Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 1-8-21

Political
Democrat Jon Ossoff Claims
ATLANTA, GA— Democrat Raphael Warnock won one of Georgia’s two Senate runoffs Wednesday, becom- ing the first Black senator in his state’s history and putting the Senate majority within the party’s reach.
A pastor who spent the past 15 years leading the Atlanta church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached, Warnock defeated Republi- can incumbent Kelly Loef- fler. It was a stinging rebuke of outgoing President Don- ald Trump, who made one of his final trips in office to Georgia to rally his loyal base behind Loeffler and the Re- publican running for the other seat, David Perdue.
There were still some mail ballots and in-person early votes left to be counted statewide, the majority of which are in Democratic- leaning counties. Under Georgia law, a trailing candi- date may request a recount when the margin of an elec- tion is less than or equal to 0.5 percentage points.
With Ossoff wins, De- mocrats will have complete
In Georgia Runoff
control of
Congress,
To Protest Election Results
Supporters of President Trump lined up in downtown Washington on Jan. 6 to falsely assert the presidential election was stolen from Trump.
strengthening President- elect Joe Biden’s standing as he prepares to take office on Jan. 20.
Warnock’s victory is a symbol of a striking shift in Georgia’s politics as the swelling number of diverse, college-educated voters flex their power in the heart of the Deep South. It follows Biden’s victory in Novem- ber, when he became the first Democratic presidential can- didate to carry the state since 1992.
Warnock, 51, acknowl- edged his improbable victory in a message to supporters
early Wednesday, citing his family’s experience with poverty. His mother, he said, used to pick “somebody else’s cotton” as a teenager.
“The other day, because this is America, the 82-year- old hands that used to pick somebody else’s cotton picked her youngest son to be a United States senator,” he said. “Tonight, we proved with hope, hard work and the people by our side, anything is possible.”
Loeffler refused to con- cede in a brief message to supporters shortly after mid- night.
Democrat Jon Ossoff speaks at a rally outside of Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta on Monday.
that we deserve — whether you were for me, or against me—I'llbeforyouintheU. S. Senate," Ossoff said. "I will serve all the people of the state."
RAPHAEL WARNOCK
Democrat Jon Ossoff — who as of 9 a.m. ET Wednes- day leads Republican David Perdue by about 16,000 votes in the Georgia runoff that could give Democrats control of the U. S. Senate — claimed victory Wednesday. The Associated Press, which NPR relies on for its results, has not yet called the contest.
"It is with humility that I thank the people of Georgia for electing me to serve you in the United States Senate," Ossoff said in remarks Wednesday morning.
Perdue, whose Senate term expired earlier this week, has not conceded the race.
"Everybody who cast your ballot, everybody who put your faith and confidence in our democracy's capacity to deliver the representation
Victory Over David Perdue
Thousands Of Trump’s Supporters Gather In D.C.
Thousands of President Trump’s supporters are in Washington for rallies Wednesday to falsely assert- the presidential election was stolen from Trump. Many in attendance see the demon- strations as a last stand for Trump on the same day Congress votes to certify that President-elect Joe Biden won the election.
A permit issued by the Na- tional Park Service this week indicates organizers expect about 30,000 people to at- tend. Trump — who lost the
popular and electoral college vote — continues to dispute the results, without evidence, and has encouraged his sup- porters to attend the rallies in the nation’s capital. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) asked residents to stay away.
Trump said on Twitter that he would speak at 11 a.m. Wednesday — although he hasn’t yet made an appear- ance — and praised those who were echoing his inaccu- rate version of events in the streets.
Warnock Makes History With Senate Win As Dems Near Majority
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