Georgia Republicans, suddenly losing runoffs, float changing the rules

[RandySF]

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) has come out in favor of changing the state’s current runoff system, which requires the top two candidates to run again if nobody gets a majority of the vote.

And the timing is certainly conspicuous. That’s because Republicans have just come off yet another loss in a crucial Senate runoff — their third in the past two years.

Would the move obviously advantage the GOP? That’s not clear.

What is evident is that runoffs aren’t as favorable for the GOP as they once were. In 10 Georgia runoffs held between 1992 and 2018, Republicans won nine of 10 races and improved their vote shares in eight of the 10 races. That includes Raffensperger’s own 2018 race, in which he turned a 0.4-point edge on Election Day into a 3.8-point win.

In four of those races, Republicans overturned a deficit. The average shift over that span? In the GOP’s favor by more than five points, on the margin.

The story of the past two years has been very different. Democrats not only won all three Senate runoffs held after the 2020 and 2022 elections, they improved their performances over the general elections in each.





https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/12/15/georgia-runoff-republicans-advantage/

[yankee87]

1. Can't win, change the game

I lived in Georgia for 20 years. Was there during Newt’s heyday. Georgia turning Blue, so now let’s change how we hold elections.

[jimfields33]

2. It is a change. But I'm glad for it.

What a waste of money. We would have won in November and not have to wait a month for the seat. I don’t like all the changes that Georgia is doing, but I like this one.

[FakeNoose]

3. How about reopening all the closed polling places in high-density areas?