State Sen. Josh McKoon and supporters at the State Capitol
“It is exciting and humbling to look around me and see so many people who have come here today to support me,” said State Senator Josh McKoon, R- Columbus. Standing with his wife, various peers from the State Senate and more than 50 supporters on the stairs in the state Capitol, McKoon announced yesterday that he is “officially in the race” for Georgia Secretary of State.
“Georgians have been inspired by our vision to make Georgia the fastest state in the nation to get a job and the toughest state in the nation to cast an illegal vote,” McKoon added.
McKoon, who began his first term in January 2011, is a member of the Economic Development, Ethics, Insurance and Labor and Judiciary committees – and is also secretary of the Regulated Industries and Utilities committees. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University and earned his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2003.
McKoon became the fourth Republican candidate to officially get in the race to fill the seat being vacated by Brian Kemp — who is running for Governor. State Rep. Buzz Brockway, State Rep. Brad Raffersperger, and Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle have qualified so far. The Republican nominee is expected to square off against former U.S. Rep. John Barrow — one of three Democrats in the race.
Barrow, also a former Athens-Clark County commissioner, says his campaign has raised over $340,000 since last September. Barrow, seen networking at a Wednesday night charity event at Atlanta’s Trolley Barn, says he is running to “protect the right to vote, make it easier to do business and create jobs… and prevent professional fraud.” He is probably the most well-known Democrat running statewide for a constitutional office with the exception of the two Democrat gubernatorial candidates– Stacey Evans and Stacey Abrams.
