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Georgia 2022 Senate runoff recap: Warnock wins election, boosting Democratic majority

Democrat Raphael Warnock defeated Republican Herschel Walker in the Georgia Senate run-off Tuesday, expanding his party's majority in the chamber and giving them more power to confirm judges and promote legislation.

Democrats had already secured control of the Senate with wins in last month's general elections; Warnock's runoff victory gives them a 51st vote, making it easier for the party to push President Joe Biden's agenda in the face of the incoming Republican majority in the U.S. House.

While much congressional deadlock between the chambers is likely, the 51-seat majority does give Democrats more control of Senate committees and frees them from reliance on Vice President Kamala Harris' tie-breaking votes.

The Senate also has the sole authority to confirm judges and other president appointments.

Here's the latest:

Georgia Senate runoff: Football icon Herschel Walker, Sen. Raphael Warnock clash in runoff election

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Biden calls to congratulate Warnock

President Joe Biden late Tuesday said that he called to congratulate Warnock on his victory.

"Just called @SenatorWarnock to congratulate him on his win," according to a tweet from the official @POTUS account. "Tonight Georgia voters stood up for our democracy, rejected Ultra MAGAism, and most importantly: sent a good man back to the Senate. Here’s to six more years."

-- Luciana Lopez

Warnock: 'The people have spoken'

Sen. Raphael Warnock took the stage just before 11:15 p.m. to deliver his victory speech after winning re-election to the U.S. Senate.

“I want to say thank you from, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and to God be the glory —” he began, before pausing for a roar of approval from the crowd “— for the great things that God has done. And after a hard fought campaign, or should I say campaigns, it is my honor to utter the four most powerful words ever spoken in a democracy — the people have spoken.”

Warnock recounted his family history, including how his mother grew up picking cotton and his father supported the family hauling cars, and his own history growing up in Savannah.

“I am Georgia,” he said. “I am an example and an iteration of its history, of its pain and its promise, of the brutality and the possibility. But because this is America and because we always have a path to make our country greater against unspeakable odds, thank you Georgia.”

Warnock said that his victory was not evidence that voter suppression does not exist in Georgia but that instead it was an indicator that voters had managed to overcome it. He highlighted several policy issues – lowering prescription drug prices, creating jobs, and working on criminal justice reform. And he thanked his staff and volunteers.

“After a hard fought campaign, you got me for six more years,” he said.

– Abraham Kenmore

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speaks during an election night watch party at the Marriott Marquis on December 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Georgia Democratic Senate candidate U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speaks during an election night watch party at the Marriott Marquis on December 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Takeaways from the runoff

One of the most expensive and bitter Senate contests ended with Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock prevailing over Republican challenger Herschel Walker on Tuesday.

The Georgia race, which cost $380 million in total, did not change which party controlled the Senate in the upcoming Congress, but it did underscore how deeply and evenly the country is divided going into 2023.

For months the race was a tale of major contrasts as Warnock, a Baptist preacher, and Walker, a former NFL star, were opposites in experience, political beliefs and speaking styles.

Read the whole story here: 5 takeaways from the Georgia Senate runoff between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker

-- Phillip M. Bailey

Actor and director Spike Lee speaks during an election night watch party for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Sen. Warnock has defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a runoff election in Georgia.
Actor and director Spike Lee speaks during an election night watch party for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Sen. Warnock has defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a runoff election in Georgia.

Walker: 'not going to make any excuses'

Walker said running for senator was the best thing he's ever done in his concession speech around 11 p.m. ET.

"There are no excuses in life," Walker said. "I'm not going to make any excuses now."

Walker urged those in attendance to support their elected officials and to "stay together, don't let anyone separate you."

-- Will Peebles

Republican Senate challenger Herschel Walker speaks during an election night watch party, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Atlanta.
Republican Senate challenger Herschel Walker speaks during an election night watch party, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Atlanta.

Mood darkens at Walker HQ as vote count nears end

As the vote count neared completion Tuesday night around 10 p.m., the crowd at Walker's watch party were on a rollercoaster of emotions.

