2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia

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The 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia was held on November 3, 2020, and on January 5, 2021 (as a runoff), to elect the Class II member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Georgia. Democrat Jon Ossoff narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Senator David Perdue in the runoff election, despite Perdue receiving more votes in the first round. The general election was held concurrently with the 2020 presidential election, as well as with other elections to the Senate, elections to the U.S. House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia

 2014
November 3, 2020 (first round)
January 5, 2021 (runoff)
2026 
Turnout65.4% Increase (first round)
61.5% Decrease (runoff)
 
Candidate Jon Ossoff David Perdue
Party Democratic Republican
First round 2,374,519
47.95%
2,462,617
49.73%
Runoff 2,269,923
50.61%
2,214,979
49.39%

Ossoff:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Perdue:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No data

U.S. senator before election

David Perdue
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Jon Ossoff
Democratic

Close

No candidate received a majority of the vote during the general election on November 3, so the top two finishers—Perdue (49.7%) and Ossoff (47.9%)—advanced to a runoff election, held on January 5, 2021. The runoff was held concurrently with the special election for Georgia's other U.S. Senate seat (which had also advanced to a runoff), in which Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler lost to Democratic nominee Raphael Warnock. After the general round of elections, Republicans held 50 Senate seats and the Democratic caucus 48 (including two independents who caucus with them). As a result, the two runoffs decided control of the Senate under the incoming Biden administration. By winning both seats, Democrats took control of the chamber, with Vice President Kamala Harris's tie-breaking vote giving them an effective majority. The extraordinarily high political stakes caused the races to attract significant attention nationwide and globally. On January 6, 2021, most major news outlets projected Ossoff the winner, in the midst of the US Capitol riot.[1][2] Perdue conceded the race on January 8.[3][4] According to OpenSecrets, this campaign was the most expensive in U.S. Senate history, with over $468 million spent.[5] Ossoff's victory, along with Warnock's, gave the Democrats control of the Senate for the first time since 2015. Ossoff and Warnock became the first Democrats to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Georgia since Zell Miller in a 2000 special election.

Ossoff became the first Democrat elected to a full term in the Senate from Georgia since Max Cleland, who held this seat from 1997 to 2003, and the first Jewish member of the Senate from the state.[6] Ossoff became the youngest senator since Don Nickles won in 1980, and the youngest Democrat since Joe Biden won in 1972. Georgia election officials certified Ossoff's victory on January 19, 2021; he was sworn in on January 20.[7] Ossoff is the first Jewish senator from the Deep South since Benjamin F. Jonas of Louisiana, who was elected in 1878, and the first millennial United States senator. The two elections mark the first time since the 1994 United States Senate election in Tennessee and the concurrent special election that both Senate seats in a state have flipped from one party to the other in a single election cycle. This was also the first time the Democrats achieved this since West Virginia's 1958 Senate elections. With a margin of 1.2%, this election was also the closest race of the 2020 Senate election cycle. Following his election loss, Perdue ran in the 2022 Georgia gubernatorial election but lost in the Republican primary to incumbent Brian Kemp. Perdue would then go on to be nominated as the U.S. ambassador to China following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election.[8]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Withdrawn

Declined

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results, June 9, 2020[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Perdue (incumbent) 992,555 100.00%
Total votes 992,555 100.00%
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Declined

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Sarah Riggs
Amico
Jon
Ossoff
Teresa
Tomlinson
Other Undecided
Landmark Communications[34] June 1, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 9% 42% 14% 7%[a] 28%
Cygnal (R)[35] May 28–30, 2020 510 (LV) ± 4.3% 8% 49% 16% 4%[b] 24%
The Progress Campaign (D)[36] May 6–15, 2020 1,162 (LV) 9% 46% 29% 16%[c]
The Progress Campaign (D)[37] March 12–21, 2020 913 (RV) ± 4.6% 18% 34% 21% 27%[d]
University of Georgia[38] March 4–14, 2020 807 (LV) ± 3.4% 15% 31% 16% 39%
Close

Head-to-head polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Jon
Ossoff
Teresa
Tomlinson
Undecided
Cygnal (R)[35] May 28–30, 2020 510 (LV) ± 4.3% 58% 24% 18%
Close

Endorsements

Teresa Tomlinson

Federal officials

State officials

Local officials

Individuals

Organizations

Results

County results
  Ossoff
  •   Ossoff—60–70%
  •   Ossoff—50–60%
  •   Ossoff—40–50%
  •   Ossoff—30–40%
  •   Ossoff—<30%
  Ossoff/Riggs Amico tie
  •   Ossoff/Riggs Amico tie—<30%
  Tomlinson
  •   Tomlinson—60–70%
  •   Tomlinson—50–60%
  •   Tomlinson—40–50%
  •   Tomlinson—30–40%
  •   Tomlinson—<30%
  Riggs Amico
  •   Riggs Amico—30–40%
  •   Riggs Amico—<30%
  Smith
  •   Smith—30–40%
  •   Smith—<30%
  Knox
  •   Knox—<30%

Almost four times as many Georgia voters participated in the 2020 Democratic Senate primary as in the 2016 primary, when only 310,053 votes were cast.[54]

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results, June 9, 2020[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jon Ossoff 626,819 52.82%
Democratic Teresa Tomlinson 187,416 15.79%
Democratic Sarah Riggs Amico 139,574 11.76%
Democratic Maya Dillard-Smith 105,000 8.85%
Democratic James Knox 49,452 4.17%
Democratic Marckeith DeJesus 45,936 3.87%
Democratic Tricia Carpenter McCracken 32,463 2.74%
Total votes 1,186,660 100.00%
Close

Other candidates

Hazel in 2018

Libertarian Party

Nominee

Independents

Withdrawn

General election

Debates

The first debate between Hazel, Ossoff, and Perdue occurred virtually[63] on October 12.[64]

