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Georgia's @GaSecofState announced on Wednesday that the state will conduct an audit of the presidential race — and will recount ballots by hand. Since everyone's got my state on their mind — sorry I had to do it — here's a thread.
A recount in Georgia is unlikely to change the results — which show Biden with 2,471,899 votes vs. Trump's 2,457,791. That's a difference of more than 14,000 votes.
In the past, recounts in GA have not changed results very much. In 2004, a recount took place in a judicial race in which the two candidates were separated by fewer than 400 votes. After the recount concluded, the final margin changed by only 15 votes. https://couriernewsroom.com/2020/11/06/the-possible-georgia-recount-explained/
So let's focus instead on what's more important right now: the Senate. Incumbent Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue both failed to claim 50% of the general election vote, prompting a pair of runoff elections on 1/5. (Only one other state does runoffs!) https://couriernewsroom.com/2020/11/06/georgia-runoff-election/
If @ReverendWarnock and @ossoff are able to squeak out a victory and win these seats, that means the Senate will be split 50-50, and vice president-elect @KamalaHarris will be able to break any tie in favor of Democrats.
A Democrat-controlled Senate could mean, for one example, expanding the Affordable Care Act. This could allow President-elect @JoeBiden to enact his healthcare agenda through the budget reconciliation process, which requires only a simple Senate majority.
For people like Athens resident Kellye Call, ensuring the ACA remains the law of the land means a world of difference in her quality of life. “If the ACA were struck down," she said, "I would, quite frankly, become disabled." https://couriernewsroom.com/2020/11/11/affordable-care-act-preexisting-conditions-georgia-patient/
If you live in Georgia and don't know what Raphael Warnock is all about, here's a quick intro. He's already released a tongue-in-cheek campaign ad involving puppies and eating pizza with a fork. https://couriernewsroom.com/2020/11/06/youre-about-to-hear-a-lot-about-georgias-rev-warnock-in-the-next-two-months-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
Jon Ossoff has a little more name recognition because of a past Georgia race that garnered national attention. But do you know what he really stands for? Here ya go: https://couriernewsroom.com/2020/11/09/jon-ossoff-where-the-georgia-democratic-candidate-stands-on-5-issues/
If I'm honest, it feels weird to spotlight my home like this—especially as a Georgia native currently living in a county where so many yards are littered with Trump, Perdue, and Loeffler signs.
But it also feels pretty amazing to have hope again.
But it also feels pretty amazing to have hope again.
Going to end this thread with words from @Ntellectual:
"Between Abrams and Williams’ efforts and the other behind-the-scenes fundraising, organizing, voter registration and voter education campaigns led by Black women, we are witnessing a historic moment happening ...
"Between Abrams and Williams’ efforts and the other behind-the-scenes fundraising, organizing, voter registration and voter education campaigns led by Black women, we are witnessing a historic moment happening ...
... thanks to decades-long hard work. How can I not celebrate? How can I not have hope for a future so many of us are actively working to change for the better? ...
... Trump and his cronies have stolen so much of our joy over the past four years—I refuse to continue on that path." https://couriernewsroom.com/2020/11/06/georgia-election-results-black-women/
