Republicans have secured 50 seats in the next U.S. Senate compared to Democrats’ 48 (including two independents who caucus with them). Control of the next Senate comes down to Georgia’s runoff elections. In The Runoff Report, we provide the latest on each race and the fight for Senate control.
Regular election updates
David Perdue was interviewed on The Hugh Hewitt Radio Show this morning. He discussed early voting numbers, his ideas about the effects of the runoff elections on military funding and foreign policy, and COVID-19 relief.
Jon Ossoff held an “Artists for Ossoff” kickoff event in Atlanta on Dec. 27, unveiling a mural his campaign commissioned to encourage voting in the runoff.
This election is for a full six-year term ending January 2027. Perdue was first elected in 2014. Ossoff ran against Karen Handel (R) in the 6th Congressional District special election in 2017.
Click here for more coverage of the regular election.
Special election updates
Kelly Loeffler campaigned in Bainbridge, Milton, and Homerville on Dec. 26 and Columbus and Albany on Dec. 27. Loeffler released an ad today discussing her childhood, when she used leg braces and wore an eye patch. A narrator says, “Anything is possible in America, and Kelly Loeffler is running to keep it that way.”
Raphael Warnock held drive-in rallies in South Fulton and DeKalb County on Dec. 27, according to a campaign email. Warnock will campaign today in Gwinnett County.
The special election will fill the remainder of the term Johnny Isakson (R) won in 2016. He resigned in Dec. 2019, and Gov. Brian Kemp (R) appointed Loeffler, co-owner of the WNBA team Atlanta Dream. Warnock is senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The winner will complete the term ending in January 2023.
Click here for more coverage of the special election.
Overall campaign updates
- New Federal Election Commission reports show candidates’ fundraising, spending, and cash-on-hand totals.
During the reporting period of Oct. 15-Dec. 16, candidates raised the following amounts:
- Ossoff: $107 million
- Warnock: $103 million
- Perdue: $68 million
- Loeffler: $64 million
The following are total figures from the start of each campaign up to Dec. 16.
Self-funding: Loeffler loaned her campaign $23 million between Dec. 27, 2019, and Oct. 13, 2020. Ossoff loaned his campaign $450,000 on May 29. Perdue and Warnock have not reported any self-funding.
- Ossoff and Warnock are holding a drive-in rally in Lithonia today.
Today: Top-spending Democratic super PACs
In November, the Senate Majority PAC formed two super PACs focused on Georgia’s runoffs: Georgia Honor and The Georgia Way. Georgia Honor is targeting the special election, and The Georgia Way is targeting the regular election.
Senate Majority PAC is a super PAC that supports Democratic U.S. Senate campaigns.
Regarding the two new PACs, Senate Majority PAC President J.B. Poersch said:
After President-Elect Biden’s historic win in Georgia, we know these Senate seats are competitive and we are committed to building upon the work that started months ago to elect Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. Georgia’s Republican ticket is made up of a pair of corrupt, out-of-touch politicians who profited off of the pandemic and can’t be trusted in Washington. The more Georgians learn about Senator Perdue and Loeffler’s stock trading scandals and efforts to block COVID relief while workers and small businesses take a hit, the more vulnerable they become.
Open Secrets reported that Georgia Honor had spent $18.3 million on the special Senate runoff as of Dec. 27. Of that, $14.9 million opposed Loeffler and $3.4 million supported Warnock.
The Georgia Way had spent $12.4 million opposing Perdue in the regular Senate runoff as of Dec. 27.
Click here to view Georgia Honor’s ads. Click here for ads from The Georgia Way.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at Peachtree PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund’s super PAC supporting Republican candidates in the runoffs.