Democrats in Georgia Senate contests take in more than $200M
The haul shatters the previous one-quarter record of $57 million for a Senate race
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Democrats running for Georgia’s two U.S. Senate seats each raised more than $100 million over two months, a massive haul that eclipsed campaign contributions to their Republican opponents and reflects the high stakes of the twin contests.
Democrat Jon Ossoff, who is taking on Republican Sen. David Perdue, took in more than $106 million from Oct. 15 through Dec. 16, according to his latest campaign finance report.
The Rev. Raphael Warnock, the Democrat trying to unseat Sen. Kelly Loeffler, was close behind with a little over $103 million.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Perdue reported $68 million over the same two-month span, with Loeffler collecting just under $64 million. Three of the campaigns reported their financial data on Thursday. Loeffler submitted hers a day earlier.
(Getty Images // AP)
The two races will determine which party controls the Senate — and likely how ambitious President-elect Joe Biden can be with his agenda.
If Republicans win one race, they will maintain a narrow majority, and the chamber will serve as a bulwark against Democratic legislation. But if Democrats carry both, the balance will be 50-50 —with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris delivering tie-breaking votes. That will likely enable Biden to pursue a more ambitious agenda, assuming he can keep fellow Democrats on board.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}US POSTAL SERVICE TO TREAT GEORGIA'S MAIL-IN SENATE RUNOFF VOTES AS EXPRESS MAIL
Georgia’s runoff races kicked off in November after Perdue and Loeffler failed to get more than 50 percent of the vote on Election Day. Early voting has already started for the Jan. 5 election.
"We’re humbled by the grassroots support and generosity that continues to power Reverend Warnock’s campaign to represent all Georgians in the U.S. Senate," Jerid Kurtz, Warnock’s campaign manager, said in a statement.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ossoff’s campaign said it was proud of its voter turnout work. Loeffler’s campaign did not release a statement. A text message to a spokesman for Perdue on Christmas Day was not immediately returned.
MORE THAN 100 BLACK PASTORS PEN LETTER TO SEN. LOEFFLER DENOUNCING CAMPAIGN ATTACKS ON REV. WARNOCK
The fundraising figures far surpass the record-shattering $57 million that Democrat Jaime Harrison raised in one quarter in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina in November. Harrison lost that race.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Besides the funds raised by the Georgia candidates, millions of dollars are being spent on the runoffs by outside groups. Previous campaign finance disclosures for the races suggest Republican groups have a fundraising advantage.
The avalanche of campaign money has fueled a barrage of advertising and door-to-door canvassing.
Ossoff and Warnock have already spent more than $179 million, according to their latest disclosures. As of Dec. 16, they had about $40 million on hand for the homestretch.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Perdue and Loeffler have spent more than $106 million. They reported about $37 million on hand at the close of the reporting period.