Georgia certifies U.S. Senate results; Ossoff, Warnock take office Wednesday

WASHINGTON — Georgia’s secretary of state has certified the results of the U.S. Senate runoff victories by Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, clearing the way for the two Democrats to take office Wednesday and flip control of the Republican-held chamber.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office said Tuesday that all 159 counties have certified the results of the Jan. 5 election. Gov. Brian Kemp’s office confirmed he immediately signed paperwork, required by state law, verifying the defeats of former Republican U.S. Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.

The two Democrats are set to be sworn in Wednesday afternoon, shortly after President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris take office. Ossoff and Warnock shift the Senate’s balance of power to a 50-50 split, with Harris holding the tie-breaking vote.

The certification was finalized as Loeffler was delivering her farewell address from the U.S. Senate floor. She lauded her votes boosting coronavirus relief funding and promoting conservative causes, and she slammed the “mainstream media” — singling out The Atlanta Journal-Constitution — for its coverage of the races.

The Democratic victories pave the way for Biden to pursue a legislative agenda that includes expanding voting rights, combating climate change and boosting efforts to contain the pandemic. They also allow Democrats

to lead an impeachment trial on charges that President Donald Trump incited an insurrection when hundreds of his followers stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The wins by Biden, Ossoff and Warnock marked a striking political metamorphosis in Georgia. Until November, Georgia hadn’t voted Democratic in a presidential race since 1992 and hadn’t elected a Democratic statewide candidate since 2006. Over a nine-week stretch, Democrats broke both those losing streaks.