Georgia voters reelected Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff on Tuesday, The Associated Press projected. Ossoff defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, keeping a seat Democrats were defending in their bid for control of the Senate. Reuters also reported the result.
The AP issued its call at 7:55 p.m. Eastern, less than an hour after Georgia’s scheduled statewide poll closing time. The projection precedes the state’s certification. Georgia’s secretary of state provides access to official election returns.
What the Georgia result means for the Senate
Georgia was a Democratic hold. Every seat the party keeps matters because it entered the election in the minority. Holding Georgia leaves Democrats needing gains in seats they did not already control. Republicans entered Election Day with a 53 to 47 advantage, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats for an outright majority, according to AP’s guide to congressional control. A 50 to 50 Senate would leave Republican Vice President JD Vance able to break ties.
Georgia’s result leaves the national question open. The House is counted separately, and a Senate projection carries no implication for which party wins the 218 House seats needed for a majority. The AP publishes its calls and vote counts on its Senate results pages.
