The only competitive Congressional race in Georgia this year was in the 12th district, where Blue Dog Democrat John Barrow once again faced a fight, this time from businessman Rick Allen. Unlike the past five election cycles, where Barrow fended off stiff Republican opposition, he fell on Tuesday 55% to 45%.
Bad news came early for Barrow, who fell behind by 10 points with early returns from Candler, Jefferson Davis, Jenkins, and Treutlen counties. And much like in the races for Governor and U.S. Senate, the lead never let up. The comeback never materialized for Barrow, who leaves Congress after a 10 year tenure in the House.
The victory wasn’t necessarily a key for the GOP, who were all but assured of retaining their majority in the House of Representatives, but Allen will certainly receive a warm welcome from his fellow Republicans in Washington D.C. who have been trying to figure out a way to oust Barrow for nearly a decade.
Allen’s victory helps give the GOP its largest House majority since 1946.
The other statewide races on the ballot were even less eventful than those at the top of the list. Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Attorney General Sam Olens, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, and the rest of the Republican crew cruised to easy wins on the back of the red wave that swept across the state, (and the South in general). The State School Superintendent’s race, which was supposed to be the best hope for the Democrats, was equally uninteresting as Richard Woods cruised past Democrat Valarie Wilson, war chest and all, to an easy 58% to 42% victory.
