Georgia's U.S. Senate candidates hold final campaign events of runoff election

December 6th, 2022

This photo composite shows Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, left, and his Republican challenger, Herschel Walker. The two are competing in a U.S. Senate runoff, which concludes Tuesday. (AP)

As the final hours of voting come to close in Georgia’s 2022 Senate runoff elections, candidates from both parties are holding campaign events they have characterized as victory parties.

WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas were at the final events of the campaign and spoke to “All Things Considered” host Jim Burress.

Meanwhile, voter turnout has set records for runoff elections in Georgia, with more than 3 million people expected to cast a ballot by December 6.

The winner of the contest between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican football legend Herschel Walker will determine the final seat in the U.S. Senate.

The contest will determine whether Democrats gain an outright 51-49 Senate majority or retain their bare control of a 50-50 chamber based on Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote.

In the November election, Warnock led Walker by about 37,000 votes out of almost 4 million but fell shy of a majority, triggering the second round of voting.

About 1.9 million runoff votes already had been cast by mail and during early voting, an advantage for Democrats whose voters more commonly cast ballots this way. Republicans typically fare better on Election Day itself.

Results are expected to be tallied by Tuesday night, as state election officials are again pushing large counties to get results out quickly this evening, especially early and absentee votes.