A second debate between Ossoff and Perdue, held on October 28[e] in Savannah and aired on television station WTOC-TV,[65] was more heated and made national headlines, with Ossoff saying that Perdue had claimed "COVID-19 was no deadlier than the flu", was "looking after [his] own assets, and ... portfolio", and that Perdue voted "four times to end protections for preexisting conditions".[66] Ossoff also called Perdue a "crook" and criticized him for "attacking the health of the people that [he] represent[s]".[67] Perdue said Ossoff will "say and do anything to my friends in Georgia to mislead them about how radical and socialist" his agenda is.[68] Video of the exchange went viral.[63][67]

The next day, October 29, Perdue said he would not attend the third and final debate, previously scheduled to be broadcast on WSB-TV on November 1; instead Perdue decided to attend a rally with President Donald Trump in Rome on the same day[69]—"as lovely as another debate listening to Jon Ossoff lie to the people of Georgia sounds",[68] according to a Perdue spokesman.

On December 6, Ossoff debated an empty podium as Perdue declined to participate in a Georgia Public Broadcasting-held debate.[70] Ossoff criticized Perdue's absence, accusing him of skipping the event because of the negative response to his performance in the October debates.

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
DDHQ[71] Tossup November 3, 2020
FiveThirtyEight[72] Tossup November 2, 2020
Inside Elections[73] Tossup October 28, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[74] Tossup November 2, 2020
RCP[75] Tossup October 23, 2020
The Cook Political Report[76] Tossup October 29, 2020
Economist[77] Tossup November 2, 2020
Politico[78] Tossup November 2, 2020
Daily Kos[79] Tossup October 30, 2020
Close

Post-primary endorsements

David Perdue (R)

U.S. executive branch officials

U.S. senators

State officials

Organizations

Jon Ossoff (D)

U.S. executive branch officials

U.S. senators

State legislators

Local officials

Organizations

Unions

Individuals

Polling

Graphical summary

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
David
Perdue

Republican
Jon
Ossoff

Democratic
Other/
Undecided
[f]
Margin
270 To Win[121] November 2, 2020 November 3, 2020 46.2% 47.4% 6.4% Ossoff +1.2
Real Clear Politics[122] November 1, 2020 November 3, 2020 46.3% 47.0% 6.7% Ossoff +0.7
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[g]
Margin
of error
David
Perdue (R)
Jon
Ossoff (D)
Shane
Hazel (L)
Other /
Undecided
Landmark Communications[123] November 1, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 49% 47% 3% 1%[h]
Swayable[124] October 27 – November 1, 2020 407 (LV) ± 6.4% 49% 48% 3%
Data for Progress[125] October 27 – November 1, 2020 1,036 (LV) ± 3% 46% 51% 3% 0%[i]
Emerson College[126] October 29–31, 2020 749 (LV) ± 3.5% 49%[j] 51% 3%[k]
Morning Consult[127] October 22–31, 2020 1,743 (LV) ± 2.0% 46% 47%
Landmark Communications[128] October 28, 2020 750 (LV) ± 3.6% 47% 47% 3% 3%[l]
Public Policy Polling[129] October 27–28, 2020 661 (V) 44% 47% 3% 6%[m]
Monmouth University[130] October 23–27, 2020 504 (RV) ± 4.4% 46% 49% 2% 2%[n]
504 (LV)[o] 47% 49%
504 (LV)[p] 48% 49%
Swayable[131] October 23–26, 2020 342 (LV) ± 7.2% 49% 48% 3%
Civiqs/Daily Kos[132] October 23–26, 2020 1,041 (LV) ± 3.4% 46% 51% 2% 2%[q]
YouGov/CBS[133] October 20–23, 2020 1,090 (LV) ± 3.4% 47% 46% 6%[r]
University of Georgia[134] October 14–23, 2020 1,145 (LV) ± 4% 45% 46% 4% 5%[s]
Landmark Communications[135] October 21, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 50% 45%
Citizen Data[136] October 17–20, 2020 1,000 (LV) ± 3% 41% 47% 12%[t]
Morning Consult[127] October 11–20, 2020 1,672 (LV) ± 2.4% 46% 44%
Emerson College[137] October 17–19, 2020 506 (LV) ± 4.3% 46% 45% 9%[u]
Siena College/NYT Upshot[138] October 13–19, 2020 759 (LV) ± 4.1% 43% 43% 4% 10%[v]
Opinion Insight (R)[139][A] October 12–15, 2020 801 (LV) ± 3.46% 45%[j] 45% 8%[w]
Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group (D)[140][B] October 11–14, 2020 600 (LV) 43% 48% 6% 3%[l]
Quinnipiac University[141] October 8–12, 2020 1,040 (LV) ± 3.0% 45% 51% 3%[x]
SurveyUSA[142] October 8–12, 2020 677 (LV) ± 5.7% 46% 43% 11%[y]
Data for Progress[143] October 8–11, 2020 782 (LV) ± 3.5% 43% 44% 1% 10%
Morning Consult[144] October 2–11, 2020 1,837 (LV) ± 2.3% 46% 42%
Public Policy Polling[145] October 8–9, 2020 528 (V) ± 4.3% 43% 44% 4% 9%[z]
Landmark Communications[146] October 7, 2020 600 (LV) ± 4% 47% 46% 2% 6%[m]
University of Georgia[147] September 27 – October 6, 2020 1,106 (LV) ± 2.9% 49% 41% 3% 7%[aa]
Civiqs/Daily Kos[148] September 26–29, 2020 969 (LV) ± 3.5% 46% 48% 3% 3%[ab]
Hart Research Associates (D)[149][C] September 24–27, 2020 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 49% 46%
Quinnipiac University[150] September 23–27, 2020 1,125 (LV) ± 2.9% 48% 49% 2%[ac]
Redfield & Wilton Strategies[151] September 23–26, 2020 789 (LV) ± 3.49% 42% 47% 12%[ad]
YouGov/CBS[152] September 22–25, 2020 1,164 (LV) ± 3.4% 47% 42% 10%[ae]
Monmouth University[153] September 17–21, 2020 402 (RV) ± 4.9% 48% 42% 4% 6%[af]
402 (LV)[o] 48% 43% 3% 5%[s]
402 (LV)[p] 50% 42% 2% 4%[ag]
Siena College/NYT Upshot[154] September 16–21, 2020 523 (LV) ± 4.9% 41% 38% 5% 16%[ah]
University of Georgia[155] September 11–20, 2020 1,150 (LV) ± 4% 47% 45% 4% 5%[s]
Morning Consult[156] September 11–20, 2020 1,406 (LV) ± (2% – 7%) 43%[ai] 44%
Data For Progress (D)[157] September 14–19, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 43% 41% 2% 14%[aj]
Morning Consult[158] September 8–17, 2020 1,402 (LV)[ak] ± (2% – 4%) 43% 43%
GBAO Strategies (D)[159][D] September 14–16, 2020 600 (LV) 48% 49%
Redfield & Wilton Strategies[160] September 12–16, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.46% 43% 43% 14%[al]
Fabrizio Ward/Hart Research Associates[161][E] August 30 – September 5, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 47% 48% 5%[am]
Opinion Insight/American Action Forum[162][A] August 30 – September 2, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.46% 45%[j] 44% 11%[an]
HarrisX (D)[163][F] August 20–30, 2020 1,616 (RV) ± 2.4% 47% 40% 8% 4%[ao]
Public Policy Polling[164] August 13–14, 2020 530 (V) ± 4.1% 44% 44% 11%[ap]
Garin-Hart-Yang Research (D)[165][B] August 10–13, 2020 601 (LV) ± 4.0% 46% 48% 6%
SurveyUSA[166] August 6–8, 2020 623 (LV) ± 5.3% 44% 41% 14%[aq]
YouGov/CBS[167] July 28–31, 2020 1,101 (LV) ± 3.4% 45% 43% 13%[ar]
HIT Strategies (D)[168][G] July 23–31, 2020 400 (RV) ± 4.9% 39% 42% 19%[as]
Monmouth University[153] July 23–27, 2020 402 (RV) ± 4.9% 49% 43% 1% 7%[aa]
402 (LV)[o] 50% 43% 1% 6%[m]
402 (LV)[p] 51% 43% 1% 6%[m]
Morning Consult[169] July 17–26, 2020 1,337 (LV) ± 3.0% 45% 42% 12%
Spry Strategies (R)[170][H] July 11–16, 2020 700 (LV) ± 3.7% 46% 44% 10%[at]
Garin-Hart-Yang Research (D)[171][B] July 9–15, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 44% 45% 11%
Gravis Marketing (R)[172][I] July 2, 2020 513 (LV) ± 4.3% 48% 43% 9%
Fox News[173] June 20–23, 2020 1,013 (RV) ± 3.0% 45% 42% 13%[au]
Public Policy Polling[174] June 12–13, 2020 661 (V) ± 3.4% 44% 45% 11%
Civiqs/Daily Kos[175] May 16–18, 2020 1,339 (RV) ± 3.1% 45% 47% 7%[av]
The Progress Campaign (D)[36][176] May 6–15, 2020 2,893 (LV) ± 2.0% 42% 42% 16%
BK Strategies (R)[177][J] May 11–13, 2020 700 (LV) ± 3.7% 46% 41% 13%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[178] May 4–7, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 43% 41% 7% 8%[aw]
Cygnal (R)[179][180][K] April 25–27, 2020 591 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 39% 16%
The Progress Campaign (D)[181] March 12–21, 2020 3,042 (RV) ± 4.5% 39% 40% 20%
Close
Hypothetical polling

