the National Republican Senatorial Committee in a federal lawsuit requesting that the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia order increased signature verification standards for absentee ballots. ^[107]

The suit reads: "Unfortunately, there are constitutional flaws in the current process for checking absentee voter signatures that must be remedied before county clerks begin processing absentee ballots on December 21, after which time constitutional violations will be impossible to remedy. Plaintiffs seek modest injunctive relief targeted at improving election administration before the election votes are processed. All validly cast votes should be counted and none of those should be diluted by counting invalid or unverified ballots."

Dec. 9, 2020:
- Perdue and Loeffler issued a joint statement supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's (R) lawsuit against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In the suit, Paxton alleges that the states made last-minute election changes that skewed results. Paxton filed the suit in the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Perdue appeared on Newsmax's Greg Kelly Reports and Fox News At Night With Shannon Bream.^[108]^[109] He made campaign stops in Habersham, Stephens, Hart, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Columbia counties.^[110]
- Ossoff held a car rally in Macon Dec. 9. State Rep. Miriam Paris (D), state Sen. David Lucas (D), and gospel singer Tasha Cobbs spoke in support of him and Warnock at the rally.^[111]

Perdue and Loeffler's joint statement said the following:^[112]

“

We fully support President Trump’s legal recourses and Attorney General Paxton’s lawsuit. The President has every right to use every legal recourse available to guarantee these simple principles: every lawful vote cast should be counted, any illegal vote submitted cannot be counted, and there must be full transparency and uniformity in the counting process. This isn’t hard and it isn’t partisan. It’s American. No one should ever have to question the integrity of our elections system and the credibility of its outcomes.^[4]

”

Dec. 8, 2020:
- Perdue campaigned in Dawson, Fannin, Union, Towns, and White counties Dec. 8 as part of his "Win Georgia, Save America" bus tour.^[113]^[114]^[115]^[116]^[117]
- Ossoff held a drive-thru yard sign giveaway event in Atlanta with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and 2020 presidential candidate Julián Castro (D).^[118] He also participated in an interview with WCTV's Michael Hudak. Ossoff discussed his relationship with former Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), Perdue's criticisms, and Perdue's decision not to participate in debates during the runoff.^[119]

Dec. 7, 2020:
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) headlined a virtual fundraising event supporting Ossoff and Warnock.^[120]
- Perdue talked with Newsmax's Sean Spicer about his decision not to attend the Dec. 6 debate. Perdue said, "We've already debated the issues. We did that during the general election. In the runoff, it's all about turnout."^[121]
- Warnock and Ossoff released a joint statement about Cobb County's decrease in early voting locations from 11 before the Nov. 3 election to five before the Jan. 5 runoffs. Cobb Elections Director Janine Eveler said they could only staff five early voting locations ahead of the runoffs. Ossoff and Warnock wrote:^[122]^[123]

“

Georgia voters have shown all year that when the polls open, they will show up and break records. We expect the same for the runoffs, which is why election officials’ decision to cut the number of early vote locations in Cobb County in half is unacceptable. This plan will result in longer lines, longer wait times and more barriers to the basic right of casting a ballot. It’s especially disturbing that the voters who stand to be impacted the most are people of color. Cobb County must change course and restore the 11 early voting locations so that Georgians can participate in this critically important election.^[4]

”

Dec. 6, 2020: Perdue campaigned with former Gov. Sonny Perdue (R), his cousin, in Houston County.^[65]

Dec. 5, 2020: Perdue campaigned with U.S. Rep. Daniel Crenshaw (R-Texas) in Floyd County.^[124]

Dec. 3, 2020:
- Perdue appeared at a town hall with Fox News' Laura Ingraham. He said of suburban women: "They want to know when they get their lives back to normal. They're worried about the safety of their kids, the safety of their neighborhoods, and so forth. They want the police funded and defended. They don't want to defund the police. That's ridiculous. So a lot of people who … maybe voted against Trump, for whatever reason, we think may come back to use because they see the value of split government."^[125]
- The Asian American Advocacy Fund PAC hosted a text-banking event aimed at turning out Asian American and Pacific Islander voters for Ossoff and Warnock.^[126]

Dec. 2, 2020:
- According to ad tracking company AdImpact, the four Senate campaigns and various satellite groups were poised to spend more than $300 million on advertising in the runoffs. The figure included TV, radio, and digital ad time already purchased or reserved. Republican supporters accounted for $177 million of the total spending and Democratic supporters, $130 million.^[127]
- Georgia Republican Party spokesperson Abigail Sigler commented on billboards featuring the message, "Perdue/Loeffler Didn't Deliver For Trump, Don't Deliver For Them," that Really American PAC was crowdfunding for. Sigler said, "It's disappointing to see an extreme left-wing super PAC come into Georgia with the sole intention of deceiving voters, but no amount of billboards will divide Georgia Republicans who know that Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue continue to stand with President Donald Trump."

The PAC said, "If David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler win the run-off election, Donald Trump will become the only Republican to lose Georgia in a generation. … In a rare twist of fate, Trump supporters and those who want to see Reverend Warnock and Jon Ossoff win have a shared interest in seeing the two Republicans who failed to deliver a victory for Trump (Loeffler & Perdue), lose."^[128]

Dec. 1, 2020:
- Ossoff kicked off a series of door-knocking events in several cities.^[129] His campaign also launched TikTok and Snapchat accounts to share policy positions, voting information, and videos of Ossoff on the campaign trail.^[130]
- Gabriel Sterling, voting system implementation manager with the Georgia Secretary of State office, called on Trump, Perdue, and Loeffler to condemn threats of violence to election officials:^[131]

“

Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop. We need you to step up. If you’re going to take a position of leadership, show some.

My boss, Secretary Raffensperger, his address is out there. They’ve had people doing caravans in front of their house. They’ve had people come onto their property. Tricia, his wife of 40 years, is getting sexualized threats through her cell phone. It has to stop.

This is elections. This is the backbone of democracy. And all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this.^[4]

”

Casey Black, Perdue campaign spokesperson, said the following:

“

Senator Perdue condemns violence of any kind, against anybody. Period. We won’t apologize for addressing the obvious issues with the way our state conducts its elections. Georgians deserve accountability and improvements to that process — and we’re fighting to make sure the January 5th election is safe, secure, transparent, and accurate.^[4]

”

Nov. 30, 2020:
- The Georgia Democratic Party, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Ossoff and Warnock campaigns announced the leadership team for a coordinated runoff campaign, focused on voter outreach and targeting.^[132]

Nov. 28, 2020:
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed Ossoff.^[133]
- Ossoff campaigned at three small businesses in southwest Atlanta.^[134]

Nov. 19, 2020: The Senate Georgia Battleground Fund—a joint fundraising committee between Loeffler, Perdue, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee—released its leadership list, including Karl Rove as national finance chairman.^[135] Rove was deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush (R).

Nov. 17, 2020:
- Senate Majority PAC launched two groups—Georgia Honor and The Georgia Way—to administer runoff ad spending. The groups released their first ads opposing Loeffler and Perdue.^[136]
- The Senate Leadership Fund released its first runoff ad, which opposed Ossoff.

