Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., is allowed to take part in the Electoral College vote count Wednesday but David Perdue can’t because Loeffler’s term won’t end until Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock takes office, USA Today reports.
Warnock defeated Loeffler in the Jan. 5 Georgia runoff, and Newsmax has called the second race for Perdue's Democrat opponent Jon Ossoff. Perdue is not currently a senator because his term expired last Sunday. Loeffler was appointed to her seat at the beginning of 2020 to a Senate term running through 2023.
Georgia has until Jan. 22 to certify the results of the runoff, and a vote margin under 0.5% will trigger a recount. Warnock currently has the edge over Loeffler, 50.6% to 40.6%, with 98% of the state reporting. Ossoff leads Perdue, 50.2% to 49.8%, with 98% reporting.
Loeffler has said she plans to object to the certification of the Electoral College vote on Wednesday, along with many House Republicans and at least one dozen Senate Republicans.
“Elections are the bedrock of our democracy and the American people deserve to be 100% confident in our election system and its outcomes. But right now, tens of millions of Americans have real concerns about the way in which the November Presidential election was conducted — and I share their concerns,” Loeffler said in a statement.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.