Primary elections were held Tuesday to decide party nominees ahead of the General Election in November. This midterm primary election saw record early voting turnout with 860,068 casting votes compared to 320,692 in 2018.
Primary elections were held Tuesday to decide party nominees ahead of the General Election in November. This midterm primary election saw record in-person early voting turnout with 860,068 casting votes compared to 320,692 in 2018. Approximately 2 million people voted total in the May 24th election.
The numbers below reflect the election results as of May 31 at 10:00 AM. Detailed election results can be found here.
Runoff elections will be held on June 21. Check your voter registration status and polling place here.
STATEWIDE RACES
In the race for Governor, incumbent Brian Kemp (R) defeated former Senator David Perdue (R) with 73% of the vote and will be the Republican party's nominee. With no opposition in the primary, Stacey Abrams (D) will be the Democratic party nominee for the General Election.
With Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan (R) not seeking re-election, the Lt. Governor's office is an open seat. For the Republican nomination, State Senator Burt Jones (R) defeated State Senator Butch Miller (R) with 50.07% of the vote and will be the Republican nominee. For the Democratic nomination, Kwanza Hall finished first with 30%, and Charlie Bailey finished second with 17.6% of the vote. The race for a Democratic nominee will go to a runoff on June 21.
Incumbent Attorney General Chris Carr (R) secured the Republican nomination with 73% of the vote. State Senator Jen Jordan (D) secured the Democratic nomination with 77% of the vote over opponent Christian Wise Smith.
Incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger (R) won the Republican nomination outright with 52% of the vote. State Rep. Bee Nguyen (D) finished first with 44%, and Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D) finished second for the Democratic nomination with 18% of the vote. The race for the Democratic nomination will proceed to a runoff on June 21.
Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black's (R) decision to run for the U.S. Senate leaves the race for Agriculture Commissioner open. State Senator Tyler Harper (R) faced no opposition and is the Republican nominee. For the Democratic nomination, Nakita Hemingway (D) won the Democratic nomination outright with 56% of the vote against State Rep. Winfred Dukes (D) and Fred Swann (D).
Appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in 2019, Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King (R) is running for office for the first time. Commissioner King defeated his opponents with 70% of the vote and will be the Republican nominee. Janice Laws Robinson (D) and Raphael Baker (D) finished first and second and will advance to a runoff for the Democratic nomination on June 21.
Incumbent State Superintendent Richard Woods (R) defeated former State Superintendent John Barge (R) with 72% of the vote to be the Republican nominee. For the Democratic nominee, Alisha Thomas Searcy (D) secured the nomination with 57% of the vote amongst a crowded field of four candidates.
Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler (R) chose not to run for re-election, leaving the seat open. State Senator Bruce Thompson (R) defeated his opponents with 62% of the vote for the Republican nominee. In a crowded field of five candidates, State Rep. William Boddie (D) and Nicole Horn (D) finished first and second for the Democratic nomination and will advance to a runoff on June 21.
For Public Service Commission District 2, Incumbent Commissioner Tim Echols (R) faced no opposition and will be the Republican nominee. For the Democratic nominee, Patty Durand (D) defeated Russell Edwards (D) with 60% of the vote.
For Public Service Commission District 3, Incumbent Fitz Johnson (R), appointed by Governor Brian Kemp to fill the remaining term of Judge Chuck Eaton, faced no opposition and will be the Republican nominee. For the Democratic nominee, Sheila Edwards (D) defeated her opponents with 54% of the vote.
Supreme Court Justice Verda Colvin (nonpartisan), appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in 2021, defeated challenger Veronica Brinson (nonpartisan) and will now serve a full six-year term.
FEDERAL RACES
In the race for the U.S. Senate, incumbent Raphael Warnock (D) was overwhelmingly chosen as the Democratic nominee. UGA football legend Herschel Walker (R) swept the Republican field, avoiding a runoff, with 68% of the vote, trailed by current Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black (R) and Latham Saddler (R).
Of Georgia's 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, two seats are open: the 6th Congressional District due to redistricting and the 10th due to Congressman Jody Hice's (R-10) decision to run for Secretary of State.
