Georgia Senate election results: Jon Ossoff declared runoff winner as ‘militia gathers’ at state Capitol
Follow the latest updates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Democrats took control of the Senate after Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock defeated Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler by razor-thin margins.
The victories were overshadowed by riots in Washington DC as a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an effort to stop the count of the Electoral College votes declaring Joe Biden as president elect.
The chaos spread to Georgia as governor Brian Kemp and secretary of state Brad Raffensperger were reportedly evacuated after a 'militia' gathered outside the state Capitol.
Mr Ossoff, 33, becomes the youngest man to enter the Senate since president-elect Joe Biden did so himself in 1973 while Reverend Warnock becomes the state’s first black senator and only the second black senator elected to represent a former Confederate state.
Their wins mean that both parties have 50 senators each, leaving the deciding vote in legislative matters with vice president-elect Kamala Harris and seeing Mitch McConnell deposed as majority leader.
- Washington DC riots - live: ‘Shots fired’ heard on police radio as armed Trump supporters storm Capitol
- Militia members gather outside the Georgia Capitol as pro-Trump rioters storm Washington DC over Democrat win
- Romney blames Trump for inciting ‘insurrection’ as lawmakers plead with violent rioters to disperse from Capitol
- Armed pro-Trump rioters breach US capitol as lawmakers shelter in place
‘Trump is singlehandedly destroying Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue’s chances ‘
For Indy Voices, here’s the latest from Andrew Feinberg on how the president is impacting this race.
Not to the advantage of Republicans, it appears.
Trump is singlehandedly destroying Republicans’ chances in Georgia | Andrew Feinberg
‘Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope,’ said one Republican aide after being asked whether they had authored any part of Trump’s teleprompter script
Trump pushes ‘Stop the Steal’ nonsense and increases pressure on Pence in latest tweets
You would expect the president to be pushing the Republican Senate candidates at this point - and he does - but he also clearly has one eye on event’s tomorrow and appears to be renewing the presssure on his deputy by reminding him of the possibilities of his office. Sinister.
Loeffler’s husband becomes billionaire as polls open in Georgia runoff
Polls for crucial Georgia runoffs opened statewide at 7am on Tuesday
Loeffler’s husband becomes billionaire as polls open in Georgia runoff
Polls for crucial Georgia runoffs opened statewide at 7am on Tuesday
Stacey Abrams urges voters to unseat Perdue and Loeffler in final plea: ‘Georgia, I’m counting on you’
Stacey Abrams has released a final message urging voters to unseat Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler before polls opened on Tuesday for the state’s pair of runoff elections, which will ultimately determine which party controls the Senate.
The former Democratic gubernatorial candidate, who founded the voting rights initiative Fair Fight Action, said in a video message posted to social media: “Georgia, I’m counting on you.”
Ms Abrams also encouraged her more than 1.7 million Twitter followers to support Democratic senatorial candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Wornok in the upcoming elections, writing: “Your votes are critical to elect @Ossoff and @ReverendWarnock.”
Arguably one of the organizers most responsible for Georgia’s flip from red to blue in the 2020 presidential elections, Ms Abrams has spent the last several months developing Democratic ground game throughout the state, while helping expand early voter turnout to historic levels.
Story to come…
Big Questions: Georgia tests battleground status, Trump era
The two Georgia runoffs that will determine control of the Senate have kept President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden in campaign mode and run up a half-billion-dollar tab in the process
Big Questions: Georgia tests battleground status, Trump era
The two Georgia runoffs that will determine control of the Senate have kept President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden in campaign mode and run up a half-billion-dollar tab in the process
Lawmakers instructed to use underground tunnels during electoral college certification over fears of violence
Security officials have warned lawmakers to use underground tunnels while convening to certify the election of President-elect Joe Biden amid a rise in tensions sparked by President Donald Trump’s failure to concede in the race.
The instructions, sent by the House sergeant-at-arms on Monday, predicted “demonstration activity and street closures” when lawmakers convene this week to certify the 2020 presidential election.
Mr Trump has continued to promote outright falsities and conspiracy theories about his electoral defeat despite evidence showing the vote was conducted free of fraud. In fact, the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security both released statements refuting the president’s claims and effectively describing the election as the most secure in US history.
And yet the president and his allies on Capitol Hill have continued their undemocratic efforts to overturn the results, with several Republican representatives and senators joining together to announce their plans to contest the certification on Wednesday.
Story to come…
Stacey Abrams urges voters to unseat Perdue and Loeffler in final plea: ‘Georgia, I’m counting on you’
My latest:
Stacey Abrams urges voters to unseat Perdue and Loeffler in final plea
It’s down to the wire in Georgia - and Stacey Abrams is focused on every single vote
Analysis: If Democrats win in Georgia, big tech will have to change
As an ex-president, Trump won’t have as much freedom to lie on social media — but that will still be too much, Alexander Heffner writes:
Opinion: If Democrats win in Georgia, big tech will have to change
As an ex-president, Trump won’t have as much freedom to lie on social media — but that will still be too much
‘Sorry you received old intel, Mr. President’
Local officials in Georgia are reassuring voters that their ballots are safe and being counted despite Donald Trump’s flagrant falsities surrounding the runoff elections:
More: Trump refuted in real time by Georgia officials
Donald Trump's false claims concerning the Georgia runoff election were slapped down in real time when a state election officials corrected him on Twitter.
Trump claims about Dominion voting machines refuted by Georgia officials
Donald Trump's false claims concerning the Georgia runoff election were slapped down in real time when a state election officials corrected him on Twitter.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments