It’s Election Day, again, this time in Georgia

Good morning, New Jersey.  It’s Election Day in Georgia and the polls now open to determine which party will control the United States Senate.

Both of Georgia’s seats are in play in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998 but that went for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election — by 11,779 votes.

Republican incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler appear to be in close races against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock.

Perdue is seeking re-election to a second term in a runoff against Ossoff.  Neither candidate received 50% of the vote on November 3.  Perdue led, 49.73% to 47.95%.

Loeffler was appointed to fill a vacancy last year when GOP Senator Johnny Isakson resigned for health reasons.  She faces a runoff against Warnock.  Warnock led Loeffler, 32.9% to 25.9% in a mostly Republican field.

Polls have shown this race to be too close to call

It’s not immediately clear how a Sunday Washington Post bombshell about President Donald Trump pressuring the Georgia Secretary of State to find him more votes before the Electoral College meets tomorrow will affect today’s voting.

In a way, it’s also Election Day for other prominent senators.

If Ossoff and Warner both win, Charles Schumer will replace Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader.  That would put the Senate at 50-50, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker.

A Democratic majority would also install the senior senator from New Jersey, Bob Menendez, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  That’s one of the most powerful and prestigious jobs on Capitol Hill.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker would likely wind up heading a Senate subcommittee, increasing New Jersey’s clout in Washington.

Also important: a Democratic Senate majority could mean easier confirmations for Menendez and Booker’s choices for federal judges and other key posts.

Republicans have a 51-46 majority, with two independents who organize with Democrats, Bernie Sanders and Angus King.  Perdue’s term expired at noon Sunday and he is presently a former senator.

Menendez is the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee.  He served as chairman from 2013 to 2015, the last time Democrats controlled the Senate.