Nov. 16, 2020: Perdue declined an Atlanta Press Club invitation to a debate with Ossoff, and Ossoff agreed to participate.^[137]

Nov. 13, 2020:
- The Republican National Committee announced it planned to invest at least $20 million in the regular and special Senate runoff races.^[138]
- The Democratic Party of Georgia released a memo outlining "the strategies and tactics used by Biden for President, Jon Ossoff for Senate, and Warnock for Georgia, in conjunction with the Democratic Party of Georgia, to turn the state of Georgia blue for the first time since 1992."^[139] Of Ossoff, the memo said in part, "In recent weeks, Jon Ossoff has made national news for keeping David Perdue on the run, forcing conversations Perdue wanted to avoid on health care, pre-existing conditions, the coronavirus pandemic, and his stock trades. None of those things have changed. … Jon Ossoff is the strongest Democratic Senate candidate heading into a runoff that Georgia has seen in decades. The campaign has a robust and expanding volunteer organization, including a massive voter registration operation, that was already prepared to advance to the runoff, because there was always going to be a runoff in the other Senate seat."

Nov. 12, 2020: Perdue released his first runoff ad.

Nov. 9, 2020:
- Stacey Abrams announced that Fair Fight had raised $6 million in support of Ossoff's and special election candidate Raphael Warnock's (D) runoff bids.^[140] Abrams founded the group, whose website said it "promote[s] fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage[s] voter participation in elections, and educate[s] voters about elections and their voting rights."^[141]
- Perdue and Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) released a joint statement calling for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) to step down. The statement read:^[142]

“

The management of Georgia elections has become an embarrassment for our state. Georgians are outraged, and rightly so. We have been clear from the beginning: every legal vote cast should be counted. Any illegal vote must not. And there must be transparency and uniformity in the counting process. This isn’t hard. This isn’t partisan. This is American. We believe when there are failures, they need to be called out — even when it’s in your own party. There have been too many failures in Georgia elections this year and the most recent election has shined a national light on the problems. While blame certainly lies elsewhere as well, the buck ultimately stops with the Secretary of State. The mismanagement and lack of transparency from the Secretary of State is unacceptable. Honest elections are paramount to the foundation of our democracy. The Secretary of State has failed to deliver honest and transparent elections. He has failed the people of Georgia, and he should step down immediately.^[4]

”

Raffensperger responded, in part, with the following. Read Raffensperger's full statement here.

“

Let me start by saying that is not going to happen. The voters of Georgia hired me, and the voters will be the one to fire me. As Secretary of State, I’ll continue to fight every day to ensure fair elections in Georgia, that every legal vote counts, and that illegal votes don’t count.

I know emotions are running high. Politics are involved in everything right now. If I was Senator Perdue, I’d be irritated I was in a runoff. And both Senators and I are all unhappy with the potential outcome for our President.

But I am the duly elected Secretary of State. One of my duties involves helping to run elections for all Georgia voters. I have taken that oath, and I will execute that duty and follow Georgia law.
...
The process of reporting results has been orderly and followed the law. Where there have been specific allegations of illegal voting, my office has dispatched investigators. We have put a monitor in at Fulton County…one of our longtime problem Democrat-run counties.

The investigation of potential double voters was the first of its kind done in the history of the Secretary of State’s office, and we will investigate any of those instances from the general election as well.

I care about counting each and every legal vote…and assuring that illegal votes aren’t counted.

And as far as lack of transparency…we were literally putting releases of results up at a minimum hourly. I and my office have been holding daily or twice-daily briefings for the press to walk them through all the numbers. So that particular charge is laughable.^[4]

”

Nov. 7, 2020: Ossoff released his first runoff ad.

Nov. 5, 2020: Perdue's percentage of votes in the November 3 election dropped below 50%. The Associated Press called a runoff for the race.

Perdue's campaign said in a statement, "There is one thing we know for sure: Sen. David Perdue will be reelected to the U.S. Senate and Republicans will defend the majority. ... If overtime is required when all of the votes have been counted, we're ready, and we will win."

Ossoff said that day before the AP call, "We have all the momentum, we have all the energy, we're on the right side of history. Y'all ready to work? We're just getting started."^[143]

Influencers[edit]

Satellite group ads[edit]

Opposing Perdue

"Trust" - VoteVets ad, released Dec. 18, 2020

"Wallet" - End Citizens United ad, released Dec. 14, 2020

"Loeffler & Perdue: Dead Wrong for Georgia" - Progress Action Fund/MeidasTouch ad, released Dec. 14, 2020

"Thought" - American Bridge 21st Century PAC ad, released Dec. 9, 2020

"Behind Door Number One" - The Georgia Way ad, released Dec. 9, 2020

"The Grinches of Georgia" - MeidasTouch ad, released Dec. 4, 2020

"Tim: Perdue" - American Bridge 21st Century PAC ad, released Dec. 2, 2020

"On the Ballot" - The Lincoln Project ad, released Dec. 2, 2020

"More Trades" - The Georgia Way ad, released Dec. 1, 2020

"Cashed In" - The Georgia Way ad, released Nov. 23, 2020

"Insider Traitors" - Really American PAC ad, released Nov. 17, 2020

"Domino" - The Georgia Way ad, released Nov. 17, 2020

"Shame on You" - Senate Majority PAC ad, released October 12, 2020

"Took Care" - Senate Majority PAC ad, released September 17, 2020

Opposing Ossoff

Catholic Coalition Against Religious Tests ad, released Dec. 16, 2020

"Georgia Reloaded" - Spirit of '76 PAC ad, released Dec. 9, 2020

"Sleepless" - National Republican Senatorial Committee ad, released Dec. 7, 2020

"Power" - National Republican Senatorial Committee ad, released Dec. 2, 2020

"Please" - National Republican Senatorial Committee ad, released Dec. 2, 2020

"Decide Who" Radio - Senate Leadership Fund ad, released Dec. 1, 2020

"Will Decide" - Senate Leadership Fund ad, released Dec. 1, 2020

"Taken More" - Senate Leadership Fund ad, released Nov. 24, 2020

"Untold" Radio - Senate Leadership Fund ad, released Nov. 24, 2020

"Rigging" - Senate Leadership Fund ad, released Nov. 17, 2020

"Dirtier" - Senate Leadership Fund ad, released Nov. 17, 2020

"Exonerated" - Senate Leadership Fund ad, released October 27, 2020

"Coverup" - Senate Leadership Fund ad, released September 29, 2020

"Liberal Agenda" - Peachtree PAC ad, released Dec. 18, 2020

Noteworthy supporters[edit]

The runoff elections drew active involvement from prominent political figures within the state and across the country, including President Trump, former President Barack Obama, U.S. senators and governors, and noteworthy candidates.

The table below lists political figures who were actively involved in both runoff elections. Involvement included fundraising for, donating to, and campaigning with candidates in both races.

