Democrats and Republicans are quickly turning their attention from the presidential election to two run-off elections for the US Senate to be held in January in Georgia, which are set to determine who controls the upper chamber of Congress.

The two Georgia seats offer Democrats their last chance of controlling the 100-member Senate after their hopes of comfortably overturning the existing Republican majority fell short last week. A win in both for the Democrats would likely leave the Senate split 50-50, but the vice-president’s casting vote would tip the advantage to the Democratic side.

Democrats see a majority in the Senate as crucial for president-elect Joe Biden to push through his legislative agenda, on everything from healthcare to climate policy. Republicans are desperate to hold on in an effort to stymie a Biden administration.