Turnout was terrible in during Tuesday’s party primaries. Around 18 percent of the state’s registered voters cast ballots, compared to 44 percent in the March 1 presidential primary. This occurred even though there were many more offices on the ballot than on March 1. Turnout was also a factor that resulted in several surprises around metro Atlanta.
In the Sandy Springs-based state House District 52, an open Republican primary due to the retirement of incumbent Joe Wilkinson, attorney and community activist Deborah Silcox beat former City Councilman Graham McDonald by a 150-vote margin. Just 4,273 total votes were cast, compared to 9,616 in the district’s March 1 GOP presidential primary. McDonald’s defeat is a stinging embarrassment to Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, who endorsed McDonald, helped him pressure Wilkinson out of the race and basically ran his campaign. Silcox is now the representative-elect, since no Democrat is running for the post.
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