Noteworthy Democratic campaign supporters
Individual/Group		Activity
2018 gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D)		• Fundraising in support of Warnock and Ossoff through her organization Fair Fight^[144] • Was a special guest at a virtual fundraiser for the candidates on Nov. 17^[145] • Began hosting weekly briefings with entertainment executives, managers, and agents on how they can boost the Democratic Senate campaigns on Nov. 27^[146] • Appeared at a virtual fundraiser former President Obama headlined on Dec. 4^[147] • Held a virtual fundraiser with 18 Star Trek cast members on Dec. 12^[148] • Appeared at a drive-in rally President-elect Joe Biden headlined on Dec. 15^[149] • Hosted a virtual fundraiser for Ossoff and Warnock featuring actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Dec. 29^[150]
President-elect Joe Biden (D)		• Headlined a drive-in rally in Atlanta with Ossoff, Warnock, Abrams, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) on Dec. 15^[151] • Headlined a drive-in rally in Atlanta with Ossoff and Warnock on Jan. 4^[27]
N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper (D)		• Was a special guest at a virtual fundraiser for Ossoff and Warnock on Dec. 2^[152]
2020 presidential primary candidate/former HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D)		• Campaigned with Ossoff and Warnock on Dec. 7^[153]
La. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D)		• Was a special guest at a virtual fundraiser for Ossoff and Warnock on Dec. 2^[152]
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (D)		• Headlined a rally in Columbus with Ossoff and Warnock on Dec. 21^[154] • Headlined a rally in Savannah with Ossoff and Warnock on Jan. 3^[155]
2020 Senate candidate Jaime Harrison (D-S.C.)		• Launched Dirt Road PAC, which will support Ossoff and Warnock, on Nov. 24^[156]
Former President Barack Obama (D)		• Headlined a virtual get-out-the-vote rally with Ossoff and Warnock on Dec. 4^[147]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D)		• Headlined a virtual fundraiser supporting Ossoff and Warnock on Dec. 7^[157]
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)		• Headlined a virtual fundraiser along with Ossoff and Warnock.^[158]
2020 presidential primary candidate Andrew Yang (D)		• Temporarily moved to Georgia to participate in get-out-the-vote efforts for Ossoff and Warnock^[159] • Campaigned for Warnock and Ossoff in Columbus on Dec. 6^[160]

Noteworthy Republican campaign supporters
Individual/Group		Activity
Former Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway		• Appeared at a Club for Growth Action-sponsored rally on Jan. 3^[161]
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)		• Campaigned with Loeffler and Perdue in Perry on Nov. 19^[162]
Rep. Daniel Crenshaw (R-Texas)		• Appeared in a 3-minute-long satellite ad paid for by Spirit of 76' PAC.^[163]
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)		• Appeared at a Club for Growth Action-sponsored rally on Dec. 18^[164] • Appeared at a Club for Growth Action-sponsored rally on Jan. 3^[161]
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)		• Campaigned with Loeffler and Perdue in Thomasville on Nov. 24^[165] • Campaigned for Loeffler and Perdue in Savannah on Dec. 28^[166]
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley		• Held a rally with Loeffler and Perdue in Forsyth County on Dec. 20^[36]
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R)		• Published an op-ed in the Washington Examiner urging Georgia voters to support Perdue and Loeffler on Nov. 30^[167]
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)		• Said he would donate $1 million to help Perdue and Loeffler in the runoff elections^[168]
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)		• Appeared at a Club for Growth Action-sponsored rally on Jan. 3^[161]
Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski		• Appeared at a Club for Growth Action-sponsored rally on Jan. 3^[161]
Vice President Mike Pence (R)		• Headlined two rallies with Loeffler and Perdue on Nov. 20^[48] • Headlined a rally with Loeffler and Perdue on Dec. 4^[169] • Held a rally supporting Loeffler and Perdue in Augusta on Dec. 10.^[170] • Headlined two rallies with Loeffler and Perdue Dec. 17^[171] • Held a "Faith Community Call To Action" event supporting Loeffler and Perdue in Milner^[172]
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)		• Campaigned for Loeffler and Perdue in Marietta on Nov. 11^[173]
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)		• Campaigned with Loeffler and Perdue in Forsyth County on Nov. 13^[174]
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)		• Appeared at a Club for Growth Action-sponsored rally on Dec. 18^[164] • Appeared at a Club for Growth Action-sponsored rally on Jan. 3^[161]
Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan (R-Alaska)		• Published an op-ed supporting Loeffler and Perdue in The Wall Street Journal on Dec. 7^[175]
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)		• Published an op-ed supporting Loeffler and Perdue on Fox News on Dec. 16^[176] • Published an op-ed supporting Loeffler and Perdue on Fox News on Jan. 5^[177]
President Donald Trump (R)		• Headlined a rally with Perdue and Loeffler at Valdosta Regional Airport on Dec. 5^[178] • Headlined a rally supporting Perdue and Loeffler in Dalton on Jan. 4^[27]

Noteworthy endorsements[edit]

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes links to endorsement lists published on campaign websites, if available. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites, if available.

Noteworthy endorsements
Endorsement	Perdue (R)	Ossoff (D)
Elected officials
President Donald Trump (R)^[179]	✔
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)^[180]		✔
Individuals
Former President Barack Obama (D)		✔
2020 Democratic presidential nominee/former Vice President Joe Biden^[181]		✔

Campaign organization[edit]

Current as of December 2020

Democratic and Republican candidates in the runoff races have joint fundraising committees. Democrats also have a coordinated voter outreach campaign.

Republican joint fundraising committee[edit]

Senate Georgia Battleground Fund is a joint fundraising committee between Loeffler, Perdue, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).^[182]

Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush, serves as the committee's national finance chairman. The NRSC said the "presidential level fundraising operation features a leadership team of state chairs from nearly all 50 states and a team of national and honorary co-chairs."

The committee filed a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission on Jan. 30, 2020.^[183] The NRSC announced the committee's leadership team on Nov. 19.^[184]

Democratic joint committees/campaign[edit]

Fundraising[edit]

Ossoff and Warnock have two joint fundraising committees. The Ossoff-Warnock Victory Fund includes the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). The Georgia Senate Victory Fund includes the Georgia Federal Elections Committee.

The Ossoff-Warnock Victory Fund filed its statement of organization Oct. 14. Treasurer Laura Matthews is deputy national finance director at the DSCC.^[185]

The Georgia Senate Victory Fund filed an initial statement of organization including the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns July 11.^[186] It filed another statement of organization Nov. 5 adding the Georgia Federal Elections Committee.^[187] Treasurer Judith Zamore was chief financial officer for Cory Booker's 2020 presidential campaign.

Voter outreach campaign[edit]

The Georgia Democratic Party, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Ossoff and Warnock campaigns announced the coordinated runoff campaign's leadership team. The coordinated campaign is focusing on voter targeting and outreach. The leadership team includes director Jonae Wartel, who ran the early vote program for Stacey Abrams' 2018 gubernatorial bid and was chief program officer for an initiative training organizers for the 2020 presidential election in battleground states.^[188]

The announcement says the coordinated campaign voter outreach and targeting program includes:

“

in-person paid and volunteer door-to-door canvassing that will observe all necessary public health and safety protocols;

outreach, engagement and mobilization of key constituencies- specifically black, LatinX, AAPI, and young voters – including those who turned 18 after the November 3rd election and are now eligible to vote in the runoffs;

a digital organizing program that uses the sophisticated targeting tools that helped President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris flip the state for the first time in decades; and

a multi-channel voter contact and turnout program geared towards educating voters about the unique January 5th runoff election, including the voter registration deadline and in-person early vote dates. This program is targeting voters in the mail, with live phone calls, texts and online.^[4]

”

Daily newsletter: The Runoff Report[edit]

Below, find issues of our newsletter, The Runoff Report, for daily updates on the races and the fight for Senate control.

