Thank you.
Judy: Repercussions from the
final U.S. Senate race of the
midterm elections are still
echoing in Washington.
Raphael Warnock was reelected to
a full, six-year term.
He defeated the Republican
challenger Herschel walker.
We begin coverage of the runoff
result and what it means.
Reporter: A triumphant return to
Washington.
Senator Raphael Warnock greeting
chuck Schumer.
He wins after the states are
record turnout in the runoff,
more than 3.5 million votes
cast.
In his victory speech, democracy
and the fight to protect and
expand the right to vote was
featured.
>> Just because they endured the
rain and cold and all kinds of
tricks in order to vote does not
mean voter suppression does not
exist.
It means you the people have
decided your voices will not be
silence.
Reporter: Last year, Warnock
became the first black senator
to represent Georgia, a state
that has grown current -- more
diverse for Democrats.
He is on track for a roughly two
point margin of victory against
Herschel walker, a retired
football star.
>> The best thing I have ever
done in my whole and buyer life
-- entire life is run for the
senate race.
Reporter: Walker admitted defeat
and encouraged supporters to
believe in election officials.
>> Believe in America, the
constitution, our elected
officials.
>> We have to figure out what we
have to do differently.
Reporter: Rick Scott, who led
the senate GOP campaign arm
declined to say if the party
needs to distance itself from
trump.
>> We have to have a message
that when Republicans run, you
say this is what Republicans
will get done.
Reporter: At the white house,
Joe Biden called Warnock area.
>> I am Georgia.
I am an example in iteration of
its history.
It's pain and promise, the
brutality.
Reporter: To caps off the final
race of the 2022 midterm
elections and first time since
1924 that the president's party
did not lose any senate seats.
Judy: Senator Warnock's win has
help Georgia solidify itself as
a battleground state and give
Democrats a critical advantage
in the senate.
Stephen fowler has been keeping
a close watch on the runoff.
Welcome back.
Tell us, what made the
difference from not being able
to reach 50% to a two point 8%
margin over Herschel walker.
How did he do it?
>> Looking at the top level
results, Raquel Warnock improved
his margins in 100 48 out of 159
counties in Georgia.
He improved and democratic
strongholds where he run up the
score.
He cut into margins in
conservative bastions.
He did so by reaching multiple
different groups of people from
black voters that are the
democratic backbone, to younger
voters home for the holidays,
reaching into those red areas
and trying to target
conservatives and moderates that
could not support Herschel
walker because of his past.
Judy: Speaking of that, there
were questions both in the
general and runoff about
Herschel walker's
qualifications, his personal
life.
Yet, he was still able to come
close.
As we said, almost three points.
What are Republicans in the
state saying today?
>> There is a lot of
soul-searching and
finger-pointing.
Republicans made the argument
that anyone else but Herschel
walker would be a Republican
U.S. Senator because of his
unique flaws as a candidate.
His past.
He made comments about
everything from graduating from
the university of Georgia,
claiming he was in law
enforcement, his biography was
riddled with falsehoods.
Then, there were allegations of
things like allegedly pressuring
ex-girlfriend to have abortions
despite publicly opposing all
abortion rights.
As the type of things that made
Republicans uncomfortable
sending into the senate even
though he would have voted for
policies Republicans wanted.
It came down to what Raphael
Warnock said during the runoff,
that the race was about
character and competence and
ultimately at the end of the
day, more Georgians felt he had
that.
Judy: I now you have been
looking at what this means in
the senate, now that the
Democrats have a tie, they have
a whopping 51-49 majority.
What essentially is that
expected to mean in terms of
what gets done?
>> It's a deep sigh of relief
for Democrats.
Now they have got by control of
the senate, it means like things
like confirmations go smoother.
It weakens things like senator
Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema
who sometimes obstruct policy
goals.
It gives them an extra seat
heading into the 2024 election
cycle, it's a little bit tougher
for them who face an uphill
battle.
It does not necessarily give
them free reign since
Republicans did take the house
back, get some extra breathing
room to get more done.
Judy: We showed without report,
big smile on chuck Schumer's
face.
Looking ahead to 2024, what are
you hearing already about what
this could mean in terms of
Georgia's place?
>> In addition to that, Atlanta
is a finalist city to host the
democratic convention.
Georgia is a power player
heading into 2024.
With Republican victories at the
state level, finding a path
forward without Donald Trump
looming over the Republican
party, both sides have time and
energy.
Judy: It's going to be an
exciting time.