Georgia senate seats runoff(s) megathread

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

I’m sorry to ask a question that’s probably been addressed multiple times already, but I only found this out today....

Why are the runoffs AFTER the new Congress is seated? Who came up with that?

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

I’m sorry to ask a question that’s probably been addressed multiple times already, but I only found this out today....

Why are the runoffs AFTER the new Congress is seated? Who came up with that?

This is a Jim Crow era rule to prevent candidates from winning with Black support, basically. The runoffs used to be in December, but I think a lawsuit forced Georgia to move the federal runoffs to January.

Yeah, I know all about the racial motivations behind runoffs, but a runoff in Jan. after the new Congress is seated? So the seats will actually be vacant for a couple days? Perdue and Loeffler won’t be incumbents on Election Day?

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

I’m sorry to ask a question that’s probably been addressed multiple times already, but I only found this out today....

Why are the runoffs AFTER the new Congress is seated? Who came up with that?

This is a Jim Crow era rule to prevent candidates from winning with Black support, basically. The runoffs used to be in December, but I think a lawsuit forced Georgia to move the federal runoffs to January.

Yeah, I know all about the racial motivations behind runoffs, but a runoff in Jan. after the new Congress is seated? So the seats will actually be vacant for a couple days? Perdue and Loeffler won’t be incumbents on Election Day?

Loeffler will remain an incumbent as she was appointed to fill her seat's vacancy until the winner of the special election (who could very well be her) is sworn-in.

D’oh! I should have realized that, but yeah the thing with Perdue (or any incumbent who is forced into a runoff in a regular election) is...weird.