Rev Raphael Warnock has defeated Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler to become the next Democratic US senator from Georgia.
The Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, a post once held by Martin Luther King Jr, was elected on Tuesday January 5 to be the first black Senator from Georgia. He is also the first Georgia Democrat elected to the senate in 20 years.
His election has been seen as a repudiation of the incumbent Republican, Senator Kelly Loeffler and her adherence to President Donald Trump
The runoff election was held after no Georgia senate candidate received 50% of the vote in November. The control of the US Senate now comes down to Republican David Perdue, who is running to keep his seat against Democrat Jon Ossoff.
Warnock ran on a platform of increased access to health care, expanding Medicaid, and protecting voting rights. He painted Loeffler, the richest member of Congress, as out of touch.