with Teresa Tomlinson

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[g]
Margin
of error
David
Perdue (R)
Teresa
Tomlinson (D)
Other /
Undecided
Civiqs/Daily Kos[175] May 16–18 1,339 (RV) ±3.1% 45% 44% 10%[ax]
The Progress Campaign (D)[36][176] May 6–15 2,893 (LV) ± 2% 41% 40% 19%
The Progress Campaign (D)[181] March 12–21 3,042 (RV) ± 4.5% 40% 39% 21%
Close

with Sarah Riggs Amico

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[g]
Margin
of error
David
Perdue (R)
Sarah Riggs
Amico (D)
Other /
Undecided
Civiqs/Daily Kos[175] May 16–18 1,339 (RV) ±3.1% 45% 42% 13%[ay]
Close

with Stacey Abrams

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[g]
Margin
of error
David
Perdue (R)
Stacey
Abrams (D)
Other /
Undecided
The Progress Campaign (D)[181] March 12–21 3,042 (RV) ± 4.5% 41% 46% 12%
Close

with Generic Democrat

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[g]
Margin
of error
David
Perdue (R)
Generic
Democrat
Other /
Undecided
SurveyUSA[182] November 15–18, 2019 1,303 (LV) ± 3.2% 40% 37% 23%
University of Georgia[183] October 28–30, 2019 1,028 (RV) 35.1% 21.1% 43.8%
Close

with Generic Republican and Generic Democrat

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[g]
Margin
of error
Generic
Republican
Generic
Democrat
Other /
Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[184][L] March 17–19, 2019 603 (LV) ± 4.0% 40% 42% 18%
Close

Results

First round state senate district results

No candidate received a majority of the vote on November 3, so the top two finishers—incumbent Republican senator David Perdue (49.7%) and Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff (47.9%)—advanced to a runoff election held on January 5, 2021.[185][186]

Voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected were allowed to submit corrections until 5pm on November 6.[187][188]

More information Party, Candidate ...
2020 United States Senate election in Georgia[189]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Perdue (incumbent) 2,462,617 49.73% −3.16%
Democratic Jon Ossoff 2,374,519 47.95% +2.74%
Libertarian Shane T. Hazel 115,039 2.32% +0.42%
Total votes 4,952,175 100.0%
Close

