Democrats seek to consolidate control of the Senate with the runoff in the state of Georgia

by time news

On November 8, the Democratic candidate narrowly edged his Republican rival, but neither reached 50%.

Democrats and President Joe Biden breathed after the midterm elections in November because there was no republican flood that the surveys predicted.

But when the entire United States is already preparing for the Holidays, cutting trees and decorating homes with lights to close the year, in Georgia they still have no electoral respite: this Tuesday they have the crucial mission of seal the composition of the Senate and they could even widen the difference in favor of the ruling party.

Voters of the “Peach State” (the state of peaches, for the typical fruit of the area) they have to vote a second round that will determine whether Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock can beat his controversial Republican rival Herschel Walker.

On November 8, Warnock surpassed Walker by a few points but neither reached 50% of the votes, which is why the second round was activated, which will take place this Tuesday.



Raphael Warnock, the Democratic Senate candidate. Photo Reuters

The majority

In the legislative elections on November 8, Democrats were able to secure their majority in the Senate with victories in other states, but that does not mean that there is nothing at stake now, that the electoral effervescence seems to have passed.

Georgia elections will determine if the upper house remains evenly split 50-50, as before, which turned out to be a very fine line for President Biden and the Democrats, because they only had Vice President Kamala Harris to cast tie-breaking votes.

That reality has frustrated progressive activists, who denounced how in Biden’s first two years hardly a moderate democrat or more conservative of the Senate watered down or blocked his legislative priorities on multiple issues.

Herschel Walker, the Republican nominee.  Photo Reuters


Herschel Walker, the Republican nominee. Photo Reuters

Beyond the comfort of passing certain laws on the Democratic agenda, a 51-49 majority would give the White House a cushion on judicial appointments, ambassadors, civil servants and other key confirmations for the next two years. Also, they could have more control over the House committees.

“That 51st vote is a big difference, and it gives you a bit of insurance”said Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, a Georgia-based voting rights group.

The Republicans

The Republicans, on the other hand, seek with a victory in that state to recover from the blow that not having won broadly as they expected (they narrowly retook the House of Representatives and several of Trump’s favorite candidates lost) and try to reinvigorate and get back on track for the 2024 presidential elections.

Democrat Warnock was trying to focus the latter part of the campaign on Walker’s character and ability to serve. The Republican is a former football player with no political experience.ultraconservative, who jumped into the electoral arena promoted by former President Donald Trump, like many celebrities he promoted in the last elections.

Beyond his capacity, Walker was surrounded by scandals because he revealed in a book that he suffered from delusions of personality, who beat his ex-wife and, in addition, two ex-girlfriends came up who denounced that he paid for abortions. One of them also said that she had a son with him to whom he does not give money. One of the pillars of the Republican campaign was family values ​​and rejection of abortion.

Walker instead sought to counterattack with top Republican officials who went to campaign in Georgia andaccuses Biden of being unpopularthat it is not capable of straightening out the economy and that it has launched a culture war in the country.

A CNN poll from last weekend showed that Warnock had a slight 4 point lead over Walker, just above the margin of error. The poll further revealed that Warnock and the Democrat attacks on Walker have worked as 59% say the former footballer is not trustworthy.

Experts consider that participation will be key to tip the balance. More than 1.8 million have already voted early, a figure considerably higher than usual.

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