Democrats Win Georgia Senate Races, Control of the Senate

The January 5 runoff elections in Georgia have resulted in victories for Democratic Senators-Elect Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff, who beat incumbent Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue to “flip” the Senate. While victories have resulted in an evenly divided Senate, control will go to Democrats with Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris able to cast a tie-breaking vote as President of the Senate.

The unilateral control of Congress and the White House will make it easier for President-Elect Joe Biden to advance some priorities, including potentially increasing funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). However, it is not a rubber stamp, as divisions between the party’s progressive and moderate members will likely result in small, rather than sweeping, policy initiatives.

More certainly, it will make the confirmation process for Biden’s cabinet picks much swifter and surer, including the confirmation of Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, who currently serves as the Connecticut Commissioner of Education. Those Senate confirmations are likely to begin shortly after the January 20 inauguration.