Georgia Pivot County analysis[edit]

Georgia has five Pivot Counties—those that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012, then Donald Trump (R) in 2016: Baker, Dooly, Peach, Quitman, and Twiggs. Trump won all five again in 2020, making them Retained Pivot Counties.

Three Metro Atlanta counties—Cobb, Gwinnett, and Henry—voted for John McCain (R) in 2008 and Mitt Romney (R) in 2012 and then for Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016. We call such counties Reverse-Pivot Counties. These three counties in Georgia represent half of the six Reverse-Pivot Counties nationwide.

In Georgia's Senate runoffs, Republican candidates won all Retained Pivot Counties, and Democratic candidates won all Reverse-Pivot Counties. Below, we focus on differences in the number of votes between November and January in each county.

The middle two columns show vote totals from the runoff election. The differences between runoff votes and general election votes are in parentheses. For example, Ossoff received 630 votes in Baker County in the runoff. That was 18 fewer votes than he received in the county in November.

The column on the right shows the difference between votes lost per county. Colors show which party lost fewer votes. For example, in Baker County, Ossoff lost 46 fewer votes than Perdue.

General election analysis[edit]

Retained Pivot Counties[edit]

See also: Election results, 2020: Retained Pivot Counties

Obama's average margin of victory across Georgia's Retained Pivot Counties in 2008 was 5.3 percentage points. In 2020, Trump's average margin of victory was 8.7 points.

The five counties favored Republican Senate candidates in 2016 and 2020. Sen. Isakson's (R) average margin of victory in these counties in 2016 was 13.1 percentage points, higher than Trump's average margin of 5.2 percentage points that year. In 2020, the counties favored Perdue by an average margin of 9.7 percentage points. In the special election—which had 20 candidates, including six Republicans and eight Democrats—the counties favored Republicans by an average 8.8 percentage points.

Reverse-Pivot Counties[edit]

See also: Election results, 2020: Reverse-Pivot Counties

Since 2008, the presidential margins of victory in Georgia's three Reverse-Pivot Counties have swung 26.7 percentage points from Republicans to Democrats. In 2008, they voted for the Republican candidate, McCain, by an average margin of 9.0 percentage points. In 2020, they supported the Democratic candidate, Biden, by an average margin of 17.7 percentage points.

All three of Georgia's Reverse-Pivot Counties backed Sen. Isakson's (R) re-election bid in 2016 by an average margin of 5.6 percentage points while favoring Clinton (D) for president. The counties then backed Democrats in the Nov. 3, 2020, Senate elections—by an average margin of 15.5 percentage points in the regular election and 16.6 points in the special.

Pre-election analysis and commentary[edit]

Click the bars below to view analysis and commentary in each topic area.

What's at stake with Senate control (click to expand)

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy wrote the following regarding the significance of Senate control for each party:^[189]

“

Without a Democratic Senate, Biden could be relegated to governing by executive orders and declarations, much the same way Trump has done since Democrats won control of the House in 2018. Republicans could have veto power over Biden’s Cabinet appointments and block his legislative agenda.

With a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate, a Biden administration could hope to pass more progressive legislation on a range of priorities, starting with a pledge to expand voting rights legislation but also including a public option for health insurance, new climate change restrictions and a criminal justice overhaul.^[4]

”

Axios' Glen Johnson and Hans Nichols wrote the following regarding limitations of a 50-50 split for Democratic control.^[190]

“

If Joe Biden wins the presidency, he could end up with a 50-50 Senate split — an outcome giving Democrats formal control of the upper chamber but also empowering individual senators greatly and requiring a procedural feat to abolish the 60-vote filibuster rule.

Why it matters: A President Biden would need a Senate majority to make good on many of his campaign promises.

That would happen only if Democrats make the bank shot of winning two likely Senate runoff races in Georgia in early January, climbing from the minority to a 50-50 split in the next Congress — with a Vice President Kamala Harris breaking tie votes.

That power, enshrined in the Constitution, would allow Sen. Chuck Schumer to act as majority leader, but Schumer would have to broker a deal with Sen. Mitch McConnell about everything from floor procedures to committee seats.
Democrats would still need to win 50 votes for any major institutional rule changes or big spending packages, and they'd need buy-in from potential rogue Democrats like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.
Outlying Republicans such as Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski could also hold leverage over their own party on narrow votes.

Go deeper: In her role as the Senate's tie-breaker, Harris would be able to give Democrats the 51 votes they'd need to eliminate the filibuster for legislation, said Molly Reynolds of the Brookings Institution.

But that's only if they could get the votes of all 50 Senate Democrats, including moderates like Manchin and Sinema.
The Biden-Harris team hasn't taken an explicit position on the abolishing the filibuster and Biden — a 36-year veteran of the chamber — has voiced his support for keeping it.
“They can try it but it’s very unlikely. In fact, I think it’s almost ridiculous to think about it,” says former Senate historian Donald A. Ritchie.^[4]

”

The Washington Post's David Byler wrote the following about the runoffs' impact on the Senate's ideological leaning:^[191]

“

If Democrats win both of these seats (or score an upset in other uncalled races), and Biden prevails, they would control of the chamber. But their majority would be razor thin, with 50-50 ties broken by a Vice President Kamala D. Harris. Manchin, the most moderate member of the Senate, would be the key swing vote. If he refused to sign off on any piece of major legislation, Democrats would need to woo moderate Republicans, such as Maine’s Susan Collins or Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski. Democrats would still be able to govern, but progressive dreams would evaporate.

And if Republicans disrupt any part of the Democratic Senate map — for example, by taking one or both Georgia seats — gridlock would reign supreme. A President Biden might be able to get Collins or Murkowski to sign off on some initiatives, but Murkowski would have a strong incentive to oppose him to ward off a primary challenge in 2022.

In short, Georgians have a chance to determine the character of the Senate for at least the next two years. If they choose the Democrats, they’ll get a moderate-dominated, center-left government. If they choose Republicans, they’ll get Biden’s best attempt at a center-right compromise coalition.^[4]

”

The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote the following about the runoffs' impact on the Senate's ideological leaning:^[192]

“

"Now we take Georgia, then we change the world. Now we take Georgia, then we change America." So declared an ebullient Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, on Saturday as he addressed supporters, and voters in Georgia should pay attention. The Peach State holds two Senate runoff races on Jan. 5, and how they turn out will determine whether Washington steers toward the center or sharply to the left.
...
What difference would a single vote make? Republicans would lose their committee chairmanships and thus the power to serve as a check on the Biden Administration. Joe Biden deserves the Cabinet he wants in most cases, but a GOP Senate could deter appointments like Elizabeth Warren at Treasury. Oversight Chairman Ron Johnson’s probe of FBI and other abuses would cease.

