Perdue’s re-election race goes to a runoff in Georgia, leaving the Senate majority in limbo.

Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, was combating for his political life on Saturday in a contest that might decide which occasion controls the Senate, as his re-election bid headed to a January runoff towards Jon Ossoff, his Democratic challenger.

Mr. Perdue had a razor-thin lead over Mr. Ossoff in a contest that demonstrated Democrats’ rising power in what was as soon as a Republican stronghold within the Deep South. Neither candidate claimed a majority of votes amid a protracted depend, in response to The Related Press.

The inconclusive end result arrange a drastic rematch between Mr. Perdue and Mr. Ossoff on Jan. 5, and thrust Georgia into the middle of the nation’s political fray as Joseph R. Biden Jr. appeared on observe to win the White Home. The state had already been scheduled to determine the destiny of its different Senate seat in a special-election runoff between the Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, and Senator Kelly Loeffler, a Republican, on the identical day. That makes it practically sure that the dual Georgia races will decide which occasion controls the chamber simply two weeks earlier than the following presidential inauguration.

“Change has come to Georgia,” Mr. Ossoff stated at a rally on Friday, “and Georgia is part of the change coming to America.”

If Mr. Biden wins the White Home and Democrats take each of Georgia’s seats, they might draw the Senate to a 50-50 tie, successfully taking management of the chamber, given the vp’s energy to solid tiebreaking votes. However that may be a tall order in a state with deep conservative roots, and Republicans felt fairly assured they may hold onto no less than one of many seats wanted to disclaim Democrats the bulk.

Two different Senate races, in North Carolina and in Alaska, had not but been known as. However Republicans have been main in each and anticipated to win, placing them at 50 seats to the Democrats’ 48.