Raphael Warnock’s win brings Dem gloating as GOP finger-pointing intensifies

Democrats exulted Wednesday in Sen. Raphael Warnock’s Georgia runoff victory over Republican Herschel Walker, as a divided GOP grappled with what went wrong in the Peach State. 

Warnock’s win gives Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate beginning in January. The slight advantage paves the way for Dems to take full control of committees, easing the approval process for President Biden’s judicial and administrative nominees.

The margin also frees Vice President Kamala Harris from her requirement to be the tie-breaking vote to pass controversial legislation or confirm Biden appointees. Harris has cast the deciding vote 29 times as vice president since taking office in January 2021. 

“The practical effects of the 51-seat majority: It’s big. It’s significant. We can breathe a sigh of relief,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters Wednesday morning.

“Obviously judges and nominees will be a lot easier to put on the bench,” added Schumer, who said he was “brought to tears” by Warnock’s victory speech. “It’s going to be a lot quicker, swifter and easier.”