People, being blue that the Georgia senate race was close is strictly optional. Consider first that Ossoff and Warnock flipped the state from two Republican senators to two Democrats (a progressive Jewish guy, a progressive Black guy) a year ago, that voter suppression continues to be an obstacle for Black voters, and that Georgia just elected a minister who carries on MLK's vision from MLK's own Atlanta pulpit, a man who supports climate action, abortion rights, and LGBTQ rights--and voting rights. To me, it looks pretty wonderful and like it gives us all the option of rejoicing. In other words, don't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory unless that's really your favorite flavor, and if it is your favorite flavor perhaps ask why.
Georgia hadn't had two Democratic senators since 2003. Hadn't had one since 2005--and that was long before the current era of massive voter suppression and Supreme Court killing off of the Voting Rights Act had happened. Meaning that winning was much easier then for a candidate supported by Black voters, and of course part of why these victories were possible is Stacey Abrams's great work for voting rights in recent years--and all the GOTV work that happened.
It really does confound me that so many people are posting--and one even wrote to me--to focus on the fact that lots of people voted for Walker. Biden narrowly won Georgia two years ago, meaning lots of people voted for the thug. We know this. That Republicans get votes is not news. Is this response just the habit of dwelling in the safety of gloom? Because this morning it looks like seeking out something to be gloomy about when there are other options, and ones I believe serve us better in doing the work we must do.
It's glorious and gorgeous in a "when hope and history rhyme" way that this particular Black man, heir to MLK, also won the whole damn senate for the Democrats--that he is the one who's why Democrats will now be the majority on all senate committees, that there's a true majority, not 50 + the v.p. For judicial appointments and so much more, this is a great thing, and Georgia now has its first full-term Black senator, along with its first Jewish senator. Ever. So much we face is indeed hard and grim that we should celebrate whenever there's occasion, and this is definitely one.