With President-elect Joe Biden set to take office on January 20, all eyes are now on the twin runoffs in Georgia. The two runoffs could determine the control of the US Senate.

Of the 100 seats in the Senate, the Republicans currently hold 50, while the Democrats have 48. If the Republicans manage to win even one of the runoffs, they would retain control of the Senate. This will also make Biden administration’s life difficult as most bills can be stopped at the Senate.

The Democrats have a tough challenge ahead of them in the Peach state. Georgia has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in 20 years. But if Jon Ossoff, a 33-year-old documentary producer, and pastor Raphael Warnock, 51, both win, Democrats will control the Senate, handing Biden all levers of political power in Washington.

What gives the Democratic Party hope is Biden’s performance in the state during the November presidential elections. Biden beat US President Donald Trump by 11,779 votes in Georgia.

The polls currently show the Democrats and Republicans locked neck-and-neck in both races. If the Democrats manage to pull off both the contests and make it 50-50 in the Senate, the deciding vote would be that of incoming vice-president Kamala Harris.

Georgia’s runoffs are being held the day before Congress certifies the Electoral College votes that determine the White House winner.

Certification is usually a formality but dozens of House Republicans and 12 Senate Republicans have signaled they will raise objections.