On Saturday, with Election Day in the two ongoing Georgia Senate races just a few days away, former President Barack Obama released a new message on behalf of the state’s Democratic candidates, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. Victories for Warnock and Ossoff, who are running against incumbent Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, would hand Democrats control of the Senate, as the chamber would be 50-50 — but Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would be tasked with breaking any ties. Democratic control of the Senate could make agenda items like additional COVID-19 relief for Americans significantly easier to accomplish.
In his new message on behalf of the Georgia Democrats, the former President said as follows:
‘A new year is filled with possibility and hope, and in just a few days, the people of Georgia, especially the young people, have the power to change things and to help us take on our most pressing issues together. My friend John Lewis once said this: “If you don’t do everything you can to change things, then they will remain the same. You only pass this way once. You have to give it all you have.” We can get this pandemic under control and restart our economy. We can protect our health care, and our planet for future generations. We can reform our criminal justice system and give every young person an equal chance. All of that is possible… but you’ve got to vote. Georgia, let’s give it all we have.’
As the video drew to a close, Obama admonished Georgians to make a plan to vote (assuming that they haven’t done so already). Watch Obama’s comments below:
Georgia, you voted in record numbers to send @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris to the White House.
Now we need you to show up again to vote @ReverendWarnock and Jon @Ossoff to the U.S. Senate. Make your plan to vote on Tuesday, January 5 at https://t.co/HSghgIj0g5. pic.twitter.com/s7ZBPuC6lp
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 2, 2021
Remarkably, Georgia has already surpassed its previous record for turnout in a statewide run-off election. In a 2008 run-off, Georgia hit a total of 2.137 million votes — and this time around, over 3 million Georgians cast their ballots before early voting even ended.
Amidst a lot of nationwide attention on the races, President-elect Joe Biden will make an in-person campaign stop in Georgia on Democrats’ behalf on Monday — the same day that outgoing President Donald Trump will also appear in the state, on the Republicans’ behalf.
Check out Twitter’s response to Obama below:
