# Question about Georgia’s Senators in 2021 Congress **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174 "2020-11-09T20:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/1 "2020-11-09T20:50:15Z")
Since it looks like both US Senate races in GA will go to runoff on January 5, what happens when the new Congress is sworn in Jan 3? Do the current seat holders (Perdue and Loeffler) continue to represent GA in the interim? I can’t imagine that would be the case. Or does GA temporarily go without representation (giving the Dem caucus a “majority” counting the VP tie breaker). Is the election of Senate party leadership put on hold pending the Runoffs? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/2 "2020-11-09T21:25:05Z")
Georgia just goes unrepresented for those two days, since the two incumbents’ terms have expired and no replacement has been selected. So theoretically the Dems could elect Schumer et al to the leadership, but if the GOP wins one of the Georgia races, they’d just put McConnell back in two days later. I assume they won’t actually bother to hold leadership elections until the runoffs are resolved. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/3 "2020-11-09T21:32:13Z")
I would also assume it would take a few days/weeks to certify the results and swear in the winners. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/4 "2020-11-09T21:36:02Z")
The GOP will have a 50-48 advantage in the Senate before the GA seats are filled, so McConnell will still be leader and Harris is unlikely to be in a position to break any ties. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/5 "2020-11-09T21:36:33Z")
Well, it depends on how close the elections are, and (should the GOP lose) how long it takes for the courts to shoot down all their bullshit lawsuits. I doubt it will take more than a couple weeks tops but yeah, they shouldn’t plan on being sworn in January 6. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/6 "2020-11-09T21:38:50Z")
But the VP isn’t Harris until Jan 20, right? Brian ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/7 "2020-11-09T21:41:11Z")
That too. Everybody is also forgetting that the Republicans are likely to win the uncalled races in AK and NC. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/8 "2020-11-09T21:43:52Z")
Oh, duh. Somehow I was thinking the Dems would have the lead until those Senators were seated. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/9 "2020-11-09T22:51:02Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Everybody is also forgetting that the Republicans are likely to win the uncalled races in AK and NC. When are those expected to be won? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-georgia-s-senators-in-2021-congress/925174/10 "2020-11-09T22:53:09Z")
North Carolina won’t announce any more results until the final deadline for mail-in ballots, which is November 12. Alaska I think is going to be on about the same timeframe.