Georgia's Unusual Twin Runoff for Two Senate Seats Will Determine Congressional Control

Following the November 2020 general election, Republicans hold 50 seats in the U.S. Senate; Democrats hold 48. The runoff for the remaining two seats will determine which party ends up in control. If both Democrats win, the U.S. Senate will be equally split down party lines—a favorable outcome for Democrats, as ties will be broken by Democratic Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. On the other hand, if one or both of the Democrats lose, Republicans will maintain a majority. In that event, the U.S. Senate is potentially looking at a minimum two-year stalemate (depending on outcomes in 2022 midterms), if not longer. Having two important positions determined in a runoff is historic. This is especially true in Georgia, which hasn't had a Democratic senator for 15 years. Making the race even more unusual is the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As Americans await much-needed coronavirus relief packages, the Senate will have a crucial role to play. The logistics of two runoff elections are also unprecedented, given the coronavirus pandemic. More than 762,000 Georgians have requested absentee ballots, which adds yet another unusual characteristic to the situation.