“Even though we won the general election, we came up with just under 50% rule in Georgia, and now I want to congratulate the Democratic Party and my opponent for the running victory. -over this, “wrote Perdue.” Bonnie and I will continue to pray for our wonderful state and our great country. May God continue to bless Georgia and the United States of America. ”
Perdue did not sign Ossoff in the statement after a controversial campaign. Georgia is asking a candidate to get 50% more than one vote to win the general election and Perdue did not reach that level, forcing the water to run between him and Ossoff.
A source from the Ossoff campaign told CNN that Perdue had not called Ossoff to surrender. Fox News was the first report of a lack of a call.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp congratulated Ossoff in a series of tweets on Friday afternoon and thanked Perdue for what he had done in the Senate.
CNN made a prediction Wednesday that Georgians had elected Ossoff to the U.S. Senate, handing over control of the Democratic Party to Congress and the White House for the first time since Barack Obama was president, reiterated strong case of President Donald Trump as he tries to reverse his own loss.
The victory of Ossoff and the victory of his colleague Georgia Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock removes the Senate, empowering President Joe Biden to introduce legislation, liberal legislation and push through the nomination of a cabinet without Republican support. Senate party split 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking tie votes.
Warnock, the former minister of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, and Ossoff are the first Black and Jewish elders to represent Georgia.
“A new administration will begin on January 20,” Trump said in a video tapped at the White House. “My focus now shifts to ensuring a smooth, orderly and power-free transition.”
A White House adviser said in talks with senior officials that Trump recorded the video only because his leadership is in danger of resignation and possible impeachment.
Trump’s rejection of his acceptance prompted his loss of fighting within the Republican Party and eradicated some of his supporters, who believed his false claims that the vote had been held hard.
Trump’s continued attack on Republican officials in charge of the elections pressured Georgia’s two GOP senators, Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, to make a choice: Join the President to try to turn a democratic outcome or risk of losing Trump supporters.
Despite three recounts and no evidence of widespread fraud, Loeffler and Perdue decided to join the President in support of a complaint against Congress’ testimony of the election College results on Wednesday in a final, forbidden display of passion for Trump supporters.
This story was updated with tweets from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
CNN’s Manu Raju, Alex Rogers, Kristin Wilson, Kevin Liptak, Veronica Stracqualursi, Allie Malloy, Eric Levenson, Amir Vera, Mallika Kallingal, Jeremy Herb, Clare Foran, Keith Allen and Phil Mattingly contributed to this report.