Or consider the Democrats poised to run key committees if they organize the Senate. Bernie Sanders would run Budget, which means a squeeze on the Pentagon. Sherrod Brown of Ohio would run Banking, and Ms. Warren would run the financial institutions subcommittee. Have fun, bankers.

Oregon’s Ron Wyden would run Finance. He supports the $4 trillion Biden tax increase plus he wants to tax even unrealized capital gains as ordinary income. That means taxing the appreciation in the value of assets even if they aren’t sold during the year. He isn’t kidding.

Some business folks think nothing like this could happen in a 50-50 Senate. West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin would supposedly save the day, or Joe Biden would intervene. Don’t count on it. Mr. Manchin is a reliable Democratic vote on every big issue when it really matters, and Mr. Biden will be under pressure from progressives (and Ms. Harris) to achieve their goals.
...
All of this should be front-and-center for voters in the Georgia runoffs. The suburban Atlanta Republicans and independents who voted for Mr. Biden to oust Donald Trump are likely to support a GOP Senate as a check on Mr. Biden’s left wing if they know the stakes.^[4]

”

The Washington Post's Helaine Olen wrote that a divided government in which Republicans maintain control of the Senate would hinder pandemic recovery:^[193]

“

This week, a survey from Harvard’s Center for American Political Studies and the Harris Poll came out that should have received more notice than it did. In many ways, it found what you would expect: Voters said the coronavirus was the most important issue in the election, followed by the economy and jobs. Most people, despite President Trump’s claims, believe Joe Biden won the election fairly.

And then there was this: A majority of voters would prefer divided government. With Biden in the White House, they want to see a Republican Senate. Really.
...
This would be a disastrous outcome. It would almost certainly result in a slower, more painful recovery from the pandemic-induced economic slowdown. It would also make it all but certain that Biden would be forced to turn to executive orders to get almost any part of his agenda accomplished, which means broader, systemic changes — a public option for health care, free tuition for community college students or an increase in the national minimum wage, which is still set at the poverty-level sum of $7.25 an hour — will not happen.
...
People want to see results in Washington, and many believe it is dogmatic pols of both sides that are stopping it. But that’s not the issue. The problem is that one party — the Republican Party — does not want to share power. It’s transformed itself into an obstructionist force with little interest in compromise. This is why we’re struggling to make our way through a third wave of the covid-19 pandemic on the fumes of financial aid that is set to expire within weeks.^[4]

”

Potential outcomes (click to expand)

The New York Times' Luke Broadwater wrote the following about potential turnout challenges and opportunities for both parties:^[194]

“

It is traditionally more difficult for candidates to convince voters to turn out for elections that do not feature the presidential contest on the ballot, and this special election will come shortly after New Year’s with the country still in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the past, Democrats have struggled in such races, with Republicans dominating the format in conservative-learning Georgia.

But both parties are expected to dump ample resources into turning out their voters for the runoffs, and since there are no other races happening around the country, enormous national attention will be focused on Georgia.^[4]

”

The Wall Street Journal's Lindsay Wise, Cameron McWhirter, and Jennifer Calfas wrote the following about demographics, new Democratic voters, and Democrats' record in Georgia runoff elections:^[195]

“

Republicans have dominated Georgia politics for decades, but the Democratic Party is resurgent, bolstered by an influx of younger people and minorities, many of whom moved to metro Atlanta from the North. Voter-registration drives and lawsuits to change state election processes, led by organizations founded by former state House Democratic leader Stacey Abrams, have also brought in hundreds of thousands of new voters.

A key question is whether Democrats will show up for the runoffs in the same numbers that they did in the general election. A nonpartisan study of the history of runoffs in Georgia found that, going back to 1988, there have been seven statewide runoff elections. Democrats won only one of them—and that was more than 20 years ago, in 1998.^[4]

”

The Washington Examiner's Naomi Lim wrote that Democratic candidates are longshots and about potential turnout opportunities for both parties:^[196]

“

Ossoff and Warnock are still longshots in the traditionally conservative [state].

University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock said Republicans have won the state's handful of general election runoffs because their voters have turned out at higher rates. But he said having two runoffs on the ballot may help bring out Democrats for a second time, particularly since Warnock could be Georgia's first black senator.

"Democrats desperately need for African Americans to come back to the polls," he told the Washington Examiner, citing the 1992 and 2008 Senate runoffs in which there was a "dramatic" drop in black participation.

Bullock pointed to Georgia exit polls published this week in which "upper 80s, 90%" of black voters cast their ballots for Biden.

For Republicans, they may not have Trump and the White House to enthuse their base, yet an incentive to vote could be bolstering a GOP-controlled Senate majority to hold a hypothetical Biden administration to account.^[4]

”

Stacey Abrams, the state's Democratic nominee for governor in 2018, said Democrats could win the runoffs due to investments, resources, and policy stances:^[197]

“

I want to push back against this anachronistic notion that we can’t win in Georgia. ... We will have the investment and resources that have never followed a runoff in Georgia for Democrats. ... This is going to be the determining factor of whether we have access to healthcare and access to justice in the United States. Those are two issues that will make certain that people turn out.^[4]

”

National Review's John Fund wrote that demographic changes in Georgia were not likely to result in wins for the Democratic runoff candidates:^[198]

“

Georgia is certainly more competitive than it has been due to demographic changes and a drop-off in suburban women supporting Republicans. But it is easy to exaggerate the change. Georgia Democrats spent tens of millions of dollars to take control of one or more houses of the state legislature, hoping to exercise influence in next year’s redistricting process.

Their effort failed. So far, Democrats have gained only one new seat in the Republican-controlled House — far short of the 16 seats needed to flip the chamber.

Indeed, House Minority Leader Bob Trammell was defeated in his district southwest of Atlanta.

A tough two months of runoff campaigning lie ahead. But the likely outcome in Georgia is that the incoming Biden administration will take office with no mandate and seeing its candidates repudiated in Georgia just before the president takes office on January 20. Even Chuck Schumer would recognize that’s not a platform from which to "change America."^[4]

”

Former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) won re-election in the Senate runoff election in 2008. Referring to that and a 1992 runoff for Senate, he said the following:^[199]

“

Both times before, Republicans really turned out and the Democrats didn't. ... This time around, I’m not so sure that is going to be the case. I have told my Republican colleagues that Democrats are fired up going into the race, and with Biden winning Georgia, I assume that gives them momentum.^[4]

”

Messaging and strategy (click to expand)

Paul Steinhauser wrote for Fox News that Democrats and Republicans were using the same messaging in the runoffs as in the 2020 elections:^[200]

“

In painting the Democratic candidates as socialists and extremists, the Republicans are reusing their playbook from the 2020 elections, which saw them make a big dent in the Democrats’ House majority and prevent a Democratic surge in the Senate.
...
Democrats also appear to be recycling their playbook – with Ossoff and Warnock focusing on saving the Affordable Care Act and criticizing the GOP incumbents for failing to combat the coronavirus. Both attacks were successfully used by President Joe Biden in his campaign against President Trump.^[4]

”

David Catanese and Alex Roarty wrote in the Raleigh News & Observer that prominent Democrats around the country framed the runoffs as a fight against Mitch McConnell while Ossoff and Warnock were more focused on policy proposals and criticisms of their opponents.^[201]

“

For prominent Democrats around the country, the message to Georgia voters about January’s runoff elections couldn’t be more clear: Voting for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock will keep Mitch McConnell from running the U.S. Senate.

