In the absence of an absolute majority, the two candidates for the position of senator could compete in a second round, in December.
by Arnaud Leparmentier (Atlanta (Georgie), Special Envoy)
In the salons of a opulent Hotel in Atlanta (Georgia), around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 8, Republican candidate Herschel Walker arrived in front of his initiated supporters, determined to celebrate a victory that did not happen. “We are in a fight, right?” Asked the former American football champion, candidate for one of the two senator positions of this pivotal state. And to explain to his supporters that when they wake up the next day, they would learn his victory. Shortly before midnight, his democratic opponent, the outgoing senator Raphael Warnock, also decided to appear briefly before his supporters. “I feel good.” And to invite patience. “I will tell you what I say to the Church on Sunday: Keep the faith and do not discourage yourself,” said this pastor Baptiste.
This vote is decisive, because Georgia can tip the Senate and we will have to wait. At least a few hours, but maybe until December 6. Indeed, the Georgia electoral law requires crossing the 50 % mark to be elected. Due to the presence of a libertarian candidate, Chase Oliver (2.1 %), Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock were, at 2 am (8 am in Paris), in the shoulder to shoulder, with 48.5 %respectively And 49.4 % of the vote, while 98 % of the bulletins had been stripped. During the night, a second round was therefore possible.
In this hypothesis, history could repeat itself. In 2020, the senatorial elections of Georgia had already had to give rise to a second round, and the two Democrats had won during the ballot which had been held on January 5, 2021, on the eve of the Capitol assault by the supporters of Donald Trump. Georgia had thus offered Joe Biden a democratic majority in the Senate, as low as possible (50 votes more that of vice-president Kamala Harris).
Controversial personality
The Republicans dream of taking up one of the two senators positions, despite the controversial personality of their candidate, Herschel Walker. This African-American curator supported by Donald Trump had almost sank in his campaign when he was accused of having paid the abortion of one of his mistresses, when he is officially opposed. In a video broadcast in recent weeks, one of his sons has also criticized him for having abandoned her with his mother. But, in republican Georgia, voters obviously cared for the candidate’s quality. “I don’t believe it, and if it was true, I don’t care, and it was thirteen years ago,” said Republican activist Cynthia Beach about accusations on abortion. For voters of the great old party (GOP), the challenge was clearly to switch power to Washington and they chose the political label more than the candidate’s personality.
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