(The Center Square) – Georgia’s primary election ended Tuesday without decisions in key races.
At the top of the ticket, neither Lt. Gov. Burt Jones nor businessman Rick Jackson could secure enough votes to avoid a June 16 runoff in the governor’s race.
The two immediately started swapping barbs. Jones, who led the candidates in the primary, said the results prove that Georgia is not for sale. He challenged Jackson to a televised debate in a statement on Wednesday morning.
Jackson said Jones is a career politician who has promised tax relief but failed to deliver.
The lieutenant governor’s races in both parties are headed to runoffs between state senators.
Former Sen. John F. Kennedy of Macon will face Cumming Sen. Greg Dolezal for the Republican nomination. Two metro Atlanta Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination. Sen. Josh McLaurin of Atlanta will face former state Sen. Nabilah Parkes of Duluth.
A runoff is needed to determine who will succeed Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who lost his bid for governor. State Rep. Tim Fleming led a crowded Republican field with more than 39% of the vote. He will face former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, who mustered 27%. Kelvin King, husband of State Election Board member Janelle King, received nearly 16% of the vote. Gabe Sterling, who served as CEO for the Secretary of State’s Office, received nearly 12% and Ted Metz received 5.6%.
Former state court Judge Penny Brown Reynolds will face former Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett to determine who represents Democrats in the secretary of state’s race in November.
One Republican race for a statewide office remained close on Wednesday but appears headed for a runoff. Incumbent State School Superintendent Richard Woods had 49.89% of the vote as of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, just shy of what he needed to avoid a June contest. Fred “Bubba” Longgrear, endorsed by Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, was the closest candidate with more than 29% of the votes.
The race to succeed Carr as attorney general was called early, with Sen. Brian Strickland defeating Athens state Sen. Bill Cowsert. Strickland had more than 70% of the vote to Cowsert’s nearly 29%. Cowsert chaired the Special Senate Committee on Investigations that is looking into Fulton County’s prosecution of President Donald Trump.
Strickland will face former state Rep. Tanya Miller, who defeated Bob Trammell in the Democratic primary.