Democrat Jon Ossoff has won against Republican David Perdue in the Georgia runoff, The Associated Press confirmed on Wednesday. This historic victory gives Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.
Perdue’s Senate term ended this week. As of now, he has not conceded the race.
During his speech on Wednesday, Ossoff thanked his supporters.
“It is with humility that I thank the people of Georgia for electing me to serve you in the United States Senate,” he said before adding, “Everybody who cast your ballot, everybody who put your faith and confidence in our democracy’s capacity to deliver the representation that we deserve — whether you were for me, or against me — I’ll be for you in the U.S. Senate. I will serve all the people of the state.”
Ossoff will serve as the first Jewish senator from Georgia. The 33-year-old is also the youngest sitting U.S. senator. His victory joins another historic win: Raphael Warnock, who is Georgia’s first Black senator. These two are the first Democrats to earn seats within the Senate in Georgia since 2000. While Warnock’s term will last for only two years, Ossoff’s will spend six years in the Senate.
Neither man will take office immediately, as it will take several days for Georgia’s runoffs to be certified.
Both men had the support of president-elect Joe Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris. On Monday, Biden campaigned in support of Ossoff and Warnock, while Harris campaigned a day earlier.