The Fox News live count of the race on the projected screen at the front of the room fluctuated back and forth as the close race tilted to Walker, then back to Warnock.

Cheers erupt, then the crowd falls silent, a couple of times every 10 minutes or so.

But as the night wound down, and Warnock's lead extended to about 30,000 votes, the silence began to persist.

-- Will Peebles

More: Warnock win gives Democrats 51-seat Senate majority in 2022 midterms overtime battle

Warnock wins in Georgia runoff

Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock won the runoff race for Georgia's Senate seat.

CNN and NBC first reported his win, with the Associated Press and others following sho.

Democrats already locked Senate majority last month, but had hoped for a greater margin and more legislative power, especially in committees.

In contrast, Republicans hoped to make the Senate a 50/50 split to keep some level of power, especially in committees.

Tonight's result marks the end of an extra-long election process, after neither candidate won more than 50% of the vote in November and the race went into a runoff.

-- Savannah Kuchar

Supporters cheer at an election night watch party for Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) at the Marriott Marquis on December 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Supporters cheer at an election night watch party for Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) at the Marriott Marquis on December 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Biden predicts Democratic win in Georgia

As the country waits for the final tally in the Georgia runoff, President Joe Biden isn’t.

"We're going to win,” he said. “We're going to win Georgia.”

The president was speaking to reporters after exiting Air Force One.

— Phillip M. Bailey

Country music star sets tone at Walker party

As Georgia-born country music artist Andy Velo, the opening musical act of the Walker watch party, was playing “Friends in Low Places” around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday night, the crowd erupted in applause.

But it wasn’t just for Velo. The crowd was watching the results, displayed on a giant screen playing Fox News behind Velo. Walker, who had been trailing Warnock from the start of the night, finally caught up in the close race.

“Ladies and gentlemen, that’s your hard work right there,” Velo said, as he began playing an original song.

The timbre of the room changed entirely. What before was a fairly reserved party became energized, as Walker supporters cheered together and hugged each other.

At that point, about 1.8 million ballots of 3.3 million total had been counted.

-- Will Peebles

Leon Benjamin, of Va., displays his autographed hat during an election night watch party for Republican candidate Herschel Walker, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Atlanta.
Leon Benjamin, of Va., displays his autographed hat during an election night watch party for Republican candidate Herschel Walker, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Atlanta.

Traveling to campaign

Michael A. Guynn came a long way for Warnock’s election night gathering – all the way from Los Angeles.

“I’ve been out here since Sunday,” he said, campaigning in Gwinnett County for Warnock. “We’ve been going strong for three days.”

Guynn said he also helped campaign for Stacey Abrams in 2018. He heads back to California Wednesday, but wanted to make it out to the election night gathering first.

– Abraham Kenmore

Athena Soules holds a sign as she attends an election night watch party for Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) on December 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Sen. Warnock is competing today in a runoff election against his Republican challenger Herschel Walker.
Athena Soules holds a sign as she attends an election night watch party for Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) on December 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Sen. Warnock is competing today in a runoff election against his Republican challenger Herschel Walker.

No call yet in Georgia Senate runoff

Results from the Senate runoff race between Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker remain uncalled, an hour and a half after polls closed in Georgia at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Warnock is currently leading Walker in voting, 52.2% -- 47.8%, with nearly 50% of ballots counted at 8:23 p.m. ET.

Dave Wasserman, editor at the Cook Political Report, said the race will come down to a close margin. “At this point, turnout in metro Atlanta would need to be unusually rough for Warnock (D) to lose,” Wasserman tweeted Tuesday night.

-- Mabinty Quarshie

No matter who wins, history will be made

Whoever voters choose Tuesday, Georgia is set to elect its first Black senator to a full six-year term.

Warnock is already in the Peach State's history books as the state's first Black senator after beating Republican Kelly Loeffler in the 2021 runoff.

That made the Atlanta minister—who is pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. presided—just the 11th Black senator in U.S. history, but that was to finish out the term of Sen. Johnny Isakson, who resigned in 2019.