By county

More information County, David Perdue Republican ...
County[190] David Perdue
Republican
Jon Ossoff
Democratic
Various candidates
Other parties
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # %
Appling 6,306 77.02% 1,753 21.41% 128 1.56% 4,553 55.61% 8,187
Atkinson 2,272 73.36% 773 24.96% 52 1.68% 1,499 48.40% 3,097
Bacon 3,929 85.60% 591 12.88% 70 1.53% 3,338 72.72% 4,590
Baker 873 59.11% 591 40.01% 13 0.88% 282 19.10% 1,477
Baldwin 8,873 49.07% 8,783 48.57% 426 2.36% 90 0.50% 18,082
Banks 7,636 87.52% 899 10.30% 190 2.18% 6,737 77.22% 8,725
Barrow 26,317 69.94% 10,066 26.75% 1,244 3.31% 16,251 43.19% 37,627
Bartow 37,009 73.90% 11,664 23.29% 1,407 2.81% 25,345 50.61% 50,080
Ben Hill 4,077 62.95% 2,284 35.26% 116 1.79% 1,793 27.69% 6,477
Berrien 6,286 82.17% 1,204 15.74% 160 2.09% 5,082 66.43% 7,650
Bibb 26,645 38.07% 41,928 59.91% 1,414 2.02% -15,283 -21.84% 69,987
Bleckley 4,281 75.85% 1,249 22.13% 114 2.02% 3,032 53.72% 5,644
Brantley 6,812 89.44% 688 9.03% 116 1.52% 6,124 80.41% 7,616
Brooks 4,250 60.92% 2,607 37.37% 119 1.71% 1,643 23.55% 6,976
Bryan 14,067 66.47% 6,497 30.70% 599 2.83% 7,570 35.77% 21,163
Bulloch 18,232 61.20% 10,846 36.40% 715 2.40% 7,386 24.80% 29,793
Burke 5,407 51.20% 4,989 47.24% 164 1.55% 418 3.96% 10,560
Butts 8,329 71.25% 3,129 26.77% 232 1.98% 5,200 44.48% 11,690
Calhoun 933 42.96% 1,211 55.76% 28 1.29% -278 -12.80% 2,172
Camden 14,987 64.19% 7,467 31.98% 895 3.83% 7,520 32.21% 23,349
Candler 3,077 70.41% 1,233 28.22% 60 1.37% 1,844 42.19% 4,370
Carroll 36,997 68.55% 15,549 28.81% 1,427 2.64% 21,448 39.74% 53,973
Catoosa 24,571 76.28% 6,599 20.49% 1,042 3.23% 17,972 55.79% 32,212
Charlton 3,357 74.98% 1,016 22.69% 104 2.32% 2,341 52.29% 4,477
Chatham 52,988 40.19% 75,873 57.55% 2,986 2.26% -22,885 -17.36% 131,847
Chattahoochee 850 54.91% 636 41.09% 62 4.01% 214 13.82% 1,548
Chattooga 7,777 78.26% 1,886 18.98% 275 2.77% 5,891 59.28% 9,938
Cherokee 99,384 69.24% 39,928 27.82% 4,214 2.94% 59,456 41.42% 143,526
Clarke 15,078 29.59% 34,549 67.81% 1,323 2.60% -19,471 -38.22% 50,950
Clay 647 45.69% 748 52.82% 21 1.48% -101 -7.13% 1,416
Clayton 14,841 13.36% 93,699 84.38% 2,505 2.26% -78,858 -71.02% 111,045
Clinch 2,083 74.47% 660 23.60% 54 1.93% 1,423 50.87% 2,797
Cobb 169,658 43.42% 210,851 53.96% 10,263 2.63% -41,193 -10.54% 390,772
Coffee 10,424 69.54% 4,281 28.56% 286 1.91% 6,143 40.98% 14,991
Colquitt 11,644 73.27% 3,990 25.11% 257 1.62% 7,654 48.16% 15,891
Columbia 50,220 62.85% 27,759 34.74% 1,928 2.41% 22,461 28.11% 79,907
Cook 4,864 69.76% 1,963 28.16% 145 2.08% 2,901 41.60% 6,972
Coweta 51,299 67.39% 22,915 30.10% 1,908 2.51% 28,384 37.29% 76,122
Crawford 4,330 71.86% 1,561 25.90% 135 2.24% 2,769 45.96% 6,026
Crisp 5,054 63.33% 2,809 35.20% 117 1.47% 2,245 28.13% 7,980
Dade 5,871 80.07% 1,253 17.09% 208 2.84% 4,618 62.98% 7,332
Dawson 13,217 83.00% 2,289 14.37% 418 2.62% 10,928 68.63% 15,924
Decatur 6,696 58.49% 4,563 39.86% 190 1.66% 2,133 18.63% 11,449
DeKalb 61,859 16.83% 298,479 81.19% 7,305 1.99% -236,620 -64.36% 367,643
Dodge 5,793 72.85% 2,021 25.41% 138 1.74% 3,772 47.44% 7,952
Dooly 2,158 53.17% 1,826 44.99% 75 1.85% 332 8.18% 4,059
Dougherty 10,588 30.33% 23,821 68.23% 502 1.44% -13,233 -37.90% 34,911
Douglas 25,002 36.53% 41,796 61.07% 1,643 2.40% -16,794 -24.54% 68,441
Early 2,796 54.77% 2,232 43.72% 77 1.51% 564 11.05% 5,105
Echols 1,232 86.88% 162 11.42% 24 1.69% 1,070 75.46% 1,418
Effingham 22,832 72.90% 7,627 24.35% 860 2.75% 15,205 48.55% 31,319
