Heavy hitters and massive {dollars} from each nationwide events have been pouring into Georgia for a race that will determine the steadiness of energy within the Democratic-controlled Senate subsequent 12 months.
If Republican Herschel Walker prevails, the events will once more cut up the Senate 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris offering a tie-breaking vote and Democrats the slightest potential benefit.
Democrats will management the chamber after the celebration’s incumbents held their floor and Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman picked up a seat held by retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey.
However that is nonetheless a race filled with penalties.
Within the quick time period, a Sen. Raphael Warnock victory would ship extra energy to Democrats as they search a firmer grip on the procedural lifetime of the Senate, which may assist them affirm extra President Joe Biden nominees in an expeditious method. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin would additionally lose a few of his leverage if Majority Chief Chuck Schumer had a vote to spare, which may maintain added significance, given Manchin is dealing with reelection in 2024.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, spelled out the stakes on final week.
“Having an evenly divided Senate implies that you get equal illustration on committees,” Thune mentioned. “We’ve been efficiently capable of bottle up some dangerous nominees on the committee stage. So (the Georgia race has) obtained actual penalties.”
Thune additionally conceded that his celebration may use a morale enhance after underperforming expectations within the midterms, regardless of narrowly gaining management of the Home.
“It’d be good to get a win on the books, and particularly in a state like Georgia, the place, frankly, we expect we needs to be profitable,” Thune mentioned.
Past that, waiting for the subsequent election in 2024, Republicans – already with a extra favorable map than this 12 months – can be higher positioned to win again a majority, maybe a major one, if Walker can pad their numbers now.
