Georgia Republicans chose their nominees in two heavily GOP districts in Tuesday runoffs. In the 10th Congressional District east of Atlanta, Mike Collins beat former Democrat Vernon Jones. In suburban Atlanta’s 6th District, Rich McCormick beat Jake Evans.
Former President Donald Trump had endorsed both Jones and Evans.
Democrats on Tuesday were settling multiple statewide races and congressional primaries. That included three races where Stacey Abrams endorsed other members of her party that she wants on the ticket as she runs for governor.
In the Democratic runoff for secretary of state, Bee Nguyen easily beat Dee Dawkins-Haigler. Two Democratic congressional runoffs each featured a frontrunner who lost to a Republican in 2020 but wants another shot. Finally, there were 11 state legislative runoffs, including one Republican incumbent and one Democratic incumbent in the state House who failed to win majorities in the May 24 primary.
Here’s a look at races other than the Democratic secretary of state:
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Former Atlanta City Council member Kwanza Hall led all candidates in the May 24 primary, despite a low-profile, low-dollar campaign. Second-place finisher Charlie Bailey, who was the Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2018, is trying to overtake Hall, backed by Democratic leaders including Abrams.
The winner will take on Republican state Sen. Burt Jones, who triumphed in the May 24 primary after being endorsed by Trump.
Bailey had been running for attorney general again but shifted into the lieutenant governor’s race. Bailey has been promising to work with Abrams to cover uninsured adults, improve education and increase public safety. Bailey has been attacking Hall for money Hall received from the city of Atlanta after stepping down from the City Council. Despite a prohibition on the city hiring former officials for a year, Hall says he did nothing wrong.
Hall, who also served out the last month of the late John Lewis’ term in Congress, enjoys strong name recognition from his time on City Council. He argues his time on the City Council has prepared him to work with Republicans. Hall has focused on economic empowerment, calling for the state to set aside 30% of contracts for minority and women-owned business. Hall said he wants to legalize marijuana and steer resulting business opportunities toward minority communities.
LABOR COMMISSIONER
State Rep. William Boddie Jr. and entrepreneur Nicole Horn both have focused on overhauling the state Labor Department, beset by complaints when Georgia’s unemployment rate hit a record during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Incumbent Republican Mark Butler isn’t seeking reelection and the GOP has nominated state Sen. Bruce Thompson of White.
Both Boddie and Horn agreed that the department needs more money to hire more employees, ensuring jobless benefit applicants can get responses to questions. Boddie has said his legislative experience will help him persuade lawmakers to give the department more money. Horn has said her business experience would allow her to be an effective manager.
Both criticize Republicans for pulling Georgia out of the federal program that extended unemployment benefits months before the federal program expired.
Abrams endorsed Boddie.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Insurance salesman Raphael Baker and 2018 Democratic nominee Janice Laws …read more
Source:: Headlines News4jax
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