Elbert 6,225 68.60% 2,717 29.94% 133 1.47% 3,508 38.66% 9,075
Emanuel 6,513 69.52% 2,720 29.04% 135 1.44% 3,793 40.48% 9,368
Evans 2,876 68.62% 1,251 29.85% 64 1.53% 1,625 38.77% 4,191
Fannin 11,972 81.52% 2,415 16.44% 299 2.04% 9,557 65.08% 14,686
Fayette 38,403 53.73% 31,477 44.04% 1,590 2.22% 6,926 9.69% 71,470
Floyd 28,752 69.64% 11,480 27.80% 1,056 2.56% 17,272 41.84% 41,288
Forsyth 85,652 66.78% 39,229 30.58% 3,386 2.64% 46,423 36.20% 128,267
Franklin 8,993 84.48% 1,465 13.76% 187 1.76% 7,528 70.72% 10,645
Fulton 146,466 28.12% 363,269 69.76% 11,043 2.12% -216,803 -41.64% 520,778
Gilmer 13,206 80.98% 2,715 16.65% 386 2.37% 10,491 64.33% 16,307
Glascock 1,366 88.13% 150 9.68% 34 2.19% 1,216 78.45% 1,550
Glynn 25,560 61.64% 14,938 36.02% 970 2.34% 10,622 25.62% 41,468
Gordon 19,011 79.99% 4,182 17.60% 573 2.41% 14,829 62.39% 23,766
Grady 6,969 65.87% 3,465 32.75% 146 1.38% 3,504 33.12% 10,580
Greene 7,247 64.93% 3,763 33.71% 152 1.36% 3,484 31.22% 11,162
Gwinnett 166,754 41.69% 222,346 55.59% 10,901 2.73% -55,592 -13.90% 400,001
Habersham 16,385 80.88% 3,340 16.49% 534 2.64% 13,045 64.39% 20,259
Hall 63,833 71.09% 23,487 26.16% 2,467 2.75% 40,346 44.93% 89,787
Hancock 1,173 28.63% 2,858 69.76% 66 1.61% -1,685 -41.13% 4,097
Haralson 12,016 85.12% 1,764 12.50% 336 2.38% 10,252 72.62% 14,116
Harris 14,279 71.85% 5,192 26.13% 402 2.02% 9,087 45.72% 19,873
Hart 9,377 74.82% 2,937 23.44% 218 1.74% 6,440 51.38% 12,532
Heard 4,413 82.83% 802 15.05% 113 2.12% 3,611 67.78% 5,328
Henry 47,486 39.02% 71,592 58.82% 2,631 2.16% -24,106 -19.80% 121,709
Houston 41,428 55.86% 30,955 41.74% 1,779 2.40% 10,473 14.12% 74,162
Irwin 3,095 74.63% 982 23.68% 70 1.69% 2,113 50.95% 4,147
Jackson 29,166 78.02% 7,262 19.43% 955 2.55% 21,904 58.59% 37,383
Jasper 5,751 75.75% 1,690 22.26% 151 1.99% 4,061 53.49% 7,592
Jeff Davis 4,574 80.27% 1,013 17.78% 111 1.95% 3,561 62.49% 5,698
Jefferson 3,539 46.85% 3,913 51.80% 102 1.35% -374 -4.95% 7,554
Jenkins 2,155 63.38% 1,194 35.12% 51 1.50% 961 28.26% 3,400
Johnson 2,801 69.43% 1,158 28.71% 75 1.86% 1,643 40.72% 4,034
Jones 9,854 66.39% 4,687 31.58% 301 2.03% 5,167 34.81% 14,842
Lamar 6,280 69.87% 2,511 27.94% 197 2.19% 3,769 41.93% 8,988
Lanier 2,481 70.50% 944 26.83% 94 2.67% 1,537 43.67% 3,519
Laurens 14,363 63.91% 7,698 34.25% 413 1.84% 6,665 29.66% 22,474
Lee 11,862 71.63% 4,424 26.72% 273 1.65% 7,438 44.91% 16,559
Liberty 7,743 36.71% 12,738 60.40% 610 2.89% -4,995 -23.69% 21,091
Lincoln 3,139 68.34% 1,371 29.85% 83 1.81% 1,768 38.49% 4,593
Long 3,389 60.72% 2,029 36.36% 163 2.92% 1,360 24.36% 5,581
Lowndes 25,620 55.97% 19,124 41.78% 1,028 2.25% 6,496 14.19% 45,772
Lumpkin 11,941 77.73% 2,926 19.05% 496 3.23% 9,015 58.68% 15,363
Macon 1,787 38.91% 2,727 59.37% 79 1.72% -940 -20.46% 4,593
Madison 11,136 75.25% 3,303 22.32% 359 2.43% 7,833 52.93% 14,798
Marion 2,248 62.46% 1,267 35.20% 84 2.33% 981 27.26% 3,599
McDuffie 6,198 59.77% 3,968 38.26% 204 1.97% 2,230 21.51% 10,370
McIntosh 3,967 60.06% 2,498 37.82% 140 2.12% 1,469 22.24% 6,605
Meriwether 6,432 59.68% 4,135 38.37% 211 1.96% 2,297 21.31% 10,778
Miller 2,047 73.61% 687 24.70% 47 1.69% 1,360 48.91% 2,781
Mitchell 4,921 55.47% 3,832 43.20% 118 1.33% 1,089 12.27% 8,871
Monroe 10,929 70.84% 4,205 27.26% 294 1.91% 6,724 43.58% 15,428
Montgomery 2,927 74.67% 931 23.75% 62 1.58% 1,996 50.92% 3,920
Morgan 8,259 71.03% 3,151 27.10% 217 1.87% 5,108 43.93% 11,627
Murray 12,493 83.16% 2,296 15.28% 234 1.56% 10,197 67.88% 15,023
