Chambliss received 60.2 percent of the vote to 39.8 percent for Martin with 60 percent of the precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press. The runoff was held because neither candidate won at least 50 percent of the votes in the Nov. 4 election.
Chambliss’ victory makes it more difficult for Democrats to stave off Republican filibusters, an attempt to block legislation through endless debate. It takes 60 votes to stop the procedure, meaning Democrats, set to control at least 58 seats when the Senate convenes in January, will need to enlist Republicans to stymie filibusters.
Preventing a 60-seat majority gives Republicans “a shot at shutting Democrats down, or at least getting a seat at the table,” on important legislation, said Jennifer Duffy, a congressional analyst at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington.
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