NBC News predicts that Democrat Raphael Warnock will be re-elected to the U.S. Senate, which is crucial for President Joe Biden.
His expected victory gave Democrats a supermajority after ending two years with a 50-50 margin in the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote.
Mr Warnock defeated Republican opponent Herschel Walker – a former NFL star – during the Georgia campaign.
The runoff was triggered after neither candidate won an outright majority in last month’s midterm elections.
Pastor Raphael Warnock celebrates with supporters
Mr Warnock told supporters in his victory speech: “After a tough campaign – or should I say campaign – I am honored to be able to say four of the most powerful words democracy has ever seen: The people have spoken .”
Mr. Biden called him to congratulate him.
He tweeted: “Georgia voters tonight stand for our democracy, reject Ultra MAGAism, and most importantly: send a good guy back to the Senate. 6 years to go.”
Mr Walker, a 1980s NFL legend, has been unable to overcome a string of damaging allegations, including claims he paid for the abortions of two ex-girlfriends.
former nfl star herschel walker
As a multimillionaire businessman, he has exaggerated his philanthropic activities and business achievements, including claims that his companies employ hundreds of people and generate tens of millions of dollars in annual sales, although records show he had eight employees, an average Salaries are around $1.5m (£1.2m) a year.
He has stated that he has worked as a law enforcement officer and is a college (university) graduate, although he has done neither.
His Senate bid was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
On the campaign trail, Mr. Warnock, the state’s first black senator, touted his gains in the Senate, touting a provision he sponsored to cap the cost of insulin for low-income patients, as well as deals on infrastructure and maternal health care.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Mr Warnock’s victory was “against MAGA’s Republican extremist policies”.
The final weeks of the election season have become increasingly painful. Mr Walker called Mr Warnock, the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia’s capital, a “hypocrite” who was at the beck and call of President Joe Biden.
Despite being a Democrat, Mr. Warnock has sought to distance himself from Mr. Biden, who is lagging behind amid persistently high U.S. inflation.
Walker is a supporter of the Republican Observer Party.Image: Associated Press
Democrats’ new supermajority in the Senate doesn’t spell the end of a divided government, as Republicans narrowly flipped control of the House in recent midterm elections, but it does mean they will now control powerful committees.