Muscogee 30,226 38.00% 47,552 59.78% 1,772 2.23% -17,326 -21.78% 79,550
Newton 23,408 43.53% 29,220 54.33% 1,150 2.14% -5,812 -10.80% 53,778
Oconee 17,108 68.05% 7,465 29.69% 569 2.26% 9,643 38.36% 25,142
Oglethorpe 5,500 68.26% 2,323 28.83% 234 2.90% 3,177 39.43% 8,057
Paulding 53,485 63.26% 28,755 34.01% 2,308 2.73% 24,730 29.25% 84,548
Peach 6,483 52.15% 5,702 45.87% 247 1.99% 781 6.28% 12,432
Pickens 13,860 81.68% 2,678 15.78% 431 2.54% 11,182 65.90% 16,969
Pierce 7,810 87.35% 1,002 11.21% 129 1.44% 6,808 76.14% 8,941
Pike 9,045 84.94% 1,430 13.43% 174 1.63% 7,615 71.51% 10,649
Polk 13,282 77.06% 3,537 20.52% 416 2.41% 9,745 56.54% 17,235
Pulaski 2,787 69.59% 1,139 28.44% 79 1.97% 1,648 41.15% 4,005
Putnam 8,279 70.36% 3,299 28.04% 189 1.61% 4,980 42.32% 11,767
Quitman 600 55.30% 470 43.32% 15 1.38% 130 11.98% 1,085
Rabun 7,392 78.04% 1,825 19.27% 255 2.69% 5,567 58.77% 9,472
Randolph 1,404 46.17% 1,606 52.81% 31 1.02% -202 -6.64% 3,041
Richmond 27,052 31.47% 56,786 66.05% 2,130 2.48% -29,734 -34.58% 85,968
Rockdale 12,716 28.73% 30,641 69.22% 906 2.05% −17,925 -40.49% 44,263
Schley 1,783 79.03% 439 19.46% 34 1.51% 1,344 59.57% 2,256
Screven 3,893 59.46% 2,589 39.54% 65 0.99% 1,304 19.92% 6,547
Seminole 2,597 67.67% 1,187 30.93% 54 1.41% 1,410 36.74% 3,838
Spalding 17,768 59.70% 11,355 38.15% 641 2.15% 6,413 21.55% 29,764
Stephens 9,353 79.48% 2,187 18.58% 228 1.94% 7,166 60.90% 11,768
Stewart 803 41.12% 1,115 57.09% 35 1.79% −312 -15.97% 1,953
Sumter 5,743 47.77% 6,114 50.86% 165 1.37% −371 -3.09% 12,022
Talbot 1,386 40.17% 2,013 58.35% 51 1.48% −627 -18.18% 3,450
Taliaferro 366 40.58% 521 57.76% 15 1.66% −155 -17.18% 902
Tattnall 5,954 73.59% 1,978 24.45% 159 1.97% 3,976 49.141% 8,091
Taylor 2,399 63.26% 1,312 34.60% 81 2.14% 1,087 28.66% 3,792
Telfair 2,751 64.65% 1,435 33.73% 69 1.62% 1,316 30.92% 4,255
Terrell 2,040 46.63% 2,277 52.05% 58 1.33% −237 -5.42% 4,375
Thomas 13,020 60.28% 8,158 37.77% 422 1.95% 4,862 22.51% 21,600
Tift 10,814 67.27% 4,956 30.83% 305 1.90% 5,858 36.44% 16,075
Toombs 7,793 72.17% 2,832 26.23% 173 1.60% 4,961 45.94% 10,798
Towns 6,291 79.75% 1,451 18.40% 146 1.85% 4,840 61.35% 7,888
Treutlen 2,078 68.74% 893 29.54% 52 1.72% 1,185 39.20% 3,023
Troup 18,162 60.93% 11,111 37.27% 536 1.80% 7,051 23.66% 29,809
Turner 2,334 62.39% 1,345 35.95% 62 1.66% 989 26.44% 3,741
Twiggs 2,313 52.80% 1,981 45.22% 87 1.99% 332 7.58% 4,381
Union 12,423 80.72% 2,616 17.00% 351 2.28% 9,807 63.72% 15,390
Upson 8,568 66.32% 4,000 30.96% 351 2.72% 4,568 35.36% 12,919
Walker 22,650 78.05% 5,435 18.73% 934 3.22% 17,215 59.32% 29,019
Walton 37,399 73.71% 12,146 23.94% 1,193 2.35% 25,253 49.77% 50,738
Ware 9,773 69.91% 3,937 28.16% 269 1.92% 5,836 41.75% 13,979
Warren 1,161 44.41% 1,407 53.83% 46 1.76% -246 -9.42% 2,614
Washington 4,630 49.90% 4,477 48.25% 172 1.85% 153 1.65% 9,279
Wayne 9,734 77.05% 2,655 21.02% 244 1.93% 7,079 56.03% 12,633
Webster 736 53.64% 626 45.63% 10 0.73% 110 8.01% 1,372
Wheeler 1,562 69.30% 657 29.15% 35 1.55% 905 40.15% 2,254
White 12,072 82.03% 2,273 15.45% 371 2.52% 9,799 66.58% 14,716
Whitfield 25,158 69.31% 10,177 28.04% 962 2.65% 14,981 41.27% 36,297
Wilcox 2,369 73.34% 805 24.92% 56 1.73% 1,564 48.42% 3,230
Wilkes 2,810 56.83% 2,057 41.60% 78 1.58% 753 15.23% 4,945
Wilkinson 2,608 55.44% 2,017 42.88% 79 1.68% 591 12.56% 4,704
Worth 6,726 73.03% 2,327 25.27% 157 1.70% 4,399 47.76% 9,210
Totals2,462,61749.73%2,374,51947.95%115,0392.32%88,0981.78%4,952,175
Close

