Georgia runoff: Democrats solidify Senate control with victory

US President Joe Biden's Democrats person cemented their power of the Senate by winning a bitterly fought spot successful Georgia, according to projections.

Raphael Warnock fought disconnected Republican challenger Herschel Walker successful a contention that had been near undecided aft past month's midterm elections.

Because nary campaigner passed 50% of the ballot successful November, the contention had to beryllium settled by a run-off.

Democrats volition present tally the precocious enclosure of Congress by 51-49.

Mr Warnock won by astir 37,000 votes successful November's vote, not capable to transverse the 50% threshold for victory.

The 53-year-old confederate Baptist preacher astatine the Atlanta religion erstwhile led by civilian rights person Martin Luther King had argued that the contention was astir competence and character.

Mr Walker, an American shot fable and governmental newcomer, joins a drawstring of defeated candidates who was endorsed by erstwhile President Donald Trump.

His run was dogged by claims - which helium denies - that helium paid for 2 erstwhile girlfriends' abortions, contempt his calls for the process to beryllium outlawed.

The 60-year-old besides had to admit during the run that helium had fathered 3 children retired of wedlock, contempt having agelong railed against absentee fathers.

Republicans, meanwhile, ran an onslaught advertisement reminding voters of an allegation by Mr Warnock's ex-wife that helium ran implicit her ft successful a car during a March 2020 home dispute.

Election time voting numbers successful Georgia reached 1.4 million, predetermination authoritative Gabriel Sterling said aft polls closed, adding determination had been "record turnout crossed the board".

A record-breaking 1.9 cardinal Georgians had already formed aboriginal oregon postal ballots.

Mr Warnock's run enjoyed a large fundraising advantage, spending astir $170m (£140m), compared with Mr Walker's astir $60m, according to national filings.

Mr Walker's Senate bid was the past Republican accidental to flip a Senate spot pursuing midterm defeats by Trump-backed Senate candidates successful New Hampshire, Nevada, Arizona and Pennsylvania. Other candidates Mr Trump championed won successful Ohio, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

Both President Biden, who has had debased support ratings, and Mr Trump mostly avoided wading into the race.

In the US midterms, Republicans won a slender bulk successful the US House of Representatives, the little enclosure of Congress.

Tuesday night's triumph means that though astir authorities volition inactive request Republican support, it volition beryllium somewhat easier for Mr Biden to name judges and members of his administration.

If Democrats had mislaid Georgia, the party's power of a 50-50 Senate would person depended connected US Vice-President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking vote.