Democrat Warnock defeats Republican Sen. Kelly Loefflerin US Senate elections in Georgia

US Senate elections: Democrat candidate Raphael Warnock has defeated Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in firmly watched runoff polls. 

“Tonight, we demonstrated that with trust, hard work, and the citizens on our side, anything is possible,” Warnock told supporters in an online speech. 

On Wednesday, Warnock, who is a 51 years old pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta declared a historic victory. He becomes the state’s first Black senator by defeating Republican Kelly Loeffler.

As a pastor, he has worked for 15 years leading the Atlanta church where Martin Luther King Jr. also preached.

According to the AP, the focus presently shifts to the second election among Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff. The candidates have secured a tight competition and it was too soon to announce a winner. Under Georgia law, the trailing candidate could request a recount of votes if the margin of an election is fewer than or equal to 0.5 % points. 

However, if Ossoff wins, the Democrats will have full control over Congress, reinforcing President-elect Joe Biden as he plans to take office on 20th Jan. 

The two parties had invested a huge amount in Georgia in a quest for Senate. On Monday, Biden had campaigned in the state in support of Warnock and Ossoff.

“There were speculations that we won’t win this race, yet tonight we demonstrated that with hope, hard work, and the people’s support, the sky is the limit,” Warnock stated. 

Warnock said that he was honored by the confidence that the people of Georgia had shown in him and promised to work for the entirety of Georgia as a Senator, irrespective of who cast their ballot in favor of in this election race.”