The Independent View: GA Runoff Timing Means Perdue Won't be in Congress for Electoral College

The Tight January Political Calendar means Georgia Sen. David Perdue (R) won't be in Office when Congress Meets for a Joint Session of the Electoral College on January 6th, regardless of the Results of the Senate Runoff the Day before.

Sydney Butler, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Senate, who Oversees the Chamber's Operations and Procedures Confirmed that Perdue's Term will Officially Expire at the End of the Current Congress on January 3rd, leaving his Seat Temporarily Vacant.

Officials in both Gov. Brian Kemp's and Perdue's Offices say that even if he is Projected the Winner on January 5th, the Seat will Remain Vacant until the Runoff Results are Certified, which could take weeks.

At an event Monday in Atlanta, Perdue's Opponent, Jon Ossoff (D), said that Perdue needs to make Clear whether or Not he Supports the Efforts to Object to the Electoral College Results, even if a Technicality would Prevent him from Serving during the Small Window of time the Congress takes up the Matter.

"He must make it clear where he stands and Senator Perdue is supporting these out of state efforts to disenfranchise his own constituents. It was young voters who delivered this state for Joe and Kamala (Harris), it was black voters who delivered this state for Joe and Kamala, and when Senator Perdue supports efforts to throw out ballots cast by his own constituents, that's an attack on black voters here in Georgia, that's an attack on voting rights in Georgia," Ossoff said.

"Senator Perdue make it clear where he stands, and this is why we need a new voting rights act, to secure voting rights for all."

An Official in Perdue's Office said Perdue does Not Plan to Participate in any Senate Business between Noon on January 3rd and when the Results of the Runoff are Certified.

Georgia's other U.S. Senator, Kelly Loeffler (R) who is locked in her own Runoff Race with Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock (D) was Appointed to fill Retired Sen. Johnny Isakson's (R) Seat and will remain in Office until a Winner of the Senate Special Election Runoff is Sworn in.

That will leave Republicans in the Senate with One less Vote in the Event of an Challenge to President-Elect Joe Biden's Electoral College Victory, 51 to 48.