Both Republican and Democratic parties have been throwing their full weights behind the Georgia Senate runoff elections, each party vying for majority Senate control.
The GOP and DNC have been rallying in Georgia despite mirrored interior disputes.
In the Democratic party, progressives vowed to take on Joe Biden and hold him to his promises of liberal policy changes and diverse Whitehouse staff picks. But the contentious Georgia Senate race has stymied the full force of the progressive critique for at least a few more weeks.
Figures like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders understand that a Democratic cease-fire between them and the moderate left is critical to preserving the progressive agenda. But Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are more centrist politicians, neither support “Medicare For All,” for example.
Bernie Sanders did not originally endorse Jon Ossoff but has recently raised $400,000 for both campaigns. AOC has raised nearly $600,000 as well.
While progressives push for Georgia, inside the House there is a different story: a power struggle between old leadership and new leadership. Ocasio-Cortez lamented in an interview on the failure of Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and other party leadership to properly vet the next generation.
“I do think we need new leadership in the Democratic Party,” Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said. “I think one of the things that I have struggled with, I think that a lot of people struggle with, is the internal dynamics of the House has made it such that there [are] very little options for succession.”
Inside the Republican party, officials are concerned over Donald Trump’s refusal to concede the Presidential election. Some legislators walk the line between encouraging Georgians to go to the polls, while also supporting Trump’s allegations of a rigged election. Both Donald Trump and Mike Pence have rallied in Georgia in the past month.
Former President George W Bush is teaming up with his long-time advisor, Karl Rove, to head a donor call raising support for the two incumbent GOP senators. Moreover, a list of big political names which happen to be 2024 Presidential hopefuls have made bids for Georgia.
Donald Trump Jr and Mike Pence plan to stump for David Perdue, while Nikki Haley will hold a rally for Kelly Loeffler. Meanwhile, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are slated to make Georgia appearances too.
The senate election odds as of right now show an incredibly tight race between the incumbents and their Democratic challengers. Poll averages from Project538 show that both races shift between less than a one-point margin.
U.S. Senate Election Winner – Georgia (Special Election)
Kelly Loeffler (R) -150
Raphael Warnock (D) +115
This is by far the closest race, and the one that is receiving the most national attention and action on the betting lines. Warnock has a solid chance of coming in for the underdog victory here. At the same time, Warnock has received the most criticism painting him as a radical leftist.
U.S. Senate Runoff Election Winner – Georgia (General Election)
David Perdue (R) -200
Jon Ossoff (D) +150
Jon Ossoff has steadily brought Perdue’s favor down, and his stance as a more moderate Democrat might give him an extra push from right-leaning independents or new-South Republicans.
Which Party Will Control The Senate After 2020 Election?
Republican Party -240
Democratic Party +175
Both Ossoff and Perdue need to win their seats to win Senate majority control, which makes an underdog bet on this line twice as risky. We would save our bankroll on this one, but the favor has an opportunity to shift Democratic as record early voting numbers (148,000), 65% of which mail-ins, trickle into polling stations.
Sources:
POLITICO
FOX News
FiveThirtyEight