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Georgia Senate elections live updates: Jon Ossoff projected to win Ga. Senate seat
The projected win cements Democrats' control of the Senate.
ABC News projected early Wednesday that Rev. Raphael Warnock will win the race against Kelly Loeffler and on Wednesday afternoon that Jon Ossoff is projected to defeat David Perdue. Together, the two projected wins hand Democrats control of the Senate.
For live updates on the vote totals, click here.
Top headlines:
Perdue campaign says race is 'exceptionally close'
Perdue's campaign team released a statement early Wednesday, saying the race is "exceptionally close" but that they believe the incumbent Republican senator "will be victorious."
"As we've said repeatedly over the last several weeks and as recently as this evening, this is an exceptionally close election that will require time and transparency to be certain the results are fair and accurate and the voices of Georgians are heard," the Perdue campaign said. "We will mobilize every available resource and exhaust every legal recourse to ensure all legally cast ballots are properly counted. We believe in the end, Senator Perdue will be victorious."
The race between Perdue and his Democratic challenger, Ossoff, is too close to call as votes are still being tallied.
-ABC News' Quinn Scanlan
Ossoff campaign releases statement projecting confidence
Ossoff’s campaign manager, Ellen Foster, released a statement early Wednesday saying that when all the votes are counted, their team "fully" expects Ossoff will win his Senate runoff against Perdue.
"The outstanding vote is squarely in parts of the state where Jon’s performance has been dominant," Foster said. "We look forward to seeing the process through in the coming hours and moving ahead so Jon can start fighting for all Georgians in the U.S. Senate."
If Democrats win both Senate seats in Georgia, each party will have 50 senators, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be the tie-breaking vote for Democrats in the Senate.
-ABC News' Quinn Scanlan
ABC News projects Warnock defeats Loeffler
Warnock, a prominent Black preacher who leads the storied Ebenezer Baptist Church, secured a barrier-breaking victory in Georgia on Tuesday night.
The native-born son, who delivers sermons from the pulpit that once belonged to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will become the first Black senator from Georgia -- a feat that closes out an election cycle dominated by the role of race in politics.
He is only the second Black senator elected from the south since Reconstruction, and among a rare class of 10 Black Americans who have served in the upper chamber.
ABC News projected just before 2 a.m. that Warnock will topple Loeffler, a prominent Republican donor and staunch ally of President Trump who earned political office after being appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to the seat.
In the remaining Georgia Senate race between Ossoff and Perdue, there is less than 1% separating the two candidates and so, the race is too close to project.
-ABC News' Kendall Karson
Warnock declares victory against Loeffler, pushes message of unity
Up by roughly 35,000 votes statewide, Warnock declared victory in Georgia with a virtual speech to supporters in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
"The other day, because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else's cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator,” Warnock said.
ABC News has not made a projection on the race, but if Warnock wins, the native-born son, who delivers sermons from the pulpit that once belonged to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will become the first Black senator from Georgia.
“So I come before you tonight as a man who knows that the improbable journey that led me to this place in the historic moment in America could only happen here,” Warnock continued. “May my story be an inspiration to some young person who is trying to grasp and grab hold of the American dream.”
Taking a page from President-elect Joe Biden's playbook, Warnock went on to say he'd be a senator for those who didn't vote for him as much as for those who did support him.
“To everyone out there struggling today, whether you voted for me or not, know this, I hear you, I see you. And every day I'm in the United States Senate, I will fight for you,” he said.
Warnock reflects on historic win as an 'example of the American dream'
Fresh off his projected victory, Warnock stopped by ABC News’ “The View” on Wednesday to discuss his historic win.
“I am delighted and deeply honored that the people of Georgia have chosen me to represent them in the United States Senate,” Warnock said. “I know that these are some difficult and dark days, but every now and then God sends us a glimpse of hope and light, I think to encourage us to keep fighting the good fight.”
Warnock spoke directly to those who are struggling right now, saying, “you are looking at an iteration and example of the American dream."
“I grew up in public housing. I'm one of 12 children in my family. I'm number 11 and the first college graduate,” Warnock added.
While ABC News has not projected an Ossoff victory, Warnock said he is confident that when the votes are counted he will prevail.
“I have no doubt that Jon Ossoff will also be a United States senator from the state of Georgia.”
The Ebenezer Baptist Church pastor added he hopes the Senate can be “a force for good.”
Warnock said he has not heard from the Loeffler campaign since his projected victory, but said he hopes to represent all Georgians, even those who did not vote for him.