If Walker wins, the former NFL running back would be the 12th Black senator in U.S. history.

— Phillip M. Bailey

Georgia polls close

It's official: The Georgia Senate runoff is over, with polls closing at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Now the political world waits to evaluate the results of the high-profile race between Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker.

If one of the candidates breaks away, the race could be called as early as 10 or 11 p.m.; a tight race, and we could be waiting until after midnight.

– David Jackson

Warnock campaign 'feeling really good' ahead of polls closing

Warnock’s campaign is confident as the polls are about to close, according to Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, founder and CEO of Paramount Consulting Group. Speaking at the Warnock election night gathering, Johnson said that key precincts are trending the right way for the senator.

“Feeling really good about the turnout because our campaign has spent an enormous amount of time talking to all voters across the state of Georgia,” he said. “The early vote numbers were really good, and we’re proud of the Georgia voters that decided to go out and vote early.”

As for what is bringing voters back to the polls after the primary and general election earlier this year, Johnson said it is nothing less than democracy.

“We have a group of people on the Republican side who are focused on trying to move us backwards as a country,” he said. “And people in Georgia, they realize how important it is we send Sen. Warnock back to Washington.”

– Abraham Kenmore

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station for the U.S. Senate runoff election on December 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Voters cast their ballots at a polling station for the U.S. Senate runoff election on December 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Runoff turnout exhausts paper supply

As Georgia headed into its final hour of the run-off election Tuesday, precinct 4-08 at Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church saw more than 1,100 ballots cast, according to poll manager Ashley Reed.

During the primaries on Nov. 8, the same precinct saw 862 voters the entire day.

“I’ve never had turnout like this for a runoff,” the 27-year veteran of elections work said. “We’re running out of paper.”

Reed added that more paper was on its way, and the precinct experienced a few machine hiccups during the day, but nothing that kept people from voting.

The ballot scanner stopped working, and by the time they’d received a new one, Reed said she had to scan a backlog of 200 ballots into the machine. “But everybody got counted,” she said. 

Reed said the shorter time for early voting is what drove people out to vote on Election Day this week, along with the importance of the outcome— which would either clinch already assured Democratic control of the Senate, or narrow the already thin margin of political control should the Republicans succeed.

“The entire country hinges on this one,” she said of the election.

-- Zoe Nicholson

Warnock watch event prepped and ready

Supporters of Sen. Warnock are gathering at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta, less than a mile from where Walker is gathering supporters.

A TV behind the Warnock campaign podium is already playing CNN coverage of the election, an hour before polls close. Dozens of journalists from local and national outlets are setting up, but doors will not open for supporters until 6:30 p.m.

USA Today’s Georgia reporters are on the scene and will be providing regular updates and photos throughout the night.

-- Abraham Kenmore

Walker supporters arrive at Election Night watch party

The College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta was bustling with journalists Tuesday around 5:30 p.m., as they took their places for Herschel Walker's watch party.

The former UGA standout's football legacy is enshrined there. Walker was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Walker's watch party is officially set to begin at 7 p.m., and campaign staffers said other guests of Walker should start to arrive around then.

USA TODAY Network Georgia reporters will be providing updates from both Walker's watch party and Incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock's watch party throughout the night.

-- Will Peebles

For progressives, Georgia could be a Manchin-Sinema ‘insurance policy’

Georgia’s runoff won’t change which party controls the Senate, but progressive activists have one big reason for wanting Democrats to get a 51-seat majority on Tuesday.

Those at the grassroots level told USA TODAY that taking Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona—two more conservative-leaning members of the caucus—down a notch is a major motivation.

“It does give you a little bit of insurance policy,” said Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, an Atlanta-based voting rights group, said.

“For Georgia voters, for some Black Georgia voters in particular, they're very much aware of that,” he added. “They view getting this seat to getting closer to making those two less relevant.”

— Phillip M. Bailey

What is a runoff election?: Georgians head to the polls for Warnock v. Walker round two.

Early voting updates

Final data from election night won’t be available for a while, but Georgia has been updating the early voting data in real time.

