Figures from across the world of entertainment have been sharing their reaction to the hotly contested US Senate runoff elections in Georgia, where the Democrats look set to clinch victory.
Two Senate seats are up for grabs in these special run-offs, with overall control of the chamber for the next two years within the Democrats’ reach if they manage to win both elections and split the Senate 50-50.
Incoming Vice President Kamala Harris would then have the casting vote in the Senate, enabling President-elect Joe Biden to push through his agenda when he enters the White House on January 20.
President-elect Joe Biden (C) along with democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate Jon Ossoff (L) and Rev. Raphael Warnock (R) greet supporters during a campaign rally the day before their runoff election in the parking lot of Centerparc Stadium January 04, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia (Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Democrat Raphael Warnock is currently projected to unseat his Republican rival Kelly Loeffler in the Senate special runoff, with 98% of the vote having been counted from Georgia’s 159 counties at the time of writing.
The general election runoff between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican David Perdue is tighter, although a number of media outlets have either put Ossoff in the lead or called the race in his favour. Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling told CNN yesterday (January 5) that the final results are expected by lunchtime local time today (about 17:00 GMT).
Democrats have not won a Senate race in Georgia in 20 years, but Biden’s victory in the state in November’s presidential election has boosted the party’s fortunes.
LIVE: Reverend Warnock Addresses Supporters on Election Night https://t.co/3AjHzC35qy
— Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) January 6, 2021
Warnock, who will become the first Black senator for the state of Georgia and only the 11th Black senator in US history if he is elected, claimed victory in the early hours of this morning (January 6) and paid tribute to his mother Verlene.
“The other day, because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else’s cotton picked her youngest son to be a United States senator,” he said. “Tonight, we proved with hope, hard work and the people by our side, anything is possible.”
Figures from the world of entertainment have been sharing their reaction to the Senate runoffs on social media, including the likes of Run The Jewels‘ Killer Mike, Will & Grace star Debra Messing and Westworld actor Jeffrey Wright.
Thank you Georgia.
Thank you Black voters.
Thank you Latino voters.
Thank you AAPI voters.
When we vote, we win. ??? https://t.co/9aEGZIzHLt
— Debra Messing✍? (@DebraMessing) January 6, 2021
Please. Don’t fuck it up, Dems.
Period.
— Jeffrey Georgia On My Mind Wright (@jfreewright) January 6, 2021
Polls are closed, but if you’re already in line stay there. You will be able to vote. Bring it home Georgia‼️‼️‼️?
— T.I. (@Tip) January 6, 2021
Three biggest mistakes the @GOP made in the #GeorgiaSpecialElection:
1. Loeffler’s cynical, racist campaign
2. Purdue’s cowardly refusal to engage
3. McConnell not inflating his neck-pouch large enough to scare off more Democratic voters
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 6, 2021
I can’t go to sleep. We rocked the nation in Georgia!!!!! Come on BB and Bobby!!! Let The Good Times Roll!!!!! #rolandmartinunfiltered https://t.co/m3iWnwoBiO
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) January 6, 2021
Wake him up right now and ask him! Livestream it. https://t.co/KPiHSKJp6j
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) January 6, 2021
Thank you isn’t enough but THANK YOU @staceyabrams @fairfightaction @NewGAProject @nseufot @BlackVotersMtr @GeorgiaDemocrat and every person on the ground in GA who made this happen. Forever in your debt. ❤️?
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 6, 2021
Think I’m gone put together an ownership group for the The Dream. Whose in? #BlackVotesMatter✊? pic.twitter.com/9wclgdED2w
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 6, 2021
brace yourself, we’re going to see a piece of artwork that has MF DOOM, kobe, rbg, and john lewis looking down lovingly at stacey abrams.
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) January 6, 2021
Stacey Abrams deserves all the accolades for her success in Georgia, but hers is not the only name you should know—Nse Ufot, LaTosha Brown, Tameika Atkins, Helen Butler, Cliff Albright, Deborah Scott, & Rebecca DeHart were also at heart of this historic voter registration effort.
— Jen Bartel (@heyjenbartel) January 6, 2021
Like a fine wine. https://t.co/Kc5e2AxDqx
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 6, 2021
