ATLANTA (AP) – As votes were still being counted Thursday in Georgia, results for Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue hovered near the threshold where a runoff against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff would be required.
Perdue led unofficial returns as he sought a second term, but Ossoff still hoped to narrow the margin as votes continued to come in from Democratic-leaning areas. The Associated Press has not yet called the race.
“If overtime is required when all of the votes have been counted, we’re ready, and we will win,” Perdue campaign manager Ben Fry said in a statement.
Ossoff’s campaign manager, Ellen Foster, said in a statement that the campaign is “confident that Jon Ossoff’s historic performance in Georgia has forced Senator David Perdue” into a runoff.
In Georgia, a candidate must win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.