Five things to know about the second round of the Senate in Georgia

All eyes are on Georgia ahead of the Senate second round in January, which will determine the balance of power in the Upper House.

On Jan. 5, Sen. Kelly loefflerKelly Loeffler McConnell Shuts Down In-Person Republican Lunches Amid COVID-19 Outbreak Sunday Shows Sneak Peek: U.S. Health Officials Prepare For COVID-19 Surge After Club For Growth Vacation To Launch Advertising Blitz In Georgia to increase the participation of GOP PLUS (R-Ga.) Will face his Democratic challenger, Reverend Raphael Warnock, while Sen. David PerdueDavid PerdueTrump: ‘I’m ashamed to approve’ Kemp in Georgia Ossoff warns McConnell would cause federal government paralysis if GOP holds Senate Collins urges voters to go to second round in Georgia MORE (R-Ga.) Will face Democrat Jon Ossoff.

Both rounds will take place after neither contestant has reached the 50% threshold needed to win their respective races.

Democrats hope for victories in Peach State after president-elect Joe bidenJoe Biden Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturns GOP bid to stop electoral certification Biden looks to career leaders to restore confidence and morale in government agencies Biden’s transition adds new members to task force on coronavirus PLUS became the first Democratic presidential candidate to topple the state in decades. Republicans, meanwhile, are fiercely defending the state, hoping to keep tabs on the Biden administration on Capitol Hill.

Here are five things to know before the Georgia Senate second round.

Democrats count on record turnout

While Biden scored a historic victory at the top of the poll in Georgia, Democrats will face a number of hurdles in the January second round.

Perdue garnered 86,000 more votes than Ossoff, while Warnock benefited from the fact that two Republicans – Loeffler and Rep. Doug collinsDouglas (Doug) Allen Collins Groups Seek To Make Black People Vote Democrats In Georgia In Second Round Majority Says GOP To Control Senate: The Hill’s Morning Report Poll – Brought to you by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington, DC – Trump and Biden clash over stalling transition, pandemic plans READ MORE (Ga.) – were on the ballot in his race.

The race takes place in a non-election year amid a pandemic. On top of that, Republicans have historically had a better runoff experience in the state.

Democrats are relying on early organizing, building on an already high turnout in November.

The party specifically targeted black voters and new voters. According to the Georgia Black Legislative Caucus, 5 million Georgian voters, including 1.2 million black Georgian voters, turned out for the November elections.

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is credited with energizing Democratic voters in the state, especially black voters. About 800,000 new voters have been registered in the state since Abrams formed the Fair Fight Action group in 2018 to fight voter suppression.

Democrats are also rushing to meet the December 7 voter registration deadline, hoping they can harness the energy of residents who weren’t old enough to vote in the November election but who will be 18 by the 5th. January, which will make them eligible to vote in the second round.

Ossoff said in an interview with ABC News earlier this month that the youth vote could play in the hands of Democrats.

“There are 23,000 young people here in Georgia who will become eligible to vote just between the November elections and this January 5 run-off, and a decade of organizing, much of this work led by Stacey Abrams, said the wind in our sails here. in Georgia. What we feel for the first time in four years is hope, ”he said.

But not all Republicans are convinced the state’s young voters will lean democratically.

“The assumption that every 17 and 18-year-old is a Democrat is specious,” said Chuck Clay, former GOP chairman and current Hall attorney Booth Smith. “A lot of young people love Trump even if they haven’t voted.”

President TrumpDonald John Trump Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturns GOP offer to stop electoral certification Biden looks to career leaders to restore confidence and morale in government agencies Sunday Sneak Peek: U.S. health officials stand by prepare for the rise of COVID-19 after the holidays PLUS will energize GOP voters

While Trump lost the presidential election in Georgia, the race was still extremely slim. Biden won 49.51% of the state’s vote, while Trump won 49.25%.

The close race meant Trump was still able to transform his base, which also turned out to be for Republican Senate candidates.

Republicans on Capitol Hill, especially the Senate Majority Leader Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell McConnell stops in-person Republican lunches amid COVID-19 surge Biden and reproductive health rights Biden’s cabinet is a battleground for future GOP hopes in the White House MORE (Ky.), Have been mindful of how they talk about the November presidential election, potentially out of concern for how this might influence turnout in the second round.

When Trump refused to begin the transition process with Biden, many senators refused to name Biden as president-elect.

It’s unclear whether Trump will visit Georgia in the second-round campaign, but Vice President Pence campaigned with Loeffler and Perdue last week.

Political chaos in Georgia could backfire on the GOP

Divisions among Georgia Republicans have spilled over into public view after the election, raising concerns that chaos could affect the second round.

Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations of widespread voter fraud and voting irregularities in the state ended up pitting Georgia Republicans against each other in the weeks following November 3.

While Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, categorically denied that there was any evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state, Perdue and Loeffler called on him to resign, apparently in an effort to win Trump’s favor. Collins also criticized Raffensperger, sparking an unexpected feud between top Georgian officials.

“We have strengthened the signing match. We helped train election officials in the GBI signing match – which is confirmed twice before a ballot is cast. Failed candidate Doug Collins is a liar – but what’s up? Raffensperger wrote in a Facebook post earlier this month.

Deep divisions have raised fears that the party will not be united for the second round and that Republican voters and voters with Republican leanings will be distracted.

Republican and Democratic spending could break records

National Republicans and Democrats are expected to spend money and resources in the second round given their role in determining the balance of power in the Senate.

More than $ 46 million has been spent on Georgian airwaves since election day, according to AdImpact. In addition, $ 214 million has been set aside, according to the firm.

The Senate Democratic majority PAC launched two groups, Georgia Honor and The Georgia Way, backing Ossoff and Warnock last week, with a $ 5 million investment.

The PAC announced on Tuesday that the groups were expanding their television bookings to $ 6 million.

Across the aisle, the Senate Leadership Fund is spending $ 35 million on Perdue, while another super PAC, American Crossroads, is spending $ 35 million on Loeffler.

High levels of postal voting expected

Voters will likely benefit from early voting and postal voting amid a potential increase in coronavirus cases as the holiday season exits.

As of Monday, 762,000 postal ballots were requested before the second round, according to state election officials.

The Georgia State Election Commission voted on Monday to expand the use of secure ballot boxes during the second round. The five-person board, which is chaired by Raffensperger, also voted to require counties to start processing mail ballots a week after election day.

State law does not allow the compilation of ballots before the close of polling stations.

Democrats are seeking to replicate gains made across the country by encouraging postal voting.