On January 5th, a runoff election was held in the state of Georgia after the results of the 2020 election left neither of the four candidates with a majority vote. Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler were set against Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, and later that day the election declared the two Democrats the winners of the suspenseful race. Prior to this calling, the Senate contained 48 Democratic seats and 50 Republican seats, leaving the Georgia elections to fill the remaining spots. With Democrats gaining these two seats, the Senate is now split fifty-fifty, and with the recent inauguration of Vice President Kamala Harris, any tied votes can be broken in Democratic favor. The runoff election has marked a significant day in history, as Rev. Warnock has become Georgia’s first African-American senator, and Ossoff the state’s first Jewish senator. The Democratic hold of the Senate plays a crucial role for President Biden’s first term, allowing him less-hindered attempts to pass promised legislation.

In his first few days of presidency, Congress has allowed thirty executive orders to be issued, such as the re-entering of the United States into the Paris Climate Agreement, the continuation of American participation in the World Health Organization, and an extension on mask-wearing mandates to travel services such as airplanes, trains, cross-city busses, and water vessels. These orders, ten of which directly reverse former President Trump’s policies, would not have been able to be signed into effect without Congressional approval, which demonstrates how critical the runoff election was to President Biden’s success. Future actions such as additional COVID relief bills and the President’s cabinet picks will also heavily depend on congressional approval to allow Biden an unobstructed start to his presidential term. The critical Georgia runoffs have painted a bright future for the Biden administration, as the President currently takes action to fulfill promises and build back the United States, shining light on the country as hope for these dismal times.