Before election day, Georgia had accepted about 175,000 absentee ballots and 1.7 million people had voted early in person – a total of 1.89 million ballots, or 27% of registered voters.

White voters had the highest number of votes among early voters, but Black voters had slightly higher early voting turnout at 29.5% - a full percentage point higher than white voters. About 10% of voters under 30 voted early, while 49.5% of registered voters 65 and above had already voted by election day.

– Abraham Kenmore

Dems look to young voters for Warnock's success

Maxwell Frost, Democratic Representative-elect and the first Gen. Z member of Congress, appeared on the University of Georgia campus today to encourage students there to go vote.

"I gotta tell y’all… I’m feeling really good about the youth turnout in Georgia," Frost wrote in a tweet.

Voters 29 and under had a large turnout earlier this year in the general election, with the second highest participation rate in decades. A majority of these voters cast their ballots for Democrats in November.

-- Savannah Kuchar

Walker, Warnock make final pitch to voters

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and Republican challenger Herschel Walker barnstormed Georgia Tuesday in their final stops of a long midterm campaign cycle, with both of them stressing the importance of high turnout.

That was especially true in parts of the state where rain was in the forecast.

“Rain is not an excuse to not vote. Rain is not an excuse to not show up,” Warnock said in a video Tuesday shared thousands of times on social media. “If you stand with me, I will stand with you – in the rain, in the snow, in the sleet, the hail. I’ll show up for you every time.”

Walker, who has been buoyed by his football fame, said he loves “winning championships” and predicted a victory for himself in Georgia, focusing on turnout Tuesday. “I love y’all, and we’re gonna win this election.”

-- Candy Woodall

No Donald Trump sightings in Georgia runoff

The Georgia Senate runoff has come and nearly gone, with one notable absence: Donald Trump.

Trump never did travel to Georgia to campaign for protege Herschel Walker, much to the relief of Republicans who said the former president would have probably done more harm than good – as appeared to have happened during runoff races in the state in early 2021.

In midterms election a month ago, Trump-backed, election-denying Republicans lost key Senate and other statewide races in important states like Arizona and Pennsylvania.

This time around in Georgia, Trump was relegated to a "tele-rally" for Walker on Monday night and posts on Truth Social.

"To the Great State of Georgia, Get Out and Vote for the WONDERFUL Herschel Walker," Trump posted.

– David Jackson

Gov. Kemp continues raising support for Walker

Gov. Brian Kemp encouraged Georgia voters to go out and vote for Herschel Walker, as he said he already had, in a video posted to Twitter this morning.

"We got to have a big turnout today to win this thing. Let's get it done and send someone like Herschel to the United State Senate that is going to fight for us," Kemp said in the forty-second video.

During his own campaign for reelection earlier this year, Kemp kept more distance between himself and Walker, not publicly supporting the Republican Senate candidate the way he has since Nov. 8. He made his first appearance with Walker on Nov. 19 during a rally northwest of Atlanta.

With Walker coming into today polling slightly behind his opponent, his best shot at success may very well be Kemp. The popular governor could help mobilize voters, especially more moderate Republicans, who did not turn out for Walker a month ago.

-- Savannah Kuchar

Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp looks on during the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series in Atlanta, Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.
Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp looks on during the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series in Atlanta, Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.

Who is Herschel Walker?

Republican challenger Herschel Walker is a former college and National Football League player. The 60-year-old Georgia native entered the race for Senate as one of former President Donald Trump's hand-selected candidates. The George Senate race is Walker's first political campaign.

A staunch anti-abortion rights candidate, Walker faced controversy just weeks before the general election when an ex-girlfriend told the Daily Beast he had paid for her abortion in 2009 and later urged her to have a second one. Walker denied her allegations, along with those from a second woman who said she was also pressured by the Senate candidate to have an abortion.

Walker has maintained a strict position against abortion access, including in cases of rape or incest, identifying himself as “pro-life” on his campaign website.  He has run on a platform of energy independence as a means to reduce oil and gas prices, along with saying he will "defend, not defund, the police."

