The potential impact of the Georgia Senate race has been greatly exaggerated
Both Republicans and Democrats agree why the Jan. 5 runoffs for Georgia’s two U.S. Senate seats are important. But there is far less agreement on how they will be important, with considerable exaggeration from both sides.
Republicans have a 50-48 lead in the new Senate, which means they need to win at least one of the two Georgia races to keep their majority. By contrast, Democrats need both to take control, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris then able to cast the deciding vote to break 50-50 ties.
Maintenance of a GOP majority would at the very least make life difficult for President-elect Joe Biden by giving Majority Leader Mitch McConnell the power to block the new president’s proposals and nominees.
Some Republicans are already saying they may refuse to give even a confirmation hearing to Neera Tanden, Biden’s choice to head the Office of Management and Budget. Biden’s judicial nominees