Georgia was a huge disappointment to Republicans on Nov. 3. The normally reliably red southern state voted with Virginia as the only two southern states to prefer then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden over President Donald Trump in the presidential election.
It was by the smallest of margins, but the narrow win has Democrats energized and hopeful that they can win both U.S. Senate seats in the state in dueling runoffs on Jan. 5. Meanwhile, Republicans are rallying to the defense of incumbent Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler.
Perdue and Loeffler face well-funded Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock
Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville unseated incumbent Democrat Sen. Doug Jones in Alabama, the only Republican pickup in the November election. Democrats unseated GOP Sens. Corey Gardner in Colorado and Martha McSally in Arizona, both western states won by Biden.
Vulnerable GOP Senate incumbents Susan Collins in Maine and Joni Ernst in Iowa both held on. That gives the Republicans 50 seats in the Senate in the next Congress. With Sen. Kamala Harris being the deciding vote in a tie as the incoming vice president, Democrats could take control of the Senate with wins in the two Georgia runoffs.
The Alabama Republican Party is mobilizing to help the embattled Georgia Republican Party.
The Alabama Strike Force, which was successfully deployed to Florida in the presidential election, has been redeployed to Georgia for the runoff elections. The group of Alabama Republican party volunteers, led by Shelby County Republican Party Chairwoman Joan Reynolds, are going door to door in Georgia urging Republican-leaning voters to come out and vote for Perdue and Loeffler in the runoffs.
Alabama Republican Party insider former State Rep. Perry Hooper Jr., a staunch Trump supporter, is working to raise funds for Perdue and Loeffler.
“It is imperative that everyone support the two Republican Georgia Senators, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, in their bid for re-election,” Hooper said. “The control of the Senate hangs in the balance. Republicans currently hold a 50-48 [majority]. However, if the Democrats sweep these races in the January 5th runoffs and Joe Biden is the president, Kamala Harris represents the tiebreaker on all votes that are tied 50-50 in the Senate. The Democrats nationwide are pulling out all stops to win these elections with two radical left-wing candidates.”
Likely 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls Sens. Marco Rubio, Tim Scott and Tom Cotton as well as Vice President Mike Pence all have been on the ground campaigning for Loeffler and Perdue. The potential Republican presidential candidates in 2024 would all like a few moments of early-stage presidential campaign time.
Biden will take office as the oldest president in American history. President Ronald Reagan was 77 years old when he left office. Biden will be 78 when he is inaugurated so it is far from certain that he will run for a second term, making the 2024 election likely a wide-open race.
Republicans and Democrats are both throwing piles of money and resources at the state. The pitched battle for Georgia is going on even as Georgia’s election officials are conducting a hand tally of votes in the presidential race.
Pres. Trump still has not conceded the presidential election or Georgia. The President criticized Georgia’s Republican Governor and Secretary of State this weekend.
Trump is another possible 2024 contender. The president won more votes in 2020 than anyone in American history other than Biden.
“We must do all we can to support the Republican ground game in Georgia,” Hooper said. “This effort will enable Republicans to verify all signatures on all ballots. Call all your friends and family in Georgia and do not hang up until you have convinced them of the importance of this election. If possible, travel to Georgia and go door to door. Contact your local Republican party and volunteer to make calls on behalf of Senators Loeffler and Perdue. You can do this on your cell phone from the comfort of your own home. We must win or all is lost.”
