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A 20-year-old campaign staff member of Republican Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler died Friday morning in a freeway accident just before Vice President Mike Pence arrived in the state to run aground Loeffler and his fellow Senator from Georgia David Perdue.
Harrison Deal, a former Perdue intern, was also a family friend of Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who described him in a statement as “the Kemp son and brother we never had.”
Deal was killed on I-16 in Pooler, Ga., Near Savannah, where Pence spoke on Friday afternoon. It is not known whether the young aide was in campaign duties at the time of the accident.
Loeffler and Perdue face a run-off January 5 against Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.
The outcome of the second round will dictate control of the Senate next year. Republicans will hold at least 50 seats in January, but if they lose both races, the Senate will be split 50-50 and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will break the ties.
Pence said during a speech in Savannah that Deal, who is said to be unrelated to the governor, was a “really wonderful young man.”
Deal was scheduled to graduate from the University of Georgia in 2022.
Loeffler did not attend the Pence rally due to the tragedy.
“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Harrison Deal,” Loeffler said in a statement.
“My heart hurts for his family, and Jeff and I will continue to surround them with love and prayer in the days to come. Harrison was a beloved member of our campaign team. Most importantly, Harrison was a smart, bright, loving, loyal and exceptional young man.
Loeffler said Deal “embodied the best of this campaign – and the best of our state. We will cherish and honor the memory of Harrison forever, and I ask every Georgian to join us in praying for their families during this difficult time.
President Trump is due to travel to the state on Saturday for an evening rally at the Valdosta Regional Airport, near the Florida border.
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