As votes continue to be tabulated statewide and nationally in key Electoral College states, let’s look at Georgia (with its 16 presidential Electoral College votes) that is now in the national spotlight and at some state legislative races where we finally know the results.
President Donald Trump, as this is written, is hanging on to a slim lead with final absentee votes being counted last night from Democrat-dominated Fulton County but offset by votes trickling in from dozens of pro-Trump rural counties. A very narrow Trump victory, though, could be challenged by the Joe Biden camp that would call for a statewide recount.
GOP maintains General Assembly control
Republicans maintained control of both houses of the General Assembly, crucial for the imminent reapportionment process that redraws state legislative districts every 10 years after the national census. Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer praised the “amazing partnership” with the House Republican Caucus which contributed more than $3 million to the Georgia Republican Party for campaign efforts.
The biggest score of the night on the state level was a major Republican effort paying off in House Minority Leader Bob Trammel’s House District 132 in central rural Georgia. GOP leaders made the seat their top priority, pumping money and resources into the race. It result3ed in David Jenkins taking home a three-point victory to strike a blow against Democratic leadership. The Dems will now have to elect a new Minority Leader ahead of the 2021 legislative session.
Most of the other key races to watch were in the suburbs, where Democrats hoped to pick up additional seats. Sen. P.K. Martin fell to Democrat Nikki Merritt in his Gwinnett-based seat, while Republican Sen. Brian Strickland held on for a tight victory in Henry County. Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, another Republican, also won re-election in a contested east Cobb County district.
Republican Rep. Brett Harrell, a longtime Democratic target, finally fell to Democrat Rebecca Mitchell in his Snellville seat. Rep. Dale Rutledge, another Republican, lost his McDonough seat to Democrat Regina Lewis-Ward. But Savannah Republican Rep. Ron Stephens, considered by some to be at risk, cruised to a 10-point victory.
As this is written, though, state Rep. Deborah Silcox, R-Sandy Springs, was slightly losing to Democrat Shea Roberts. The final Fulton County tally will tell the story of her fate.
Cobb County reverts to Democrat control
Observers in both parties in 2018 said that once-Republican dominated Cobb County, because of population growth and changing demographics, would be moving toward a majority-Democrat status. They were right. All Republicans elected countywide were defeated. It especially hurt the GOP that its district attorney, sheriff and County Commission chair candidates were ousted.
East Cobb County is still Republican-dominated. There was a move for cityhood the past couple of years, but its leaders inexplicably pulled the plug on pursuing it in the General Assembly, which would have to ratify any bill to create a new city and allow a vote on it by the affected populace. There’s a lot of remorse among those cityhood advocates now. Rumblings are that Democrats will punish east Cobb, probably starting by raising taxes.
State GOP sues to enforce election law
Late yesterday the Georgia Republican Party filed suit against the Chatham County (Savannah) Board of Elections to enforce Georgia election laws, secure lawful absentee ballots and prevent the unlawful counting of ballots received after the election. Chairman David Shafer tweeted that Republican observers in the county had “watched an unidentified woman mix over 50 ballots into a stack of uncounted absentee ballots.” “An unlawfully counted vote suppresses a lawful voter as thoroughly as if that voter was physically barred from voting at the polling place,” Shafer said. A copy of the complaint is attached. In fact, Shafer says the state GOP plans to file suit in as many as a dozen Georgia counties.
