ATLANTA — All but one of the Republicans holding statewide office is facing a challenger this year, mostly from Democrats but a few from fellow Republicans, illustrating how competitive Georgia elections are becoming.
“I’m a little impressed that Democrats were able to field so many names,” said Steve Anthony, a Georgia State University professor who once was the executive director of the Georgia Democratic Party.
The party’s current chairman, DuBose Porter, said his job of recruiting candidates got easier once Michelle Nunn and Jason Carter announced their intentions to run. Nunn, the daughter of former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, is running for his former job, and Carter, the grandson of the state’s only president, is running for governor.
“No one imagined you’d have the momentum and excitement we’ve got in the slate of candidates running,” Porter said.
A third Democratic family supplied an unexpected candidate Friday, on the final day of qualifying, when Chris Irvin signed up to run for his grandfather Tommy Irvin’s post as agriculture commissioner, which is now held by Gary Black.
Chris Irvin told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “DuBose called me the day before yesterday, and I was in my tool belt, working on a 100-year-old building.”
Winning the elections will still be a tall order for Democrats, according to observers. Most believe population trends still favor the GOP for now, which is why Republicans are getting challenged in their own party since the primary is likely to determine the final winner in many contests.
“If the Democrats don’t win a race but their worst-performing candidate garners 40 percent or better, I’d say the Democrats will have done well this year,” Anthony said.
As expected, Gov. Nathan Deal and Public Service Commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDonald each wound up with two fellow Republicans challenging them and a Democrat a piece. On the other hand, the only statewide incumbent to escape without an opponent Friday was Doug Everett, in the PSC post from South Georgia. That’s not likely to last because Libertarians usually come up with candidates for statewide races.
Libertarians held their state convention this weekend and have not yet released a complete list of their nominees, but tweeted over the weekend that they “nominated a full slate of statewide candidates.” Independents will qualify in the summer.
Two statewide officials, Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, won’t know who they’ll face in the general election until Democratic primary voters chose between a pair of contenders.
The two open statewide positions, U.S. Senate and state superintendent of schools, each attracted a platoon of hopefuls. The GOP primary will feature seven seeking the Senate nomination and nine for the superintendent. The Democratic primary will include four for the Senate and six for superintendent.
Runoffs are almost inevitable with so many candidates and no clear favorite. The exception is that Michelle Nunn enjoys a huge fundraising advantage and extensive name recognition in the Democratic Senate primary. On the GOP side of that race, the latest public poll showed a five-way tie.
Three open seats for the U.S. House also have no shortage of aspirants. The 1st has six Republicans and three Democrats, while the 10th has seven Republicans and a single Democrat.
Although the seat for the 12th isn’t empty, Augusta Democrat John Barrow is the congressman with the most Republicans, five, breathing down his neck. What is expected to be a vibrant GOP primary and runoff will likely result in one bruised and financially drained contender to face him in November.
Winning crowded primaries comes down to organization, according to campaign operatives, especially getting supporters to turn out. The new primary date of May 20 is two months earlier than in the past, requiring campaigns to push harder for turnout on an unfamiliar date.
Advance voting starts even sooner, April 28.
The bulging ballot also means there’ll be competition for campaign contributions. Typically, incumbents get the biggest share. The federal races will draw donations from national political-action committees after the first round of voting, but down-ballot candidates in state races will have to run lean operations this year, insiders say.
Follow Walter Jones on Twitter @MorrisNews and Facebook or contact him at walter.jones@morris.com and (404) 589-8424.
Governor:
John Barge, state school superintendent, Rome, R
Jason Carter, attorney, Atlanta, D
Nathan Deal, governor, Gainesville, R
David Pennington, insurance agent, Dalton, R
U.S. Senate:
Paul Broun, congressman, Athens, R
Art Gardner, attorney, Atlanta, R
Phil Gingrey, congressman, Marietta, R
Derrick Grayson, network engineer, Redan, R
Karen Handel, consultant, Alpharetta, R
Jack Kingston, congressman, Savannah, R
Steen Miles, retired, Decatur, D
Michelle Nunn, non-profit executive, Atlanta, D
David Perdue, businessman, St. Simons Island, R
Branko “Dr. Rad” Radulovacki, physician, Atlanta, D
Todd Robinson, educator, Columbus, D
Lieutenant Governor:
Casey Cagle, businessman, Gainesville, R
Connie Stokes, real-estate broker, Decatur, D
Attorney General:
Greg Hecht, attorney, Stockbridge, D
Sam Olens, attorney, Marietta, R
State School Superintendent:
Mary Kay Bacallao, professor, Peachtree City, R
Ashley Bell, attorney, Gainesville, R
Mike Buck, educator, Gainesville, R
Sharyl Dawes, PTA, Johns Creek, R
Tarnisha Dent, educator, (no residence listed) D
