Democrats on the verge of US Senate control

Democrat Raphael Warnock has ousted an incumbent Republican in the first of two critical runoff elections in Georgia that will decide control of the US Senate.

The Democrats are closing in on a stunning victory in Georgia that would give them control of the US Senate and drive a finalnail into the coffin of the Donald Trump era.

Democrat Raphael Warnock ousted an incumbent Republican on Wednesday night (AEDT) in the first of two critical run-off electionsin Georgia that will decide control of the US Senate at the outset of Joe Biden’s presidency, networks projected.

Mr Warnock, an African-American pastor who preaches at Martin Luther King’s church, narrowly ousted Senator Kelly Loeffler, CBS, NBC, CNN and AP all reported.

The outcome of the second run-off was too close to call, with Democrat Jon Ossoff 16,370 votes ahead of Republican David Perdue.

Senator Loeffler had yet to concede.

“Georgia, I am honoured by the faith that you have shown in me,” Mr Warnock, 51, said in a televised address shortly after midnight, local time. “And I promise you this tonight, I am going to the Senate to work for all of Georgia.”

A victory in both races would transform Joe Biden’s presidency by giving him control of both houses of congress and the ability to freely implement much of his election agenda.

It would also mark a bitter defeat for Mr Trump, who would carry much of the blame for the loss, coming just days after he pressured Georgian officials to “find” votes to overturn Mr Biden’s presidential election victory.

The ongoing count comes ahead of a dramatic day in Washington where the President will make his last stand both inside and outside congress to fight Mr Biden’s election victory.

In the streets of Washington, tens of thousands of Trump supporters, including far-right groups like the Proud Boys, have gathered to back the President’s claims that the election was rigged.

The National Guard has been called out to deal with expected clashes on the streets, with the President planning to speak to a large rally outside the White House shortly before congress meets to ratify the election result.

Inside congress, a minority group of Republican senators and congressmen will make an extraordinary bid to oppose the formal ratification of Mr Biden’s victory.

The move has split the party, with senior GOP figures expressing disgust that some of its members would try to use congress to discard the will of American voters.

“Such objections set an exceptionally dangerous precedent,” representative Liz Cheney said. “This is directly at odds with the constitution’s clear text and our core beliefs as Republicans.”

Mr Trump is cheering on the group of at least 13 rebel senators and more than 110 congressmen, saying: “They will fight the ridiculous Electoral College certification of Biden. How do you certify numbers that have now proven to be wrong and, in many cases fraudulent!”

The bid to overturn the result has no chance of success and will be defeated easily in both houses. As a result, the President is putting pressure on Vice-President Mike Pence to try to block Mr Biden’s win when he presides over the tallying of electoral votes.

“The Vice-President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors,” Mr Trump tweeted.

Mr Pence has reportedly told the President he does not have the constitutional power to reject the Electoral College votes that declared Mr Biden the winner by 306 votes to 232.

Mr Trump denied Mr Pence had told him this, putting out a statement that said the two were “in total agreement that the Vice-President has the power to act”.

The move forces Mr Pence, who has been unfailingly loyal to Mr Trump for four years, to choose between the President’s wishes and the democratic process.

In Georgia, the lead changed on several occasions until a slew of votes in DeKalb County in Atlanta allowed Mr Ossoff and Mr Warnock to draw level with their Republican opponents.

With 98 per cent of the vote counted Mr Ossoff and Mr Purdue were all but tied at 50 per cent each. The final result may not be known for several days but with most of the votes still to come from Democrat-leaning areas of Atlanta, Mr Ossoff is considered the frontrunner.

Democrats must win both seats to retake control of the Senate for the first time in a decade.

If Democrats win both contests, the Senate will be deadlocked at 50 seats each but they will have effective control because Kamala Harris as vice-president can cast the deciding vote. Mr Warnock’s victory is the first time since 1998 that Democrats have won a run-off election in Georgia and reflects how far the traditionally Republican state has moved to the left.

During the count, Mr Trump suggested that fraud was taking place in real time. “Looks like they are setting up a big ‘voter dump’ against the Republican candidates. Waiting to see how many votes they need?” he tweeted.

Mr Trump has refused to believe he lost Georgia in November and has spent months accusing the electoral system of fraud.

Additional reporting: AFP