Georgia runoff election results – live: Official says result won’t come tonight as GOP accused over racist ad

Joe Sommerlad and Chantal Da Silva
Biden (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Biden (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The southern state of Georgia goes to the polls on Tuesday to vote in two crucial runoff elections that could shift the balance of power in the US Senate from a Republican to a Democratic majority, as GOP incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue take on challengers Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

President-elect Joe Biden was campaigning for Reverend Warnock and Mr Ossoff on Monday evening, promising voters that their victories would mean a blue takeover of the Senate and thus the chance to upgrade Covid relief cheques for American citizens from the current $600 a month to $2,000, a move staunchly opposed by current majority leader Mitch McConnell.

Donald Trump was also attempting to drum up support for Ms Loeffler and Mr Perdue last night but largely used the opportunity to protest his own defeat in November’s general election.