Allen Fort, local superintendent, Valdosta, R
Denise Freeman, consultant, (no residence listed) D
Nancy Jester, consultant, Dunwoody, R
Fitz Johnson, business owner, (no address listed), R
Jurita Mays, educator, Decatur, D
Alisha Morgan, non-profit executive, Austell, D
Rita Robinzine, teacher, Lithonia, D
Kira Willis, teacher, Roswell, R
Valarie Wilson, non-profit director, Decatur, D
Richard Woods, educator, Tifton, R
Secretary of State:
Gerald Beckum, agri-business, Oglethorpe, D
Doreen Carter, consultant, Lithonia, D
Brian Kemp, business owner, Athens, R
Public Service Commission, Dist. 1:
Doug Everett, PSC commissioner, Albany, R
Public Service Commission, Dist. 4:
Daniel Blackman, business manager, Atlanta, D
Douglas Kidd, attorney, (no residence listed) R
Craig Lutz, insurance agent, Flowery Branch, R
Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, PSC commissioner, Clarkesville, R
Labor Commissioner:
Mark Butler, labor commissioner, Carrollton, R
Robbin Shipp, attorney, Atlanta, D
Insurance Commissioner:
Keith Heard, insurance agent, Fayetteville, D
Ralph Hudgens, investor, Hull, R
Liz Johnson, retired insurance professional, Statesboro, D
Commissioner of Agriculture:
Gary Black, agriculture commissioner, Commerce, R
Christopher Irvin, contractor, Toccoa, D
1st District Congress:
Buddy Carter, pharmacist, Savannah, R
Darwin Carter, farmer, Alma, R
Jeff Chapman, businessman, Brunswick, R
Bob Johnson, physician, Savannah, R
Earl Martin, physician, (no residence listed) R
John McCallum, finance professional, St. Simons Island, R
Marc Smith, law-enforcement officer, Savannah, D
Brian Reese, managing partner, Savannah, D
Amy Tavio, real-estate agent, Richmond Hill, D
9th District Congress:
Doug Collins, congressman, Gainesville, R
Bernie Fontaine, retired, Suches, R
David Vogel, retired, Hull, D
10th District Congress:
Mike Collins, business owner, Jackson, R
Kenneth Dious, attorney, Athens, D
Gary Gerrard, attorney, Oglethorpe County, R
Jody Hice, minster, Monroe, R
Donna Sheldon, business owner, Monroe, R
Stephen Simpson, retired military officer, Milledgeville, R
Brian Slowinski, retired, White Plains, R
Mitchell Swan, Marine officer, Athens, R
12th District Congress:
Rick Allen, contractor, Augusta, R
John Barrow, congressman, Augusta, D
Delvis Dutton, business owner, Glennville, R
John Stone, former congressional aide, Augusta, R
Diane Vann, registered nurse, Macon, R
Eugene Yu, retired, Augusta, R
STATE SENATE
State Senate Dist. 1:
Ben Watson, physician, Savannah, R
State Senate Dist. 2:
Lester Jackson, dentist, Savannah, D
State Senate Dist. 3:
William Ligon, attorney, Brunswick, R
State Senate Dist. 4:
Jack Hill, retired, Reidsville, R
State Senate Dist. 7:
Tyler Harper, businessman/farmer, Ocilla, R
State Senate Dist. 19:
Tommie Williams, businessman, Lyons, R
State Senate Dist. 22:
Elmyra Chivers, realtor, (no city listed), D
Corey Johnson, business owner, Augusta, D
Harold Jones II, lawyer, Augusta, D
State Senate Dist. 23:
Diane Evans, retired, Avera, D
Jesse Stone, lawyer, Waynesboro, R
State Senate Dist. 24:
Bill Jackson, tile distributor, Appling, R
State Senate Dist. 46:
Bill Cowsert, attorney, Athens, R
State Senate Dist. 47:
Frank Ginn, engineer, Danielsville, R
STATE HOUSE
State Representative Dist. 31:
Tommy Benton, retired, Jefferson, R
State Representative Dist. 32:
Alan Powell, realtor, Hartwell, R
State Representative Dist. 33:
Tom McCall, farmer, Elberton, R
State Representative Dist. 116:
Terry England, agri-business, Auburn, R
State Representative Dist. 117:
Regina Quick, attorney, Athens, R
State Representative Dist. 118:
Spencer Frey, non-profit director, Athens, D
State Representative Dist. 119:
Chuck Williams, banker, Watkinsville, R
State Representative Dist. 120:
Mickey Channell, businessman, Greensboro, R
State Representative Dist. 121:
Barry Fleming, attorney, Harlem, Republican
State Representative Dist. 122 :
Ben Harbin, businessman, Evans, R
State Representative Dist. 123:
Barbara Sims, retired, Augusta, R
State Representative Dist. 124:
Wayne Howard, business owner, Augusta, D
State Representative Dist. 125:
Earnest Smith, consultant, Augusta, D
State Representative Dist. 126:
Gloria Frazier, community advocate, Hephzibah, D
State Representative Dist. 127:
Brian Prince, retired military, Augusta, D
State Representative Dist. 128 :
Mack Jackson, retired, Sandersville, D
State Representative Dist. 157:
Sadie Jenkins, retired, Glennville, D
Bill Werkheiser, printer, (no residence listed) R
State Representative Dist. 159:
Jon Burns, agri-business, Newington, R
State Representative Dist. 161:
Bill Hitchens, retired, Rincon, R
State Representative Dist. 162:
Bob Bryant, retired, Garden City, D
State Representative Dist. 163:
Craig Gordon, healthcare CEO, Savannah, D
State Representative Dist. 164:
Ron Stephens, pharmacist, Savannah, R
State Representative Dist. 165:
Mickey Stephens, retired, Savannah, D
State Representative Dist. 166:
Jesse Petrea, business owner, Savannah, R
Martin Sullivan, sales, Savannah, R
State Representative Dist. 167:
Jeff Jones, business owner, Brunswick, R
Tony Thaw, electrical contractor, St. Simons Island, R
State Representative Dist. 168:
Al Williams, retired, Midway, D
State Representative Dist. 169:
Dominic Lariccia, business owner, (no residence listed) R
State Representative Dist. 179:
Alex Atwood, attorney, St. Simons Island, R
State Representative Dist. 180:
Jason Spencer, physician assistant, Woodbine, R
Nancy Stasinis, real-estate broker, St. Marys, R
