Georgia senate seats runoff(s) megathread

[AndyHogan14]

https://twitter.com/GabrielSterling/status/1349820717148286978

If the results are certified on Tuesday, do Warnock and Ossoff get sworn in the same day, or is there additional delay from there?

The Georgia Secretary of State must send an election certificate to the Senate.  As soon as this is received by the secretary of the Senate, they can be sworn in.

Is it likely to arrive within the day, or at least overnight?

Likely overnight, the AJC wrote today that they'll likely be sworn-in when the Senate reconvenes on Wednesday (so, just after the inauguration & immediately prior to the beginning of the trial).

Ah, I see. Can there be a vote on the very same day to replace McConnell with Schumer, or will that have to wait too?

That will happen as soon as Ossoff and Warnock are sworn in and Harris is Vice President. I do think, however, that there will need to be some sort of vote to make Pat Leahy the President Pro Tempore. Does anyone know what the process is for that? I always watch the House on the opening day of Congress and have never bothered to watch the Senate on that day.

Wait, so does Schumer becoming majority leader happen automatically without the need of a vote or any kind of formal process? Just as long as it's ascertained that there are 50+1 Democrats in the Senate? Great news if so.

As far as I know, yes, Schumer will automatically become majority leader being that he is already the recognized Democratic leader and on January 20, the Democrats will have a majority. With that said, I'm sure that there is some procedural garbage that they have to go through for committee chairmanships and the like. I also just watched the replay of C-SPAN from 1/3/19 when Chuck Grassley replaced Orrin Hatch at President Pro Tempore and that was a quick process (there wasn't even a vote).

[Antonio the Sixth]

I see. Well, that's a start. Hopefully the other procedural stuff can be dealt with in the following days.

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/GabrielSterling/status/1349820717148286978

If the results are certified on Tuesday, do Warnock and Ossoff get sworn in the same day, or is there additional delay from there?

The Georgia Secretary of State must send an election certificate to the Senate.  As soon as this is received by the secretary of the Senate, they can be sworn in.

Is it likely to arrive within the day, or at least overnight?

Likely overnight, the AJC wrote today that they'll likely be sworn-in when the Senate reconvenes on Wednesday (so, just after the inauguration & immediately prior to the beginning of the trial).

Ah, I see. Can there be a vote on the very same day to replace McConnell with Schumer, or will that have to wait too?

That will happen as soon as Ossoff and Warnock are sworn in and Harris is Vice President. I do think, however, that there will need to be some sort of vote to make Pat Leahy the President Pro Tempore. Does anyone know what the process is for that? I always watch the House on the opening day of Congress and have never bothered to watch the Senate on that day.

Wait, so does Schumer becoming majority leader happen automatically without the need of a vote or any kind of formal process? Just as long as it's ascertained that there are 50+1 Democrats in the Senate? Great news if so.

As far as I know, yes, Schumer will automatically become majority leader being that he is already the recognized Democratic leader and on January 20, the Democrats will have a majority. With that said, I'm sure that there is some procedural garbage that they have to go through for committee chairmanships and the like. I also just watched the replay of C-SPAN from 1/3/19 when Chuck Grassley replaced Orrin Hatch at President Pro Tempore and that was a quick process (there wasn't even a vote).

Based on 2001, it won't be automatic, & measures to elect a new PPT & provide the organizational basis for power-sharing in the Senate when the parties are equally divided will need to be passed. Resolutions providing as much can (& presumably will) be passed very quickly - if not by unanimous consent - right after Ossoff/Warnock are sworn-in & before they go into trial mode, but it does need to procedurally be done.

[Adam Griffin]

https://twitter.com/GabrielSterling/status/1349820717148286978

If the results are certified on Tuesday, do Warnock and Ossoff get sworn in the same day, or is there additional delay from there?

Yeah, we're on track for a January 20th confirmation for Warnock and Ossoff. I posted about it a few days ago, but basically the Senate's last regularly scheduled day in session was January 6 (with the next being Inauguration Day/January 20). Whether every county finished certification today - which the law technically mandates - and the state sent it over today, or it happens on Tuesday, the same result will apply: swearing in on January 20.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

live look at biden proudly peering over warnock and ossoff at a senate majority they are about to secure

[Tender Branson]

13 counties in North GA and 15 in South GA are left to certify.

