CNN
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Georgia’s hotly contested Senate race will lead to a runoff between Democratic senators. Rafael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker on Dec. 6, CNN Project.
Neither candidate crossed the 50 percent threshold to win the race outright on Tuesday. According to the results of the Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada Senate races, voters in Georgia could — for the second consecutive election cycle — hold a Senate majority.
The fact that the race was so intense underscores the prevalence of vote-divers in Georgia this year. Republican Gov. CNN expects Brian Kemp to easily beat Democrat Stacey Abrams, but Walker trailed Kemp all night and Warnock passed Abrams.
In a brief speech Tuesday night, Walker asked supporters who had gathered in the hotel ballroom to “stay a little longer.”
“I’ll tell you right now — I’m not here to lose,” Walker said.
Warnock has yet to address the crowd at his election night headquarters. But on Monday night, he joked to CNN that there could be a runoff.
“I think there’s a bipartisan consensus that we (will not) confuse politics and Thanksgiving,” Warnock said.
Both candidates are expected to speak later on Wednesday, with plans still in flux, aides said.
Senior Democrats and Republicans also told CNN they intend to double down on a major investment in Georgia, amid a growing belief that control of the Senate could depend on the outcome of a possible December runoff.
This story has been updated with more information.