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Vote-Counting Starts in US Senate Runoff Elections in Georgia

Ken Bredemeier

   Polls closed and vote-counting started Tuesday night in two pivotal
   U.S. Senate runoff elections in the southern state of Georgia that will
   determine political control in the Senate during the first two years of
   President-elect Joe Biden's term in the White House.

   Republican Senator David Perdue faced a challenge from Democrat Jon
   Ossoff, a television documentary producer, while Republican Senator
   Kelly Loeffler, one of the wealthiest lawmakers in Congress, was
   opposed by the Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Baptist minister. Pre-election
   polls showed tight contests, with the Democrats holding slight leads.

   At the moment, Republicans control the 100-seat Senate with a 50-48
   advantage, needing to win one of the two Georgia contests to maintain
   their advantage and act as a bulwark against Biden's legislative
   proposals after he is inaugurated January 20.

   Victories for Ossoff and Warnock would give Democrats a 50-50 split
   with Republicans and a chance for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris,
   who will be able to preside over Senate proceedings when she chooses,
   to cast tie-breaking votes in the Democrats' favor.

   WATCH: VOA Reports from Georgia

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