After being drawn into the same district during the 2021 redistricting process, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-6) and Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-7) ran head-to-head in the primary in the 7th Congressional District. Congresswoman McBath won the Democratic nominee with 63% of the vote. Michael Corbin (R) and Mark Gonsalves (R) will advance to a June 21 runoff for the Republican nomination.
In the open 6th Congressional District race, Rich McCormick (R) and Jake Evans (R) finished first and second in a crowded field of nine candidates for the Republican nominee. Bob Christian (D) defeated Wayne White (D) and will be the Democratic nominee. The runoff for the Republican nominee will be on June 21.
Because Congressman Jody Hice (R-10) decided to run for Secretary of State, the 10th Congressional District is an open seat. Mike Collins (R) will face off against Former State Rep. Vernon Jones (R) in the runoff on the Republican side, and Tabitha Johson-Green (D) and Jessica Allison-Fore (D) will face off in the runoff on the Democratic side.
Runoff elections for party nominees will occur in 5 of Georgia's 14 Congressional districts.
All of Georgia's 14 congressional districts will be decided in the November General Election.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY RACES
Of the 236 seats in the Georgia General Assembly, 43 House and 10 Senate seats are open. Of the 53 open seats, sixteen are committee chairman or members of leadership. This election also brings many notable retirements, including the Dean of the General Assembly, Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), House Appropriations Chairman, Rep. Terry England (R-Winder), and the Senate Rules Chairman Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga). Notable primary races are:
– Due to redistricting, State Rep. Danny Mathis (R) and State Rep. Robert Pruitt (R) faced off against each other. Rep. Mathis defeated Rep. Pruitt with 56% of the vote.
– Due to redistricting, State Rep. Bonnie Rich (R), the House Majority Caucus Chair, and State Rep. David Clark (R) faced off against each other. Rep. Clark defeated Rep. Rich with 59% of the vote.
– State Rep. Shelly Hutchinson (D) and State Rep. Rebecca Mitchell (D) were redistricted together and faced off in the Democratic primary. Rep. Hutchinson defeated Rep. Mitchell with 58% of the vote.
– State Rep. Roger Bruce (D) faced a crowded primary of three other candidates. Rep. Bruce will advance into a June 21 runoff against Rashuan Kemp (D).
– State Rep. Sheri Gilligan (R) only secured 49.67% of the vote in the Republican primary and will advance into a June 21 runoff against Carter Barrett (R)
Party nominees for one Senate and ten House seats will be decided in the June 21 runoff.
CITY OF ATLANTA TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (TSPLOST) AND INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS
Voters in the City of Atlanta overwhelmingly approved continuing the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) and two infrastructure bonds. The existing .4% sales tax fund provides $350 million for new streets, bike lanes, and sidewalk projects all across the City of Atlanta. Approval of the two bonds will provide an additional $400 million for infrastructure projects. If the TSPLOST had not been renewed and the bonds approved, the city's infrastructure budget would have had a $750 million hole.
MAC ENGAGEMENT
The Metro Atlanta Chamber directly engaged in the primary election through two entities: MACPAC and the Georgia Coalition for Job Creation (GCJC).
MACPAC is a political action committee that supports pro-business candidates at the state level. MACPAC has supported 100 candidates during this election cycle.
Georgia Coalition for Job Creation (GCJC) is an independent expenditure committee co-managed by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. GCJC engages in direct voter contact, and notably, GCJC engaged in the race for Senate District 3 on behalf of candidate Mike Hodges (R), who finished first with 46.69% of the vote.
KEY ELECTION DATES
Runoff Elections
Friday, June 10 Last day to submit an absentee application for Runoff Elections
Monday, June 13 In-person early voting begins
Tuesday, June 21 Primary runoff election Day
General Election
Monday, August 22 Earliest day to submit an absentee ballot application for the General Election
Tuesday, October 11 Last day to register to vote in the General Election
Monday, October 17 In-person early voting begins
Saturday, October 22 Mandatory Saturday early voting day
Sunday, October 23 Optional Sunday early voting day (check your county's voting schedule)
Friday, October 28 Last day to submit an absentee ballot application for the general election
Saturday, October 29 Saturday early voting day
Sunday, October 30 Optional Sunday early voting day (check your county's voting schedule)
Tuesday, November 8 Election Day
