Georgia voters will head back to the polls next month to vote in a race that could determine party control of the Senate. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker will meet in a Dec. 6 runoff after neither reached the general election majority of 50% plus one required under state law.
The runoff campaign is sure to be an expensive, bitter fight and an all-too familiar scene for Georgia voters. This marks the second runoff for Warnock, who first won his seat in a Jan. 5, 2021, special election runoff alongside Democrat Jon Ossoff. Together, the two freshmen senators gave Democrats the narrow majority they are now defending.
Whether Georgia becomes a winner-take-all for Senate control a second time will depend on the outcomes of other contests that are still pending. Arizona and Nevada are the two mostly closely watched because Republicans are trying to oust Democratic incumbents.
Walker immediately sought to play up the possibility that Georgia will tilt the chamber one way or the other.
“Control of the Senate is likely at stake,” Walker’s campaign wrote in a fundraising push Wednesday afternoon. “We don’t have a moment to waste.”
Warnock acknowledged the likelihood of a runoff in the wee hours of Wednesday morning as he urged the supporters who remained at his election night party to gird themselves for more.
“I understand that at this late hour you may be a little tired, but whether it’s later tonight or tomorrow or four weeks from now, we will hear from the people of Georgia,” the senator said.
By trailing Warnock in the first round, Walker ran considerably behind Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was reelected comfortably despite a strong challenge from Democrat Stacey Abrams. That suggests that plenty of Georgia voters, including some Republicans, backed Kemp but were unwilling to vote for Walker, either backing Warnock, voting for the Libertarian or skipping the Senate contest altogether.
Who can vote in the runoff and when?
Any eligible Georgian who was registered to vote as of November 7, 2022, will be allowed to cast a ballot in the runoff, even if they did not vote in the general election.
Voters may request absentee mail-in ballots now through Monday, November 28th.
The counties are required to have a minimum of five days of early voting. State election officials say that may include voting on Saturday, November 26th if counties choose that.
“We’re planning for that right now,” says Georgia election manager Gabriel Sterling. “But it’s really about getting all the parts lined up so we can get as many votes in so the voters can make their voice heard on that December 6th runoff.”
Voters unsure of their eligibility are encouraged to visit the My Voter Page on the secretary of state’s website to check their voter registration status.
______________
The Associated Press contributed to this report