By congressional district

Perdue won eight of 14 congressional districts in the general election.[191]

More information District, Ossoff ...
District Ossoff Perdue Elected
Representative
1st 42% 56% Buddy Carter
2nd 54% 44% Sanford Bishop
3rd 36% 62% Drew Ferguson
4th 78% 20% Hank Johnson
5th 84% 14% Nikema Williams
6th 51% 46% Lucy McBath
7th 51% 47% Carolyn Bourdeaux
8th 36% 62% Austin Scott
9th 21% 76% Andrew Clyde
10th 38% 60% Jody Hice
11th 39% 58% Barry Loudermilk
12th 42% 56% Rick W. Allen
13th 75% 23% David Scott
14th 25% 73% Marjorie Taylor Greene
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Runoff

The runoff election between Perdue and Ossoff was on January 5, 2021,[192] alongside the special election for the other Senate seat held by Republican Kelly Loeffler, to fill the remainder of Johnny Isakson's unexpired term (which expired in 2023). Loeffler was defeated by Raphael Warnock in that special election.

Following the 2020 Senate elections, Republicans held 50 Senate seats and the Democratic caucus 48.[193] Since Democrats won both Georgia runoffs, their caucus gained control of the Senate, as the resultant 50–50 tie is broken by Democratic vice president Kamala Harris. If the Democrats had lost either race, Republicans would have retained control of the Senate.[194] The high political stakes caused the races to attract significant nationwide attention.[195][196][197] These elections are the third and fourth Senate runoff elections to be held in Georgia since runoffs were first mandated in 1964, following runoffs in 1992 and 2008.[198] It is also the third time that both of Georgia's Senate seats have been up for election at the same time, following double-barrel elections in 1914 and 1932.[199]

The deadline for registration for the runoff election was December 7, 2020. Absentee ballots for the runoff election were sent out beginning on November 18, and in-person voting began on December 14.[200][201] Ossoff's runoff campaign largely focused around accusing Perdue of corruption as well as aggressively courting Black voters in an attempt to drive up turnout, while Perdue characterised Ossoff as a socialist and accused him of having ties to the People's Republic of China.[202] Perdue's campaign was hampered by his refusal to state that Joe Biden had won that year's presidential election, which made it exceedingly difficult for him to argue that an Ossoff victory would create a Democratic trifecta.[203]

As Ossoff and Warnock were both sworn in on January 20, 2021 shortly after the start of the Biden administration, Ossoff became Georgia's senior senator and Democrats simultaneously held both of Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats for the first time since 2003.

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[204] Tossup January 4, 2021
Inside Elections[205] Tossup December 14, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[206] Tossup January 5, 2021
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Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2020, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2020
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Jon Ossoff (D) $156,146,537 $151,814,804 $4,331,733
David Perdue (R) $102,722,245 $90,354,529 $12,414,00
Source: Federal Election Commission[207]
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Polling

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
David
Perdue

Republican
Jon
Ossoff

Democratic
Undecided
[f]
Margin
270 To Win[208] Dec 30, 2020 – January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021 47.4% 50.2% 2.4% Ossoff +2.8
RealClearPolitics[209] Dec 14, 2020 – January 4, 2021 January 5, 2021 48.8% 49.3% 1.9% Ossoff +0.5
538[210] Nov 9, 2020 – January 4, 2021 January 5, 2021 47.4% 49.1% 3.5% Ossoff +1.8
Average 47.9% 49.5% 2.6% Ossoff +1.7
Close

This section also contains pre-runoff polls excluding all candidates except head-to-head matchups.

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[g]
Margin
of error
David
Perdue (R)
Jon
Ossoff (D)
Undecided
Trafalgar Group (R)[211] January 2–4, 2021 1,056 (LV) ± 2.9% 49% 49% 2%
AtlasIntel[212] January 2–4, 2021 857 (LV) ± 3% 47% 51% 2%
InsiderAdvantage[213] January 3, 2021 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 49% 49% 3%
National Research Inc[214] January 2–3, 2021 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 45% 46% 9%
University of Nevada Las Vegas Lee Business School[215] December 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021 550 (LV) ± 4% 49% 48% 3%
Targoz Market Research[216] December 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021 713 (LV) ± 3.7% 50% 50% 0%
1,342 (RV) 47% 51% 2%
AtlasIntel[217] December 25, 2020 – January 1, 2021 1,680 (LV) ± 2% 47% 51% 2%
Gravis Marketing[218] December 29–30, 2020 1,011 (LV) ± 3.1% 47% 50% 3%
JMC Analytics and Polling[219] December 28–29, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 45% 53% 2%
Trafalgar Group (R)[220] December 23–27, 2020 1,022 (LV) ± 3.0% 48% 50% 2%
Open Model Project[221] December 21–27, 2020 1,405 (LV) ± 4.7% 50% 46% 4%
InsiderAdvantage[222] December 21–22, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 49% 48% 3%
Mellman Group[223] December 18–22, 2020 578 (LV) ± 4.1% 47% 50% 3%
Reconnect Research/Probolsky Research[224] December 14–22, 2020 1,027 (LV) ± 4% 43% 42% 15%
SurveyUSA[225] December 16–20, 2020 600 (LV) ± 5.1% 46% 51% 3%
Trafalgar Group (R)[226] December 14–16, 2020 1,064 (LV) ± 3.0% 50% 48% 2%
Emerson College[227] December 14–16, 2020 605 (LV) ± 3.9% 51% 48% 1%
InsiderAdvantage[228] December 14, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 49% 48% 3%
Wick[229] December 10–14, 2020 1,500 (LV) 51% 47% 2%
RMG Research[230] December 8–14, 2020 1,417 (LV) ± 2.6% 47% 49% 4%
Baris/Peach State Battleground Poll[231] December 4–11, 2020 1,008 (LV) ± 3.1% 45% 47% 9%
Trafalgar Group (R)[232] December 8–10, 2020 1,018 (LV) ± 3.0% 49% 49% 2%
Fabrizio Ward/Hart Research Associates[233] November 30 – December 4, 2020 1,250 (LV) ± 3.2% 46% 48% 6%
Trafalgar Group (R)[234] December 1–3, 2020 1,083 (LV) ± 2.9% 47% 48% 5%
SurveyUSA[235] November 27–30, 2020 583 (LV) ± 5.2% 48% 50% 2%
RMG Research[236] November 19–24, 2020 1,377 (LV) ± 2.6% 47% 48% 5%
Data For Progress (D)[237] November 15–20, 2020 1,476 (LV) ± 2.6% 50% 48% 3%
InsiderAdvantage[238] November 16, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 49% 49% 2%
Remington Research Group[239] November 8–9, 2020 1,450 (LV) ± 2.6% 50% 46% 4%
Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group (D)[140][B] October 11–14, 2020 600 (LV) 45% 50% 5%
Data For Progress (D)[157] September 14–19, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 44% 44% 12%
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Hypothetical polling

