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Collins conceded to Loeffler before the Associated Press called a runoff between the two candidates late Tuesday, saying she had his “support and endorsement.” Loeffler had spent much of her campaign trying to distinguish herself from Collins via social media attacks and other messaging, branding herself the stronger conservative.

Trailing behind all three in public polling was another Democrat, Matt Lieberman, the son of former Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who stayed in the race despite concerns among Democrats that he and Warnock would split votes and potentially lock the party out of the Senate runoff if Loeffler and Collins both finished ahead of them.

But Lieberman’s standing in the polls fell dramatically when former President Barack Obama and other Democrats endorsed Warnock, senior pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was once the pastoral home of Martin Luther King Jr. Stacey Abrams was another big-name Democrat to back Warnock.

Early voting in Georgia saw a near-110 percent increase since 2016, despite long lines during the first week with waits as long as 11 hours. The participation of Black voters had been on track to outpace turnout for 2008, when then-candidate Obama was swept into the presidency.

The special election is taking place because former Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Republican, resigned from his seat a year ago due to health reasons. Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to the seat, but Collins decided to run against her.

Loeffler, the appointed GOP incumbent, delivered a speech to supporters shortly after the runoff was called.

“In January, I have one of the most radical opponents on the Democratic ticket in the whole country: Raphael Warnock,” she said, to boos from attendees.

Loeffler emphasized her strong alignment with President Donald Trump’s agenda during her monthslong tenure in the Senate, which started in January.

Warnock addressed his supporters as well, shortly before the runoff was called. He said both Loeffler and Collins would aim to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the cornerstone legislative achievement of the Obama administration.

“People who lack vision traffic in division. They cannot lead us so they will try to divide us. I submit that we’re all we got,” he said. “So while they try to tear me down, I’m going to be busy trying to lift the families of Georgia up.”