The Election

Republican Chambliss Wins Ga. Senate Runoff

Democrats fall short of 60 Senate seats.

No 60 Senate seats for the Democrats this year: Senator Saxby Chambliss has trounced Democrat Jim Martin in a runoff vote in Georgia. The Republican led Martin 59 to 41 percent with 81 percent of precincts reporting, and the Associated Press has handed the incumbent the win. The “margin will narrow somewhat as heavily Democratic precincts continue to report, but it still will be a decisive victory for Chambliss,” Politico’s Josh Kraushaar reports. Chambliss’ victory comes after he fell short of the 50 percent necessary on November 4, forcing the runoff vote. Turnout was light Tuesday, around 20 to 25 percent—a factor that helped Chambliss—and Martin’s hitching himself to President-elect Barack Obama’s coattails was not enough for a victory. The last Senate race to be decided will be Franken-Coleman in Minnesota, where a recount is expected to be finished Friday.