The Georgia Senate runoff election was highlighted on every politician’s calendar and a point of focus for the media in the months leading up to the election. The senate had only 98 members elected going into the race, and the Republicans needed just one incumbent to win their race to retain the majority in the senate. The Democratic party poured resources into the race, very aware of the importance, and reaped the benefits, drawing a sweep in a typically red state. The Senate is now split between 50 Republican and 50 Democratic members, although Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, a member of the Democratic party, will be called upon to break ties. This gives the Democratic party a slight edge in the senate, but in conjunction with their control of the White House and the House of Representatives, gives them control over two out of the three branches of the federal government. The results were beyond disappointing for Republicans across the nation for two main reasons.
The first unsettling consequence of the runoff is the fear that Democrats are winning over Independents and Republicans at a rate quicker than they used to. With the Democrats retaining control over the House of Representatives in the general election and winning the presidential election, it was evident the Republican party needed to show out. The isolation of a runoff election gave the GOP faith that the concentrated efforts and sense of desperation would be enough to at least split the Senate seats in Georgia. Even with the stakes as high as they could be, the Republican party was outmatched and lost an impactful vote. Not only does the election of Rev. Raphael Warnock and Mr. Jon Ossoff give Democrats the edge in Congress, but the overwhelming momentum that comes with it. Just as doubt that has been placed in Republicans’ minds everywhere, optimism floods the outlook for the Democratic party.
Despite the future ramifications of the loss, the larger concern for conservatives at the moment is the ease at which President-Elect Joe Biden and Congress will be able to push their agenda. While not every bill proposed by a Democrat is approved by every Democrat, the process will be much simpler and more efficient. The White House and Congress will be able to work together with fewer obstacles to hurdle when drafting new legislature, like immigration reforms. Other issues that will be at the forefront of Congress will be stimulus programs and changes to America’s education system. These were issues that Trump gave an abundance of attention, and unfortunately, will more than likely be undone as Biden and the Democratic-controlled Senate implements his vision for America’s future.
Through the dark clouds of the defeat was a bright spot, however. The two elected senators are both firsts in their own respective categories. Warnock became the first Black Senator elected in the state of Georgia. With roughly one-third of Georgia’s population being Black, seeing the first Black Senator is a sign of racial breakthroughs in the state. Ossoff also was the first Jewish man from Georgia elected into Congress. Both historic achievements are positive trends contributing to a more diverse national government.
America is at a pivotal moment in its history. Calls for racial equality and the impeachment of President Donald Trump clash with the voices claiming the media has too much power. This fracture in the minds of Americans has created a country whose history will be impacted for generations by the governing officials currently in power. The Republican party missed an opportunity to have a greater presence in the federal government by losing the Georgia Senate runoff election. Consequently, the morale of the Republican party is much lower than it has been for years. Additionally, Congress and the Presidency will operate with a more liberal mindset, something the GOP was hoping to avoid. While the Republicans wish it was their concerns at the forefront of the government, the Democrats have been given the opportunity to prove themselves and mold America into their vision of a more perfect union.