Loeffler, Warnock advance to runoff in Georgia special election

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R) and Democratic challenger Rev. Raphael Warnock are projected to have advanced to a runoff in Georgia’s special Senate election.

The Associated Press called the results shortly after 11 p.m. EST. 

Warnock and Loeffler each had more than 28 percent of the vote in the special election on Tuesday night. That is below the 50 percent threshold needed to win outright and avoid a January runoff, but they appeared to be the top two vote-getters to advance to a runoff.

Loeffler was competing for GOP support against Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), who trailed her and Warnock with 23 percent of the vote with 60 percent of precincts reporting. Collins tweeted late Tuesday to say that he had called Loeffler and “congratulated her on making the runoff.”

“She has my support and endorsement,” he wrote.

I just called @kloeffler and congratulated her on making the runoff. She has my support and endorsement. I look forward to all Republicans coming together. Raphael Warnock would be a disaster for Georgia and America.

— Doug Collins (Text DOUG to 87123) (@CollinsforGA) November 4, 2020

Loeffler was specially appointed to the seat by Gov. Brian Kemp (R) at the end of 2019 to replace retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson (R). She was sworn in at the beginning of this year.

Warnock, meanwhile, has shot up in the polls this fall, picking up major endorsements from former President Obama and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D).

He was leading Loeffler by less than 5,000 votes on Tuesday, though it’s unclear if the Democrat will be able to unseat Loeffler in the runoff on Jan. 5.

“I’ve been standing up for everyday people, ordinary people, decent hardworking people, some at the very bottom, my entire life, and I’m not about to stop now,” Warnock said in an address Tuesday night.