But the candidates themselves have embraced a more balanced approach, forming most of their pitches around policy proposals and character attacks on their GOP opponents without focusing solely on villainizing the Republican leader from Kentucky.

The strategic divide reveals a broader debate now taking place inside the Democratic Party that revolves around McConnell and how the party should campaign in an era when Donald Trump is no longer president — one certain to simmer long after the Georgia races end and Joe Biden assumes office.
...
But there’s a less noticed difference between the mindsets of the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns. Ossoff hasn’t shied away from tagging McConnell as the problem. Just this week, he sent a pair of tweets aimed at McConnell, and he regularly brings up McConnell’s name in TV interviews. Ossoff is also running a radio spot that warns, “Republicans will block everything Joe and Kamala try to do,” but doesn’t mention McConnell by name.
...
While GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler invoked the name of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer nine times in their debate on Sunday, Warnock never mentioned McConnell at all. Warnock’s ads are designed to present him as a moral leader grounded in his biographical pastoral roots.^[4]

”

Sahil Kapur wrote for NBC News that Perdue and Loeffler were working to turn out the GOP base as a unity ticket after running different types of campaigns ahead of the November 3 elections.^[202]

“

The senators are walking a fine line with their message, careful not to contradict President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede defeat. But the subtext is clear: Joe Biden will be president and advance a progressive agenda — but only if Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock win the two Georgia Senate seats that would give their party control of the Senate.

“We have a battle on our hands right now, folks. It’s going to be a long one. We are the firewall. Not just for the Senate, but the future of our country,” Loeffler told a packed crowd at the Black Diamond Grill, appearing with Perdue and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. “We will be your voice in Washington if you’re our voice on January 5.”

The unified front by the two senators is an attempt to stir up the Republican base after Trump's shocking defeat in this historically conservative state. It carries some risks, particularly for Perdue, who has worked harder than Loeffler to appeal to swing voters.

Perdue said he expects the election to be about base turnout.

“What we have to do is not persuade people. What we have to do is get the vote out,” he said.

Loeffler, who took office in January after being appointed to fill a vacancy, faced a “jungle primary” with candidates of all parties on the same ballot. She was primarily focused on defeating Republican challenger Rep. Doug Collins, and did so by hugging Trump tightly and labeling herself “more conservative than Attila the Hun.”^[4]

”

Fundraising and spending (click to expand)

FiveThirtyEight published an analysis of where ActBlue and WinRed donations for the runoffs came from between November 4 and November 23. Some excerpts:^[203]

“

…96 percent of the money Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff have raised for the runoff through ActBlue have come from out-of-state donors. They’ve raised a combined $4.3 million from Georgians on the platform, which puts the state seventh in cash donated to its own races via ActBlue, behind California ($25.8 million), New York ($10.6 million), Washington ($6.2 million), Massachusetts ($5.8 million), Texas ($4.9 million) and Florida ($4.8 million).
...

“A full 92 percent of Republicans’ runoff donations on WinRed have come from outside Georgia, too. And their top source of cash has also been California ($6.8 million), followed by Texas ($6.6 million), Florida ($6.5 million) and then Georgia ($4.4 million).^[4]

”

David Lauter of the Los Angeles Times wrote the following on December 25:^[204]

“

This week, alone, more than $87 million has been spent or booked in television, radio and digital ads in the state, according to AdImpact, a firm that tracks ad spending. That’s more than most Senate campaigns spend in an entire year. All told, some $365 million already has been spent for advertising in the two races, with another $110 million already booked, AdImpact’s figures show.

Control of the Senate rides on the outcome of the two races, and with it a large part of President-elect Joe Biden’s agenda.
...
That prospect has driven the huge outpouring of contributions, including large sums to four political committees controlled by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. The four groups have spent or booked more than $132 million in advertising in support of the Republican candidates. That spending has given the Republicans an advantage in the ad wars.

While outside Democratic groups are spending less than their Republican counterparts, they have still raised considerable sums. Fair Fight, founded by Stacey Abrams, the former Democratic candidate for governor in Georgia, reported raising $22 million, with most of it being spent on voter turnout operations. Two groups controlled by Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York have spent or booked roughly $30 million in advertising.^[4]

”

COVID-19 relief checks (click to expand)

On December 21, Congress passed a $900 billion spending bill containing COVID-19 relief provisions, including $600 relief checks for most Americans. Loeffler and Perdue voted to pass the bill. President Donald Trump criticized the legislation, calling for $2,000 checks for most Americans. He signed the spending bill on December 27 and continued to call for increased relief payments.

On December 28, the U.S. House passed a bill to increase relief checks to $2,000. Loeffler and Perdue expressed support for $2,000 relief checks on December 29. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) introduced a bill in the Senate that day including $2,000 relief checks as well as provisions related to social media platforms and election security.

ABC News' Quinn Scanlan wrote that Loeffler's and Perdue's support for $2,000 relief checks could benefit them in terms of Trump's support but disadvantage them when it comes to fiscally conservative voters.^[205]

“

The bill has forced many Republicans into a bind: either support the president to avoid his wrath and get more money to struggling Americans, or stand by their fiscal conservative values and reject the additional aid that would also increase the national debt. According to Congress' Joint Committee on Taxation, the $2,000 checks would cost an estimated $464 billion.

Loeffler and Perdue chose the former, and while it may save them from earning a public rebuke from Trump, it also could cost them votes.

"The risk that they would take if they were to vote against the president in between now and Jan. 4, is he might go after them when he comes to Dalton (to hold a rally)," University of Georgia Professor Charles Bullock, an expert in Southern politics, told ABC News on Tuesday. "We know the president does not hesitate to go after members of his own party if he feels they have betrayed him, and it looks like his antenna for identifying betrayers is particularly active right now."

In fact, on Tuesday Trump tweeted: “Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP.”

But while Republicans have supported bills in the past that added to the deficit -- the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act being the most prominent recent example -- one longtime GOP strategist in Georgia who requested anonymity in order to speak candidly about the runoff races said the senators' support for the president's "populist" position could negatively impact them at the ballot box.

"This is a majority conservative Republican state, and they believe in low taxes, and they don't believe in federal handouts. And so you have two U.S. senators who are saying, 'I believe in federal handouts.' You know, it's contradictory of where the majority of conservative Republican voters stand," the strategist said. "So these two senators have put themselves in a box where they have to support Donald Trump and his initiative to give everybody $2,000. That's not conservative Republican politics."^[4]

”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein wrote that Warnock and Ossoff criticized Loeffler and Perdue for their positions on COVID-19 relief and that Democrats questioned the sincerity of the Republicans' support for $2,000 checks.^[206]

“

Ossoff and Warnock, along with their allies, have assailed the Republicans for not more assertively endorsing a more robust stimulus plan during months of negotiations. On Tuesday, they accused two senators of both flip-flopping and caving to pressure.