-- Rachel Looker, Savannah Kuchar 

Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker poses for photos with patrons during a campaign stop at Marietta Diner on December 6, 2022 in Marietta, Georgia.
Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker poses for photos with patrons during a campaign stop at Marietta Diner on December 6, 2022 in Marietta, Georgia.

How much has been spent on runoff election?

The Georgia Senate race is the most expensive race of the midterm season, according to OpenSecrets.

Super PACs spent nearly $16 million more on Warnock than his Republican challenger Herschel Walker ahead of the runoff election, spending more than $40 million on expenses like advertisements supporting Warnock or opposing Walker. Other PACs spent more than $24 million supporting Walker or opposing Warnock, according to filings reported to the Federal Elections Commission.

Money is mainly being used to purchase TV ads, digital and online communications and on-the-ground canvassing.

-- Rachel Looker, Mabinty Quarshie, Erin Mansfield  

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speaks to supporters during a pre-canvassing event December 6, 2022 in Norcross, Georgia.
Georgia Democratic Senate candidate U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speaks to supporters during a pre-canvassing event December 6, 2022 in Norcross, Georgia.

Why is there a runoff election? And could tonight's runoff go to a recount?

On election night, Sen. Raphael Warnock was up about 1 percentage point over Herschel Walker – not enough to avoid a runoff, with the Libertarian drawing 2% of the vote, but enough to avoid a recount in Georgia.

According to Georgia’s recount law, losing candidates have the right to a recount from the secretary of state if they are within half a percentage point of the winner after the results are certified.

There is also a procedure if an election administrator or candidate believes that there has been an error in the count. If a candidate requests a recount due to an error, it will happen at the discretion of the secretary of state.

– Abraham Kenmore

Early voting: Appeals court rejects challenge to Saturday early voting in Georgia's Warnock vs. Walker runoff

Georgia election: DOJ to monitor Georgia runoff

The Justice Department will monitor polls in four Georgia counties Tuesday as voters cast their ballots in the Senate runoff election, the last remaining contest in the 2022 midterms.

Justice regularly dispatches monitors as a guard against voting rights violations. And on Tuesday, monitors from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. attorneys’ offices will be deployed to Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett and Macon-Bibb counties.

Complaints involving possible violations can be made on the department’s website or by telephone at 800-253-3931.

– Kevin Johnson

What is a runoff election?: Georgians head to the polls for Warnock v. Walker round two.

Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., gives a thumbs up to supporters before speaking at a Students for Warnock rally at Georgia Tech on Monday.
Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., gives a thumbs up to supporters before speaking at a Students for Warnock rally at Georgia Tech on Monday.

Georgia GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan: Herschel Walker one of the ‘worst Republican candidates’ in party history

Georgia Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who was elected in 2018, told CBS news that he would not be voting for Walker.

“I think Herschel Walker will probably go down as one of the worst Republican candidates in our party's history,” he told CBS News last week.

“I think I’ve got kids probably that could articulate the conservative platform better than some of the candidates that Donald Trump and his group supported all across the country,” he added.

– Rachel Looker

What to know about the Georgia runoff: When is the Georgia runoff election? Voters will head to the polls today.

What is a runoff election?

Similar to a political tiebreaker, a runoff election is a second contest held when no candidate wins the majority of votes in a general election.

In Georgia, runoffs are held four weeks after a general election when the top two candidates did not earn more than 50% of the vote. A candidate has to earn the majority of votes to win in a runoff election.

Both Georgia Senate candidates Walker and Warnock did not meet the 50% vote threshold on Nov. 8, with Warnock leading Walker by more than 30,000 votes – earning 49.4% of total votes. Walker earned 48.5% and the remaining 2.1% went to libertarian candidate Chase Oliver, triggering the runoff.

Anyone who is registered to vote can cast a ballot in a runoff election.

– Rachel Looker 

Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker greets patrons during a campaign stop at Marietta Diner on Tuesday in Marietta, Georgia.
Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker greets patrons during a campaign stop at Marietta Diner on Tuesday in Marietta, Georgia.

