Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue have asked for Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to resign amid the 2020 election.
What We Know:
- Georgia’s elections saw both GOP senators fail to reach the required 50% threshold to win reelection as president-elect Joe Biden took a lead over Donald Trump. Senators Loeffler and Perdue have called for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to resign, citing “failures” in the election process but not providing any evidence.
“There have been too many failures in Georgia elections this year and the most recent election has shined a national light on the problems . . . The Secretary of State has failed to deliver honest and transparent elections. He has failed the people of Georgia, and he should step down immediately.” – Georgia Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue
- Raffensperger said he would not resign and defended how his office handled the election, calling it a “resounding success” from an administrative perspective.
“If I was Senator Perdue, I’d be irritated I was in a runoff. And both Senators and I are all unhappy with the potential outcome for our President. But I am the duly elected Secretary of State. One of my duties involves helping to run elections for all Georgia voters. I have taken that oath, and I will execute that duty and follow Georgia law.” – Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
- Raffensperger responded to their claims about honesty and transparency by highlighting how frequently vote counts were updated and how often his office held briefings during the election. He said that his office’s process was orderly and lawful. “As a Republican, I am concerned about Republicans keeping the U.S. Senate. I recommend that Senators Loeffler and Perdue start focusing on that,” Raffensperger said.
- President-elect Joe Biden holds a narrow lead in Georgia and he could be the first Democratic candidate to win the state since 1992. Biden has already secured enough Electoral College votes to win the presidency and was declared the winner on Saturday.
Both of Georgia’s Senate races will head to a January 5th runoff. Democrats need to flip both seats to prevent Republican control of the Senate.
