My friend John Lewis is surely smiling down on his beloved Georgia this morning, as people across

the state carried forward the baton that he and so many others passed down to them.

I want to congratulate Reverend Raphael Warnock on his election as Georgia’s next U.S. Senator—
and while we’re still waiting on final results in the other runoff, it’s clear that last night’s showing,
alongside President-Elect Biden’s November victory in Georgia, is a testament to the power of the
tireless and often unheralded work of grassroots organizing and the resilient, visionary leadership of
Stacey Abrams. Georgia’s first Black senator will make the chamber more reflective of our country as
a whole and open the door for a Congress that can forego gridlock for gridlock’s sake to focus instead
on the many crises facing our nation—pandemic relief for struggling families, voting rights, protecting
our planet, and more.

Democrats in Georgia and across the country should feel good today. But the past four years show us
that even outside of election season—and outside of races that garner national attention—we’ve got
to remain engaged in civic life. From police reforms to gerrymandering decisions, many levers of real
and lasting progress are found at the state and local levels, and further advancements depend on us
vigilantly honoring the precious, sometimes fragile gift of the American experiment. In recent years,
our institutions, our democracy, and truth itself have been greatly tested by those who’ve chosen to
prioritize personal gain or political ambition over our democratic principles. And even a good election
will not eliminate those threats.

Yet we should also remember that in two weeks, we will inaugurate a new president. He will have a
chance to work with a new Senate and House on the business of the American people. If we want to
protect the gains we’ve made, achieve even more progress in the years to come, and reinforce the
foundations of self-governance on which our country rests, there’s no better path to follow than the
one forged by the determined, organized, and confidently hopeful people of Georgia.