[brucejoel99]

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/781341859829383221/799589464912429076/image0.png

live look at biden proudly peering over warnock and ossoff at a senate majority they are about to secure

I feel like neither Jon Ossoff nor Mel Gibson would appreciate the comparison to one another for a very obvious reason.

[Tender Branson]

17 counties left.

11 in North GA, 6 in South GA.

[Tender Branson]

Fulton & Clayton have certified (together with 6 others) right now.

Only 9 counties remain uncertified.

[Adam Griffin]

10 minutes remaining: 8 counties left.

2 of these counties (Murray and Lumpkin) had previously certified. I'm guessing there were some issues: I noticed there have been about a dozen counties that were certified and then reversed at various points.

[GeorgiaModerate]

As usual, we (Forsyth) are one of the slowest.

[skbl17]

Only three counties are left:

- Bartow: Their last update to the state came at 5:17 this afternoon.
- Murray: Apparently, they haven't updated their results since 11:13 am on Tuesday.
- Union: Last updated at 8:52 pm on election night. Does anyone know what's going on in Blairsville?

As usual, we (Forsyth) are one of the slowest.

Forsyth got their certification in at 4:40, 20 minutes before the deadline, but they weren't the slowest in the metro: that would be DeKalb (4:50).

[Person Man]

Only three counties are left:

- Bartow: Their last update to the state came at 5:17 this afternoon.
- Murray: Apparently, they haven't updated their results since 11:13 am on Tuesday.
- Union: Last updated at 8:52 pm on election night. Does anyone know what's going on in Blairsville?

As usual, we (Forsyth) are one of the slowest.

Forsyth got their certification in at 4:40, 20 minutes before the deadline, but they weren't the slowest in the metro: that would be DeKalb (4:50).

Could they be refusing to certify?

[OneJ]

Now it's already been brought up countless times about Black turnout being really good and were definitely one of the many crucial parts of Warnock and Ossoff's victories.

However, one thing I haven't seen yet is anyone mentioning that one of the reasons why Ossoff lost the GA-06 special in the first place was him not getting the turnout he really needed from them. That wasn't the case this time around thankfully. The presence of Warnock helped Ossoff without a doubt, but from what I saw his outreach to Black voters in preparation for the runoff was really good on its own.

I'm still extremely glad that this dynamic duo pulled it off and seeing more evidence that counters the claim that Georgia "just wasn't there yet."

[Rookie Yinzer]

Now it's already been brought up countless times about Black turnout being really good and were definitely one of the many crucial parts of Warnock and Ossoff's victories.

However, one thing I haven't seen yet is anyone mentioning that one of the reasons why Ossoff lost the GA-06 special in the first place was him not getting the turnout he really needed from them. That wasn't the case this time around thankfully. The presence of Warnock helped Ossoff without a doubt, but from what I saw his outreach to Black voters in preparation for the runoff was really good on its own.

I'm still extremely glad that this dynamic duo pulled it off and seeing more evidence that counters the claim that Georgia "just wasn't there yet."

Him running a statewide race allowed him to run a campaign more explicit on Black issues and post 2018/Stacey Abrams Black voting rights has been at the center of Georgia politics.

[Roll Roons]

https://twitter.com/BrendanKeefe/status/1350243979045072897

All counties have now certified, and the state is likely to do so on Tuesday. Ossoff and Warnock will likely be sworn in Wednesday morning.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

These are really impressive victories, especially considering Biden only won the state by 11K. Hopefully Georgia continues to rapidly trend our way.

[AndyHogan14]

https://twitter.com/BrendanKeefe/status/1350243979045072897

All counties have now certified, and the state is likely to do so on Tuesday. Ossoff and Warnock will likely be sworn in Wednesday morning.

The question is, do they want to be sworn in by Pence or Harris? I would assume that they would just wait until after the inauguration is over so Harris swears them in which would flip the chamber in one fell swoop (and I want to watch exactly that unfold on C-SPAN).

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

https://twitter.com/BrendanKeefe/status/1350243979045072897

All counties have now certified, and the state is likely to do so on Tuesday. Ossoff and Warnock will likely be sworn in Wednesday morning.

The question is, do they want to be sworn in by Pence or Harris? I would assume that they would just wait until after the inauguration is over so Harris swears them in which would flip the chamber in one fell swoop (and I want to watch exactly that unfold on C-SPAN).

if it was me id want pence, one last time to rub it in hehe

[Antonio the Sixth]

It's done!!!

