Georgians turned out to the polls Tuesday for both primary and general elections up and down the ballot seeking seats as high as congress and the Georgia Supreme Court all the way down to local school boards. For a breakdown of the judgeship races in particular – perhaps the most important of the day – see our story HERE.
The most-watched race of the day was in west Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District, where five Republicans vied to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson. Brian Jack, a former White House official who received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, emerged above the field but fell just shy of the 50% +1 needed to avoid a runoff, so his campaign will continue against former Georgia Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan. Jack will once again be the betting favorite to win the seat, but low-turnout runoffs (this one will take place June 18th) are notoriously unpredictable. Maura Keller won the Democratic primary in the safely red district.
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath meanwhile will move back to District 6, newly relocated to Atlanta’s western suburbs after the latest round of redistricting. She easily dispatched primary foes Jerica Richardson and Mandisha Thomas, who may have overestimated their chances against a popular incumbent congresswoman.
Similarly in District 13 some speculated that U.S. Rep. David Scott may be pressed in his Democratic primary, but a crowded five-candidate field did him a favor as he cruised to reelection. One of those challengers was Marcus Flowers, who famously raised more than $15 million in his challenge against U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2022. The money and name recognition garnered from that ill-fated campaign didn’t do him much good as he finished in a distant third with less than 10% of the vote.
Many Republicans hoped Fulton Co. District Attorney Fani Willis would face stiff competition just to retain her position as the county’s lead prosecutor – but she dominated opponent Christian Wise Smith by nearly 80 points to win another four year term. Expect tougher battles for her in the year to come.
Likewise Fulton Sheriff Patrick Labat won reelection with nearly 60% of the vote, dispatching a trio of challengers.
City of Atlanta voters reapproved the Municipal Optional Sales Tax (MOST), which funds water and sewer projects in the city. The tax will generate some $1.1 billion over the next four years before it goes back in front of voters in 2028.
To the north in Gwinnett County, local voters approved the new city of Mulberry in a very low-turnout contest. The state’s newest city will include large areas of unincorporated northeastern Gwinnett County – approximately 35,000 residents.
There were a handful of notable races in the state legislature as well. Democratic state Rep. Saira Draper defeated state Rep. Becky Evans to win a DeKalb County seat after the two were drawn into the same district. Controversial state Rep. Colton Moore easily defeated challenger Angela Moore to retain his north Georgia seat, while in a stunner incumbent state Rep. Teri Anulewicz was knocked off by Gabriel Sanchez in the Democratic primary for a Cobb Co. seat.
We’ll have more on these and many other races later this week.
