Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senate Control Looms Large Over Health Agenda, With Georgia Races Going To Runoffs
Vox: The Future Of The Senate Majority Could Hinge On Two Georgia Runoffs
Both of Georgia’s Senate races will go to a runoff election to be held on January 5, 2021. With a small number of votes still to be counted in Georgia, particularly in the Democratic-leaning Atlanta suburbs, Republican Sen. David Perdue did not hit the 50 percent threshold he needed to avoid a runoff race with Democrat Jon Ossoff. As of 7 pm ET on November 5, Perdue was sitting at 49.89 percent, compared to 47.80 percent for Ossoff, according to Decision Desk. That’s runoff No. 2 for Georgia voters. Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock were already headed to a runoff in the special election for a Senate seat vacated in 2019 by retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson. (Nilsen, 11/5)
Business Insider: Georgia Senate Races Headed To Runoffs, Could Determine Senate Control
The 2020 elections won't end this year. After Republicans significantly outperformed expectations in several key Senate races this month, control of the upper chamber has come down to Georgia's two seats — both of which are heading to runoff races in early January. While Georgia's presidential race remains too close to call as ballots continue to be counted, the state is set to determine control of the upper chamber, a stunning development that gives Democrats a difficult but realistic pathway to having a unified government in Washington, DC. (Dorman and Relman, 11/5)
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Ossoff, Perdue Appear Headed For Runoff In Georgia
Republicans have won every statewide runoff vote in Georgia history, a string that started in 1992 when Paul Coverdell narrowly defeated Democratic U.S. Sen. Wyche Fowler. But Democrats aim to snap the streak next year, fueled by a surge of new voters. (Bluestein, 11/5)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
Axios: The Election Killed Any Dreams Of Big Health Care Changes
The likelihood of a Biden presidency and a closely divided Senate means that nothing big is likely to happen in health care for at least the next two years. The big picture: For all the time Democrats spent debating Medicare for All, competing public insurance options and sweeping federal controls over drug prices, the near-term future for health policy will likely be about gridlock and incrementalism. (Owens, 11/6)
Tampa Bay Times: Obamacare Supporters Lost Big In Florida
Floridians flock to the federal health-insurance exchange in higher numbers than any other state, but Obamacare-supporting political candidates, including incumbents and hopefuls, got beat in key state and federal races Tuesday. ... Health care didn’t translate at the polls the way that Florida Democrats wanted, said longtime Florida political analyst Susan MacManus, because it never was able to be distinguished from the COVID-19 pandemic. “For a lot of people, COVID incorporated the idea of health care,” she told The News Service of Florida. (Sexton, 11/5)
Politico: Pelosi Announces Big Expansion Of Covid Testing For Lawmakers
House Democratic leaders will dramatically expand Covid testing for lawmakers as the coronavirus pandemic enters its possibly deadliest phase this fall. Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the testing expansion on a private Democratic leadership call Thursday. (Bresnahan and Caygle, 11/5)