“He hasn’t had a change of heart,” Ossoff said of Perdue. “He’s exclusively focused on his own political survival.”

Both Perdue and Loeffler have been lukewarm in the past about more generous incentives. Loeffler criticized a push to increase unemployment insurance payments in July. And Perdue said the same month he’d prefer a new payroll tax cut rather than a “direct payment like we did in the first round” when Americans received $1,200 cash payments.

The two incumbents join a small group of Senate Republicans, including Marco Rubio of Florida and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, to back the increase. Still, a majority of the Senate GOP caucus is opposed to the plan.

Democrats see a campaign ploy that won’t translate into results. Stacey Abrams, the former Democratic gubernatorial contender and voting rights activist, questioned whether the “miraculous ‘Road to Damascus’ support (will) be campaign headlines only or will Perdue and Loeffler actually do their jobs for Georgians and force McConnell to call a vote?”^[4]

”

New York Magazine's Eric Levitz wrote that either the Democratic or Republican candidates could benefit from different scenarios concerning relief checks.^[207]

“

The president’s call for the bill’s relief payments to be increased from $600 to $2,000 gave the Democratic Party a fresh, highly salient wedge issue: According to polling from Data For Progress, roughly four out of five U.S. voters support $2,000 checks (a plausible figure given the popularity of relief payments among voters who are not conservative, and the popularity of doing whatever Donald Trump says among voters who are). Congressional Democrats quickly unified behind the proposal, passing an amendment out of the House, and lining up their entire Senate caucus in support. Shortly thereafter, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler realized that blocking a highly popular policy that Donald Trump demanded was not in their best interests, and declared their uncharacteristic support for spending over $460 billion on unconditional welfare payments.

This development threatened to once again nullify the Democrats’ edge on stimulus in Georgia; to the extent that any congressional action will influence the runoffs’ outcome, having the state’s incumbent Republican senators deliver an additional $1,400 to almost all of their constituents on the eve of the election seemed like bad news for Ossoff and Warnock.

But Mitch McConnell’s caucus is home to a few deficit hawks and many welfare despisers. So the Senate Majority Leader blocked an up-or-down vote on $2,000 checks, opting instead to wed the proposal to two of Donald Trump’s other demands — the repeal of the law that insulates social-media platforms from being sued for libel on the basis of statements their users post, and the formation of a commission to investigate voter fraud in the 2020 election. It is far from clear that most Republicans actually wish to repeal the former law, which would have a wide variety of chaotic consequences, many of which seem contrary to the interests of a political movement whose media has thrived on unmoderated social-media platforms. The point of rolling these demands together isn’t to ensure that they all pass, but rather, that they all fail — because Democrats blocked them.

This gambit is clever but flawed. For one thing, Trump is still refusing to play his part. Instead of insisting that his three demands are inseparable, the president called for the immediate passage of $2,000 checks alone on Wednesday morning.
...
McConnell’s scheming, and Perdue and Loeffler’s opportunistic positioning, still leave Ossoff and Warnock with a clear story to tell: Mitch McConnell is blocking a vote on $2,000 checks, and Georgia’s two Republican senators are the reason he has the power to block those checks. If Georgians vote for Democrats next week, Chuck Schumer will gain the reins of the Senate in late January, and a clean $2,000-check bill will be passed. If Georgians vote for Republicans, meanwhile, McConnell will carry on, standing athwart the money printer yelling stop.^[4]

”

Former U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich (R) called on McConnell to separate the $2,000 relief check proposal from the social media and election security proposals, saying it would benefit Loeffler and Perdue if the relief check bill passed with their support.^[208]

“

I really am very worried that if [McConnell] plays a clever parliamentary game, it may look good inside the Senate, but it could cost us two Senate seats and control of the Senate, so I would beg him to bring up the $2,000 payment as a free-standing, independent vote and have people like Sen. Loeffler and Sen. Perdue able to come back and vote for it. Take it off the table as an issue. Because frankly, if Warnock and Ossoff can be in favor of the $2,000 ... and can attack Mitch McConnell for the next six days, I think it's very hard at that point to win the race. This is very straightforward. Once we get this solved, then it's a straightforward fight with two things: Turnout and making sure the ballot count is honest.^[4]

”

Election and partisan history in Georgia[edit]

2020-2021 results by county[edit]

The maps below show which counties Ossoff and Perdue won in the Nov. 3 election and the Jan. 5 runoff election. Darker shades of blue indicate a higher percentage of votes for Ossoff, and darker shades of red indicate a higher percentage for Perdue. Hover over the counties to see vote percentages for each candidate.

Election history[edit]

2016[edit]

U.S. Senate, Georgia General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Johnny Isakson Incumbent	54.8%	2,135,806
	Democratic	Jim Barksdale	41%	1,599,726
	Libertarian	Allen Buckley	4.2%	162,260
Total Votes				3,897,792
Source: Georgia Secretary of State

2014[edit]

U.S. Senate, Georgia General Election, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Perdue	52.89%	1,358,088
	Democratic	Michelle Nunn	45.21%	1,160,811
	Libertarian	Amanda Swafford	1.90%	48,862
Total Votes				2,567,761
Source: Georgia Secretary of State

2010[edit]

On November 2, 2010, Johnny Isakson won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Michael "Mike" Thurmond (D), Chuck Donovan (L), Steve Davis (I), Raymond Beckworth (I) and Brian Russell Brown (I) in the general election.^[209]

U.S. Senate, Georgia General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Johnny Isakson Incumbent	58.3%	1,489,904
	Democratic	Michael "Mike" Thurmond	39%	996,515
	Libertarian	Chuck Donovan	2.7%	68,750
	Independent	Steve Davis	0%	52
	Independent	Raymond Beckworth	0%	24
	Independent	Brian Russell Brown	0%	12
Total Votes				2,555,257

Senate and presidential candidate performance, Nov. 3, 2020 election[edit]

The Cook Political Report compared Senate candidates' performance to presidential candidates' performance in the Nov. 3 election.

Cook's Jessica Taylor wrote the following:

“

Perdue finished first over Democrat Jon Ossoff by about 2 points (88,098 votes), narrowly outpacing Trump by 780 votes, while Ossoff underperformed Biden by 99,988 votes. In the special election that had 20 candidates on one ballot, the comparisons are a bit harder to make. But if you add up all the Republican candidate votes versus all the Democratic candidate votes, all GOP totals narrowly edged out Democratic ones by about 1 point, or 47,808 votes.^[4]

”

The analysis also offers a county-by-county breakdown of results for presidential and Senate candidates. Click here to read it.

Previous Senate runoffs[edit]

Georgia held runoff elections for U.S. Senate in 1992 and 2008—both presidential election years. Both years also had runoffs for the statewide office of Public Service Commissioner.

The table below shows vote margins in concurrent general elections and runoffs for the two offices, along with percentage changes in turnout and changes in vote margins between the two elections. Data for 1992 and 2008 elections come from FiveThirtyEight, and official results for 2020 and 2021 come from the Georgia Secretary of State office.^[210]^[211]

Runoffs for public service commissioner that did not occur alongside a U.S. Senate runoff are not included.

