If you follow any major news outlet, odds are you’ve been hearing a lot about “the Georgia runoffs” coming to a close this January. But what do these runoffs really entail? 

In the 1960s, white Georgians implemented the runoff system. Runoffs occur when no candidate in an election wins the majority (just over 50%) of the votes. When this happens, the two candidates with the most votes run against each other again. In Georgia this year, this happened in two regions where Republican and Democrat candidates were fighting for seats in the Senate. 

This year, these two runoff elections will establish Democratic or Republican control of the Senate. The races take place between Republican Senator David Perdue vs. Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler vs. Democrat Raphael Warnock. Senator David Perdue is simply up for reelection after his six-year term, while Senator Kelly Loeffler stepped in for a previously retired senator and is now looking for a full term. But, the outcome of both senate seats will be determined on January 5th of 2021. 

Senator David Perdue is a wealthy former businessman and is currently 71 years old. Purdue’s values closely reflect Donald Trump’s and he built his platform around the defense of conservative ideology. Additionally, Purdue warns voters of a “radical” Democrat Chuck Schumer and the need for defense of a Republican majority Senate. 

Jon Ossoff, on the other hand, pushes for a Democratic majority in the Senate. His policy is centered around the strengthening of the Affordable Care Act, investment in small businesses and women’s health care, and eradication of political corruption. He supports Roe v. Wade and urges voters to support clean energy and infrastructure. The 33-year-old candidate was previously a documentarian and also ran for a congressional seat in 2017, but was unsuccessful. 

Senator Kelly Loeffler never won an election but was appointed to the Senate by Georgia’s governor last year after a sudden retirement. At 50 years old, Loeffler is also incredibly loyal to Donald Trump and echoes his values, as well as refuses acknowledgment of Trump’s 2020 election defeat. She has additionally been photographed posing with a former KKK leader. Her campaign seems to be centered around the defense of Georgia against the “radical Socialist agenda” of her Democratic opposers. 

Raphael Warnock is 51 years old and is a well-known pastor at a church in Atlanta where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. used to preach. He is seen as a more radical leftist by Republicans, as he is very outspoken about his opposition of a Republican Senate and his plans to protect civil liberties. Warnock is also in favor of Joe Biden’s coronavirus containment policies and health care reforms. 

What does this mean for the senate? According to The Washington Post, it’s going to be a close race. In order for the Democratic party to oust Mitch McConnell as the Senate Majority Leader and take control, they will need to win both Georgia runoff elections. This will leave the Senate with a 50-50 composition - half Democrats, half Republicans - allowing Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to cast a tie-breaking vote. If she votes in favor of a Democratic majority, current Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (a New York Democrat) will become Senate Majority Leader.

However, if either Democratic candidate loses their election in Georgia this January, the Senate will remain under Republican control. Mitch McConnell will remain Senate Majority Leader. For Joe Biden, this could largely hinder plans for reform and implementation of new policy amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. 

So how can you get involved? If you live in Georgia, vote! Your voice matters. If you are not a resident of Georgia, organizations like SONG Atlanta, Black Male Voter Project, People’s Uprising, and the Georgia 55 Project all fight for minority voices in Georgia and are looking for donations to continue their efforts. If you want to get out there yourself, Together for 2020 offers volunteering opportunities for passionate people all over the country. And, of course, the campaigns of the candidates that you support are always in need of donation and promotion. 

Make sure that your voice is represented this January and get involved in the Georgia runoffs.