Republican Senator Loeffler to debate Democratic challenger Warnock in
Georgia December 6
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[November 18, 2020]
By Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican
Senator Kelly Loeffler has agreed to debate Democratic challenger
Raphael Warnock in December, her spokesman said Tuesday, setting up a
face-off in one of a pair of runoff races that will decide control of
the Senate.
Warnock had challenged Loeffler to meet him in three televised debates
ahead of the Jan. 5 runoff election. She accepted the debate at the
Atlanta Press Club on Dec. 6, her communications director Stephen Lawson
said in an email.
Both of Georgia's Senate seats are in play in the January runoff, which
was triggered by state law after no candidate reached 50% in the first
round of voting Nov. 3.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Nov/18/images/ads/current/beasonag_sda_TIP_2020.png)
The Warnock-Loeffler matchup and the other race between Republican David
Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff will determine whether Republicans or
Democrats lead the U.S. Senate when Democratic President-elect Joe Biden
takes office in January.
Democrats need to win both seats to split the Senate 50-50 and give Vice
President-elect Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote. Georgia has not
elected a Democratic senator for two decades, but Democratic
President-elect Joe Biden narrowly leads President Donald Trump there by
49.5% to 49.2% in the recent presidential election. A recount is
underway.
Ossoff on Monday urged Perdue to join him in six debates before the
voting in January. But Perdue has so far declined, and the Atlanta Press
Club said the senator would be represented by an empty podium on Dec 6.
Ossoff and Perdue met in two debates before the first round of voting on
Nov. 3.
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![](../images/111820PIX/news_t39.jpg)
U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) arrives for the weekly Senate
Republican caucus policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington,
U.S. November 17, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
![](../images/ads/current/fitzpatrick_lda_SPONSOR_2017.png)
Loeffler and Warnock have already debated each other once, in
October, along with Republican Representative Doug Collins and three
others who participated in the crowded first round of their race.
Loeffler, a wealthy businesswoman, was appointed to her seat in the
conservative-leaning state a year ago after the former occupant
retired. She trailed Warnock, a Black Baptist preacher, in the Nov.
3 results, when Warnock got 32.9% to Loeffler's 25.9% and Collins'
19.95%.
Ossoff and Warnock appeared together on Sunday for the first time in
the runoff campaign, urging voters to head back to the polls just
two months after the presidential election. They are planning to
appear together at another campaign rally on Thursday.
Warnock and Ossoff's campaigns are emphasizing healthcare, COVID-19
relief and Republicans' response to the pandemic. Perdue and
Loeffler's campaigns meanwhile accuse Warnock and Ossoff of pursuing
"socialist" policies on climate change and healthcare.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Nov/18/images/ads/current/farmers_grain_sda_daily_farm_2016.png)
(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
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