Final margins: Warnock+2.09, Ossoff+1.23. Blackman sadly fell short by just 0.75.

For Senate though, what a victory! Here's to many more like these, starting in 2022.

Also, the Needle turned out to underestimate both Democrats by about 0.1. Chances are if they kept it running just a bit longer on Wednesday, it would have gotten right on the money, though. The trend has been upward all night.

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/BrendanKeefe/status/1350243979045072897

All counties have now certified, and the state is likely to do so on Tuesday. Ossoff and Warnock will likely be sworn in Wednesday morning.

The question is, do they want to be sworn in by Pence or Harris? I would assume that they would just wait until after the inauguration is over so Harris swears them in which would flip the chamber in one fell swoop (and I want to watch exactly that unfold on C-SPAN).

It's not a matter of who they want, it's a matter of when the first Senate reconvening after their certification is. If - as expected - it's after the inauguration, then it'll be Harris.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Also interesting to note that the 538 polling averages were right on the money in estimating Warnock's margin, but slightly overestimated Ossoff (they put him at +1.8). Probably too small to warrant serious analysis, but I do half-wonder what made the dropoff between the two candidates wider than expected. Shy Enlightened Suburban Ticket-Splitter Effect?

[AndyHogan14]

https://twitter.com/BrendanKeefe/status/1350243979045072897

All counties have now certified, and the state is likely to do so on Tuesday. Ossoff and Warnock will likely be sworn in Wednesday morning.

The question is, do they want to be sworn in by Pence or Harris? I would assume that they would just wait until after the inauguration is over so Harris swears them in which would flip the chamber in one fell swoop (and I want to watch exactly that unfold on C-SPAN).

It's not a matter of who they want, it's a matter of when the first Senate reconvening after their certification is. If - as expected - it's after the inauguration, then it'll be Harris.

If the Senate doesn't receive the certificates until after 12:00 ET on 1/20 then yes, they will have no choice but have Harris swear them in, but I would assume that the Senate would get them before noon. Then, it is just a matter of when Ossoff and Warnock show up on the Senate floor...

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/BrendanKeefe/status/1350243979045072897

All counties have now certified, and the state is likely to do so on Tuesday. Ossoff and Warnock will likely be sworn in Wednesday morning.

The question is, do they want to be sworn in by Pence or Harris? I would assume that they would just wait until after the inauguration is over so Harris swears them in which would flip the chamber in one fell swoop (and I want to watch exactly that unfold on C-SPAN).

It's not a matter of who they want, it's a matter of when the first Senate reconvening after their certification is. If - as expected - it's after the inauguration, then it'll be Harris.

If the Senate doesn't receive the certificates until after 12:00 ET on 1/20 then yes, they will have no choice but have Harris swear them in, but I would assume that the Senate would get them before noon. Then, it is just a matter of when Ossoff and Warnock show up on the Senate floor...

No, that's still not exactly how it works. Even once the Senate has received the certificates, they still have to wait for the Senate to actually be in session before they can be sworn in. If the Senate gets the certificates at 6am on Wednesday but they're not in session 'til, say, 1pm, then they can't be sworn in 'til 1pm.

[AndyHogan14]

https://twitter.com/BrendanKeefe/status/1350243979045072897

All counties have now certified, and the state is likely to do so on Tuesday. Ossoff and Warnock will likely be sworn in Wednesday morning.

The question is, do they want to be sworn in by Pence or Harris? I would assume that they would just wait until after the inauguration is over so Harris swears them in which would flip the chamber in one fell swoop (and I want to watch exactly that unfold on C-SPAN).

It's not a matter of who they want, it's a matter of when the first Senate reconvening after their certification is. If - as expected - it's after the inauguration, then it'll be Harris.

If the Senate doesn't receive the certificates until after 12:00 ET on 1/20 then yes, they will have no choice but have Harris swear them in, but I would assume that the Senate would get them before noon. Then, it is just a matter of when Ossoff and Warnock show up on the Senate floor...

No, that's still not exactly how it works. Even once the Senate has received the certificates, they still have to wait for the Senate to actually be in session before they can be sworn in. If the Senate gets the certificates at 6am on Wednesday but they're not in session 'til, say, 1pm, then they can't be sworn in 'til 1pm.

Of course...but I am operating under the assumption that the Senate will be in session both in the AM and PM on January 20.