Georgia Senate elections live updates: Jon Ossoff projected to win Ga. Senate seat

ABC News projected early Wednesday that Rev. Raphael Warnock will win the race against Kelly Loeffler and on Wednesday afternoon that Jon Ossoff is projected to defeat David Perdue. Together, the two projected wins hand Democrats control of the Senate. For live updates on the vote totals, click here. Top headlines: ABC News projects Ossoff victory over Perdue Raffensperger escorted out of state Capitol building, says deputy secretary of state Here are Georgia's election certification deadlines Obama says ‘John Lewis is surely smiling down’ after Warnock's projected win Ossoff leads by 17,567 votes Here is how the runoffs are unfolding. All times Eastern. Jan 06, 4:12 pm ABC News projects Ossoff victory over Perdue ABC News projects that Jon Ossoff will defeat incumbent David Perdue in the Georgia Senate runoff election. PHOTO: Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff speaks after the runoff election against Republican Senator David Perdue in a still image from video in Atlanta, Jan. 6, 2021. Jon Ossoff For Senate Campaign via Reuters Jon Ossoff For Senate Campaign via Reuters Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff speaks after the runoff election against Republican Sena...Read More Ossoff, 33, claimed victory earlier Wednesday, before ABC News’ projection, in a video statement. 'It is with humility that I thank the people of Georgia for electing me to serve you in the United States Senate,' Ossoff said. 'Thank you for the confidence and trust that you have placed in me.' Combined with the previously projected win for Rev. Raphael Warnock, Ossoff's projected victory hands control of the Senate to the Democrats. Jan 06, 3:02 pm Raffensperger escorted out of state Capitol building, says deputy secretary of state Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and senior staffers have been escorted out of the state Capitol building after protestors gathered near the parking deck, according to Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs. PHOTO: Lead by a Georgia State Trooper, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, center, exits the Georgia State Capitol building after hearing reports of threats, Jan. 6, 2021, in Atlanta. Alyssa Pointer/AP Alyssa Pointer/AP Lead by a Georgia State Trooper, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, center, exits the...Read More PHOTO: Chester Doles, center, leader of American Patriots USA, roams the third floor of the Georgia State Capitol building looking for the office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Jan. 6, 2021, in Atlanta. Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP Chester Doles, center, leader of American Patriots USA, roams the third floor of the Georgia State...Read More He told ABC News that the protestors are members of a militia. Raffensperger and his staff were walked to their cars by Capitol police, Fuchs said. The incident occurred as pro-Trump demonstrators breached the U.S. Capitol, forcing a lockdown with members of Congress. --ABC News’ Quinn Scanlan Jan 06, 2:04 pm Here are Georgia's election certification deadlines Walter Jones, a spokesperson for the Georgia secretary of state’s office, shared certification deadline information with ABC News Wednesday for the runoff elections. If Ossoff wins, and the results aren't certified until the deadlines below, then President-elect Joe Biden won't have a majority in the Senate until a few days after his inauguration. If the results are certified and the Democrats are seated before Biden takes office, Democrats won't have a majority until he's inaugurated because they need Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote. The deadlines are as follows. Friday, Jan. 8: The deadline to cure rejected absentee ballots, deadline to verify provisional ballots (if voters lacked photo ID), and deadline for receiving military/overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day. Friday, Jan. 15: The deadline for counties to certify election results (though this could happen sooner if everything is ready). Friday, Jan. 22: The deadline for the secretary of state to certify election results (this also could happen sooner if everything is ready). The deadline for a campaign to request a recount if the margin is less than 0.5% is two business days after the secretary certifies the election. If the secretary does this on Jan. 22, then a campaign would have until Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. to put in the request. Georgia code says the secretary delivers the vote totals to the governor who issues a certificate of election to the winners -ABC News’ Quinn Scanlan Jan 06, 1:42 pm Obama says ‘John Lewis is surely smiling down’ after Warnock's projected win Former President Barack Obama in a statement Wednesday congratulated Warnock on his historic projected win in Georgia. “My friend John Lewis is surely smiling down on his beloved Georgia this morning, as people across the state carried forward the baton that he and so many others passed down to them,” Obama wrote. He also lauded the 'resilient, visionary leadership' of Stacey Abrams and added that, “Democrats in Georgia and across the country should feel good today.” MORE: Dems feel 'a great deal of urgency' ahead of Georgia runoffs: Stacey Abrams “Georgia’s first Black senator will make the chamber more reflective of our country as a whole and open the door for a Congress that can forego gridlock for gridlock’s sake to focus instead on the many crises facing our nation -- pandemic relief for struggling families, voting rights, protecting our planet, and more,” Obama wrote. He implored Americans to remain engaged in civic life. “If we want to protect the gains we’ve made, achieve even more progress in the years to come, and reinforce the foundations of self-governance on which our country rests, there’s no better path to follow than the one forged by the determined, organized, and confidently hopeful people of Georgia,” Obama wrote. -ABC News’ Ben Gittleson Load More Comments ( 2168 ) ABC News by TaboolaYou May Like Wrong number draws mistaken calls, ire from Trump supporters Leader of Proud Boys arrested ahead of DC protests: Police Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter won't attend Biden's inauguration Gabrielle Giffords tweets moving message to husband after Capitol breached Against the odds, Georgia Democrats make history with Senate runoffs Georgia Senate runoff election results 2021 Top Stories 4 dead after Capitol breached by pro-Trump mob during 'failed insurrection' Jan 07, 12:00 AM Members of Trump Cabinet discussing invoking 25th Amendment: Sources Jan 06, 7:18 PM Former Defense Secretary Mattis says Trump 'fomented' security breach at US Capitol Jan 07, 12:03 AM Some GOP senators reverse objections to Electoral College certification after rioting Jan 06, 11:29 PM 4 dead after Capitol breached by pro-Trump mob during 'failed insurrection' Ja link link link link link link link link link link link link link link link link link link link