While ballots in the highly-watched US Senate election runoffs in Georgia are still being counted, Rev. Raphael Warnock’s win gives hope to Americans for larger stimulus checks.
The races will determine party control over the US Senate, and likely what additional stimulus packages Congress can pass. In the last months of 2020, Congress was gridlocked on getting financial help to millions of Americans who’ve suffered financial strain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democrats and Republicans only recently passed a legislative measure that secured $600 direct cash payments to people, though Democrats had reportedly wanted to send households upwards of $2,000 checks.
In the coming days, as President-elect Joe Biden takes office, analysts predict conversations about larger direct cash payments will resume, with the hope of having a Democratic majority in the Senate to pass ambitious stimulus packages.
At a Monday (January 4) campaign event in Atlanta, Biden acknowledged the potential larger checks if Democrats pulled out a victory in the state.
“If you send Jon [Ossoff] and the reverend [Raphael Warnock] to Washington, those $2,000 checks will go out the door, restoring hope and decency for so many people who are struggling right now,” Biden said, according to a report by CNBC.
“If you send senators [David] Perdue and [Kelly] Loeffler back to Washington, those checks will never get there,” he warned.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed Wednesday (January 6) he would prioritize getting the $2,000 to Americans once Warnock and Ossoff officially get to the Senate.
Polls closed for the two Senate runoffs on Tuesday (January 5) evening. Overnight, Warnock took the lead in his race against Kelly Loeffler, securing a seat in the Senate for Democrats.
The race between Ossoff and Perdue is projected to be called in the afternoon hours of Wednesday (January 6), though state elections officials caution against rushing results.
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