Who is Sen. Raphael Warnock?

Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, 53, was first elected to Congress in 2020 after winning a special election runoff to fill a vacant seat. Born in Savannah, Georgia, the senator has served as a pastor for over 16 years at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former church of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Warnock has dubbed himself a "pro-choice pastor," according to his campaign website, and has criticized the Supreme Court for overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

The Democratic incumbent has emphasized the need to fight for criminal justice reform measures while funding the police. He is an advocate for Medicaid expansion and capping the cost of insulin and prescriptions.

Warnock believes access to education shouldn't depend on zip codes and has advocated to lower the cost of higher education, fighting for student loan forgiveness.

– Rachel Looker 

Warnock vs. Walker: From toss-up to leans Democratic

Polls continue to show Warnock and Walker locked in a tight race that could go either way, but some political forecasters are giving the Democrats an edge.

The Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia, a newsletter that analyzes campaigns, moved Georgia from a "toss-up" to "leans Democratic" state on Monday.

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speaks during a Meet and Greet event at St. John Baptist Church December 4, 2022 in Gainesville, Georgia.
Georgia Democratic Senate candidate U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speaks during a Meet and Greet event at St. John Baptist Church December 4, 2022 in Gainesville, Georgia.

It noted that Georgia remains a competitive state, but that "most indicators point to a Warnock advantage" including the early voting data and that Democrats are heavily outspending Republicans.

"If Warnock ends up winning... we can all agree on one thing: He will have certainly earned a full term. Over the span of 2 years, Warnock ran a gauntlet of 4 high-stakes races," J. Miles Coleman, an associate editor of the newsletter, said.

— Phillip M. Bailey

Warnock vs. Walker: Saturday voting and runoff timeframe

Georgia was embroiled in one of the more controversial voting rights battles the Republican-controlled state legislature changed the election rules in early 2021.

Among the biggest changes that had an impact on the Dec. 6 special election under the measure, known as SB 202, was shortening the runoff election from nine weeks to four weeks, and cutting early voting from 17 days to five.

Another fight created by the new law was over Saturday voting.

Initially, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office suggested Georgia counties had the option to provide Saturday voting on Nov. 26.

But later the office said there would be no Saturday voting, citing its interpretation of SB 202, which prevents early in-person voting being held on any Saturday that comes after a holiday on a Thursday or Friday.

Democrats, including the Warnock campaign, pounced on Raffensperger's office and quickly filed suit against the decision. A judge, and eventually an appeals court, ruled against the GOP in court and allowed voting on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

— Phillip M. Bailey

Obama and Warnock: Obama paints GOP as party of 'Looney Tunes' as he campaigns for Warnock ahead of Georgia runoff

Road to 2024: Biden recommends South Carolina go first in Democratic primary process, replacing Iowa

Georgia election: Nearly 2 million have already voted

Over the past two years Georgia voters have had a marathon of contests – the 2020 presidential election, two separate 2021 Senate runoff contests and the 2022 midterms.

But if the early voting numbers are any indication the Peach State is just as engaged for the Dec. 6 runoff as any other contest.

According to the secretary of state's office, more than 1.8 million Georgians have already voted.

People gather during a get out the vote rally Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Atlanta, during early voting for the Senate runoff election.
People gather during a get out the vote rally Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Atlanta, during early voting for the Senate runoff election.

Last Friday, the last day for early voting, more than 350,000 Georgians cast a ballot, shattering the one-day record for early voting.

"Georgia is a national leader in voter access and security," Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement.

"We are having historic levels of turnout and those who want to vote are voting- we believe this level of voter participation is excellent, and we’ll keep working with counties to encourage them to open more early voting locations in the future."

— Phillip M. Bailey

Georgia runoff election: Polls opened at 7 a.m.

Polling places in Georgia's 159 counties opened at 7 a.m. for the Dec. 6 runoff, and will close at 7:00 p.m.

As in most state, if a person is line by 7:00 p.m., they are allowed to cast your ballot.

— Phillip M. Bailey

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia runoff: Raphael Warnock wins, beating Herschel Walker