Politically Georgia
Politically Georgia

Ossoff, Warnock take first votes as senators, confirm Biden intelligence director

Joe Biden, center, greets a crowd with fellow Democrats Raphael Warnock, left, and Jon Ossoff following a “Get Ready to Vote” rally in December at Pratt-Pullman Yard in Atlanta’s Kirkwood neighborhood. All three men were sworn into office Wednesday, Biden as president and Warnock and Ossoff as U.S. senators. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Credit: Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com

Credit: Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com

Joe Biden, center, greets a crowd with fellow Democrats Raphael Warnock, left, and Jon Ossoff following a “Get Ready to Vote” rally in December at Pratt-Pullman Yard in Atlanta’s Kirkwood neighborhood. All three men were sworn into office Wednesday, Biden as president and Warnock and Ossoff as U.S. senators. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)
By
Jan 21, 2021

WASHINGTON — Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock walked into the U.S. Senate chamber together Wednesday evening, both wanting to double-check that they followed correct procedures in casting votes for the first time.

Ossoff had used a thumbs-up to mark his “yes” vote. Warnock had already signaled the same. Clerks confirmed that each vote had been counted.

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Both Georgia senators, sworn in just a couple of hours earlier, had taken their first official actions. The two Democrats’ votes helped confirm Avril Haines as director of national intelligence under President Joe Biden. Ossoff and Warnock were part of the 84-10 majority.

Earlier in the day, both men had attended Biden’s inauguration. Vice President Kamala Harris administered to them the oath of office, flipping both of Georgia’s Senate seats from red to blue and the balance of power in the Senate to Democratic control.

About the Author

Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington correspondent. In this role, she writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.

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