![PHOTO: Senator Raphael Warnock holds his two children Chloe and Caleb after he was reelected to the Senate in Atlanta, Dec. 6 2022.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/georgia-election-26-epa-gmh-221206_1670389036730_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg)
Georgia's Senate runoff between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker came to a close on Tuesday, with Warnock projected by ABC News to defeat Walker, after more than a year of campaigning, multiple controversies and record-breaking turnout.
While the race didn't determine control of the Senate, it did increase Democrats' power in the chamber -- where Vice President Kamala Harris currently has to break ties -- rather than see the Republicans win a 50th seat and create procedural obstacles.
Walker, a businessman and local football legend, and Warnock, a noted reverend in Atlanta, first faced off in November's general election. But neither got 50% of the vote as required by state law, leading to Tuesday's runoff after about a week of early voting.