Concurrent Senate election history[edit]

Current as of December 2020

Georgia was the only state with elections for both of its U.S. Senate seats in 2020. It was the 56th time a state held concurrent elections for its Senate seats since 1913, when the 17th Amendment established the popular election of U.S. senators.^[212]^[213]

Some overall stats:

Democrats won both seats 24 times
Republicans won both seats 23 times
A Democrat and Republican each won a seat 8 times (15%)
Appointed incumbents lost the general election 5 times
Elected incumbents lost the general election 7 times
Seats changed party hands in 20 of the 110 elections (18%)—there were 14 Republican gains and 6 Democratic gains

The last time...

The last time Georgia held concurrent Senate elections was 1932.
The last time a Senate seat changed party hands in concurrent elections was 1994, when Republicans won both Democratic-held seats in Tennessee.
That was also the last time an incumbent lost a general election during concurrent Senate elections. Bill Frist (R) defeated elected Sen. Jim Sasser (D-Tenn.) in the regular election for the Class I seat. Concurrent Senate elections took place 7 times between 1994 and 2018.
The last time a Democrat and Republican each won a seat in concurrent Senate elections was 1966, when incumbent Strom Thurmond (R) and Ernest Hollings (D) won South Carolina's Senate races. Thurmond switched his affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 1964. Hollings defeated appointed incumbent Donald Russell in the Democratic primary. He then defeated Marshall Parker—who switched affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 1966—in the general. Concurrent Senate elections took place 11 times between 1966 and 2018.

Note: We didn't include Mississippi's 2018 Senate elections in the counts above, as the special election proceeded to a runoff and was not decided on the same day as the regular election. Republicans retained both seats in those elections.

See this article by Geoffrey Skelley at Sabato's Crystal Ball and this article by Dr. Eric Ostermeier for more information.

Georgia partisan history[edit]

Democrats won most state legislative elections and top statewide elections in Georgia throughout the 1900s:

Democrats controlled both chambers of the state legislature from 1871 until 2003.^[214]
Between 1872 and 2003, all Georgia's governors were Democrats (including one Democrat-Whig).^[215]
Between 1855 and 2003, all but three of Georgia's U.S. senators were Democrats.
Democratic presidential candidates won 19 of 26 presidential elections in Georgia from 1900 to 2000.

Republicans won most state legislative elections and top statewide elections in Georgia throughout the 2000s:

Republicans have controlled the state Senate since 2003 and the state House since 2005.
Georgia has elected Republican governors since 2004. Since Republicans have held both chambers of the legislature and the governorship, they have held trifecta status in the state since 2005.
Republicans also have triplex status—controlling the offices of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. Republicans have held this status since 2011.
The state has had only Republican U.S. senators since 2005.
Republicans won the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016 in Georgia.

2018-2020:

The competitive Senate races of 2020 were two of a few examples demonstrating that, at least at the statewide level, Georgia elections had become competitive between the two parties.

Joe Biden's win in 2020 marked the first time a Democratic presidential candidate won the state since 1992. He received 49.5% of the vote to Trump's 49.3%.
In the 2018 gubernatorial election, Brian Kemp (R) defeated Stacey Abrams (D) 50.2% to 48.8%.
In the 2018 secretary of state runoff election, Brad Raffensperger (R) defeated John Barrow (D) 52% to 48%.
In the 2018 attorney general election, Chris Carr (R) defeated Charlie Bailey (D) 51% to 49%.

Ballot access requirements[edit]

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Georgia in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Georgia, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Georgia	U.S. Senate	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$5,220.00	3% of annual salary	3/6/2020	Source
Georgia	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	36,180	1% of voters eligible to vote for the office in the last election (reduced to 70% of statutory requirement)	$5,220.00	3% of annual salary	8/14/2020	Source

Footnotes[edit]

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[show]

Georgia's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Jon Ossoff (D)

Raphael Warnock (D)

Representatives

District 1

Earl Carter (R)

District 2

Sanford Bishop (D)

District 3

Drew Ferguson (R)

District 4

Hank Johnson (D)

District 5

Nikema Williams (D)

District 6

Lucy McBath (D)

District 7

Carolyn Bourdeaux (D)

District 8

Austin Scott (R)

District 9

Andrew Clyde (R)

District 10

Jody Hice (R)

District 11

Barry Loudermilk (R)

District 12

Rick Allen (R)

District 13

David Scott (D)

District 14

Marjorie Greene (R)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (8)

Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Original source: https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Georgia,_2020_(Perdue_vs._Ossoff_runoff)
Status: cached on November 18 2021 12:01:09

United States Senate election in Georgia, 2020 (Perdue vs. Ossoff runoff)

Contents

Regular election (Perdue vs. Ossoff) results[edit]

General runoff election for U.S. Senate Georgia

Analysis[edit]

Georgia runoff FAQs[edit]

Recount laws in Georgia[edit]

More FAQs[edit]

Why is Georgia holding runoffs for U.S. Senate?[edit]

Why do these races matter?[edit]

When is the last time Georgia held Senate runoffs?[edit]

Does any other state hold general election runoffs for Congress elections?[edit]

How long have Republicans held both of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats?[edit]

If I didn't vote in the general election, can I still vote in the runoff?[edit]

If I wasn't registered to vote before the November election, can I register for the runoff?[edit]

Can I vote early?[edit]

Can I vote by mail?[edit]

Can I vote in both races?[edit]

Do I have to vote in both races?[edit]

Do I have to vote for candidates from the same party in both races?[edit]

When will election winners be sworn in?[edit]

Nov. 3 election results[edit]

General election for U.S. Senate Georgia

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Sample ballot[edit]

Candidate comparison[edit]

Candidate profiles[edit]

Campaign themes[edit]

David Perdue[edit]

Jon Ossoff[edit]

Campaign ads[edit]

David Perdue[edit]

Jon Ossoff[edit]

Runoff campaign stops by political region[edit]

Race stats[edit]

Campaign finance[edit]

Self-funding[edit]

Polls[edit]

Ballotpedia Power Index[edit]

Race ratings[edit]

Timeline[edit]

Joint campaign events[edit]

Debates and forums[edit]

Timeline of other events[edit]

Influencers[edit]

Satellite group ads[edit]

Noteworthy supporters[edit]

Noteworthy endorsements[edit]

Campaign organization[edit]

Republican joint fundraising committee[edit]

Democratic joint committees/campaign[edit]

Fundraising[edit]

Voter outreach campaign[edit]

Daily newsletter: The Runoff Report[edit]

Georgia Pivot County analysis[edit]

General election analysis[edit]

Retained Pivot Counties[edit]

Reverse-Pivot Counties[edit]

Pre-election analysis and commentary[edit]

Election and partisan history in Georgia[edit]

2020-2021 results by county[edit]

Election history[edit]

2016[edit]

2014[edit]

2010[edit]

Senate and presidential candidate performance, Nov. 3, 2020 election[edit]

Previous Senate runoffs[edit]

Concurrent Senate election history[edit]

Georgia partisan history[edit]

Ballot access requirements[edit]

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]