with Generic Republican and Generic Democrat

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[g]
Margin
of error
Generic
Republican
Generic
Democrat
Undecided
RMG Research/PoliticalIQ[240] December 8–14, 2020 1,377 (LV) ± 2.6% 46%[az] 42% 11%[ba]
Quinnipiac University[150] September 23–27, 2020 1,125 (LV) ± 2.9% 48% 49% 3%
Close

Results

Ossoff won Washington and Baldwin counties in the runoff, after having lost them in the general election.

More information Party, Candidate ...
2021 United States Senate election in Georgia runoff[189]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jon Ossoff 2,269,923 50.61% N/A
Republican David Perdue 2,214,979 49.39% N/A
Total votes 4,484,902 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican
Close

By county

More information By county, County ...
Close

By congressional district

Despite losing the statewide runoff, Perdue held onto the eight congressional districts he had previously won in the general election.[243]

More information District, Ossoff ...
District Ossoff Perdue Elected
Representative
1st 44% 56% Buddy Carter
2nd 57% 43% Sanford Bishop
3rd 38% 62% Drew Ferguson
4th 81% 19% Hank Johnson
5th 87% 13% Nikema Williams
6th 53% 47% Lucy McBath
7th 53% 47% Carolyn Bourdeaux
8th 38% 62% Austin Scott
9th 23% 77% Andrew Clyde
10th 40% 60% Jody Hice
11th 41% 59% Barry Loudermilk
12th 44% 56% Rick W. Allen
13th 78% 22% David Scott
14th 26% 74% Marjorie Taylor Greene
Close

See also

Notes

Partisan clients

  1. The American Action Forum is a 501 organization which usually supports Republican candidates.
  2. Poll sponsored by Ossoff's campaign.
  3. Poll sponsored by The Human Rights Campaign, which endorsed Biden before this poll's sampling period.
  4. Poll sponsored by Warnock's campaign for the 2020–21 United States Senate special election in Georgia.
  5. Poll sponsored by AARP.
  6. Poll sponsored by Matt Lieberman's campaign.
  7. This poll's sponsor, DFER, primarily supports Democratic candidates.
  8. This poll's sponsor is the American Principles Project, a 501 that supports the Republican Party.
  9. Poll is sponsored by OANN, a far-right political talkshow.
  10. This poll was sponsored by the Republican State Leadership Committee.
  11. Poll conducted for the Speaker of Georgia's House Republican caucus.

Voter samples and additional candidates

  1. "Another candidate" with 7.2%
  2. Knox with 1.5%; DeJesus and Smith with 1%; McCracken with 0.3%
  3. Listed as "other/undecided"
  4. Includes undecided
  5. Initially scheduled for October 19.[63]
  6. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  7. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  8. Undecided with 1%
  9. "Other candidate or write-in" with 0%
  10. With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  11. "Someone else" with 3%
  12. Undecided with 3%
  13. Undecided with 6%
  14. "Other candidate" and "No one" with 0%; Undecided with 2%
  15. With a likely voter turnout model featuring higher turnout than in the 2016 presidential election
  16. With a likely voter turnout model featuring lower turnout than in the 2016 presidential election
  17. "Someone else" and Undecided with 1%
  18. "Someone else" with 2%; Undecided with 4%
  19. Undecided with 5%
  20. "Other" with 5%; Undecided with 8%
  21. "Someone else" with 3%; Undecided with 6%
  22. "Someone else" and would not vote with 1%; "Undecided/Refused" with 8%
  23. "Someone else" and did/would not vote with 1%; "Undecided/Refused" with 6%
  24. "Someone else" with 0%; Undecided with 3%
  25. "Some other candidate" with 3%; Undecided with 8%
  26. Undecided with 9%
  27. Undecided with 7%
  28. "Someone else" with 1%; Undecided with 2%
  29. "Someone else" with 0%; Undecided with 2%
  30. "Another Third Party/Write-in" with 3%; Undecided with 9%
  31. "Someone else" with 2%; Undecided with 8%
  32. "Other" and "No one" with 0%; Undecided with 6%
  33. Undecided with 4%
  34. "Someone else" and would not vote with 0%; "Undecided/Refused" with 16%
  35. Overlapping sample with the previous Morning Consult poll, but more information available regarding sample size
  36. Undecided with 14%
  37. Additional data sourced from FiveThirtyEight
  38. "Another Third Party/Write-in" with 3%; Undecided with 11%
  39. Would not vote with 1%; Undecided with 4%
  40. Would not vote with 2%; Undecided with 9%
  41. Would not vote with 4%
  42. Undecided with 11%
  43. "Some other candidate" with 4%; Undecided with 10%
  44. "Someone else" with 3%; Undecided with 10%
  45. "Third party candidate" with 3%; would not vote with 2%; Undecided with 14%
  46. "Another candidate" with 4%; Undecided with 6%
  47. Undecided with 8%; "Other" with 3%; would not vote with 2%
  48. "Someone else" with 4%; Undecided with 3%
  49. "Undecided" with 8%
  50. "Someone else" with 6%; Undecided with 4%
  51. "Someone else" with 8%; Undecided with 5%
  52. "It is more important for Republicans to have control of the Senate" as opposed to "It is more important for Democrats to have control of the Senate" with 46%
  53. "It does not matter which party has control of the Senate" with 7%; Undecided with 4%

References

Further reading

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