Republican David Perdue has won the Georgia Senate race, surpassing the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. He beat formidable Democrat Michelle Nunn in the race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
Polling leading up to Election Day indicated that the race was close enough to force a runoff, but Perdue's outright win is another sign of Republican strength on this Election Day where they won enough seats to take control of the Senate.
In the NBC News exit poll in Georgia, 56 percent of voters said government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals. Just 40 percent said the government should do more to solve problems.
Perhaps that is insight into why Perdue won despite strong attacks by Nunn over comments the Republican entrepreneur made about outsourcing.
In addition, 35 percent of Georgia voters said one reason for their Senate vote was to express opposition to President Obama, which outnumbered the 19 percent who said their vote was in support of the president.
Voters expressed similar sentiment over the Affordable Care Act – 51 percent of Georgia voters felt it went too far while just 20 percent said it was about right, Another 24 percent said it did not go far enough.
Both Nunn and Perdue were first time candidates; both were also benefactors of well-known names in Georgia politics.
Nunn is the daughter of revered former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn who campaigned heavily on his daughter's behalf.
Perdue is also from a political family; former Gov. Sonny Perdue is a cousin. The former Dollar General CEO made his business experience the centerpiece of his run.
Complete 2014 election news and results
- Carrie Dann and Leigh Ann Caldwell