In Tuesday’s runoffs, Georgia Republicans secured two congressional nominations. A former federal official emerged victorious over a man convicted of illegally demonstrating inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, while an ex-aide to Donald Trump won an open seat in another district.
In the meantime, the Democrats have selected their candidate to run against the Republican Representative, Marjorie Taylor Greene, in the upcoming November general election.
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In the May 21 primaries, no candidate secured a majority in eight state legislative runoffs, prompting both parties to nominate their candidates for the runoffs.
Let’s take a glance at the various races:
2nd District
Wayne Johnson, a former official of the U.S. Education Department, emerged victorious in the Republican nomination for the 2nd Congressional District, defeating Chuck Hand, who was convicted for his involvement in the Jan. 6 incident.
After speaking with The Associated Press, Johnson expressed his belief that individuals are seeking answers to their problems and are searching for experienced individuals to provide them. He emphasized that he is a results-driven person, and he successfully conveyed this message during the conversation.
In southwest Georgia, spanning across 30 counties and reaching Columbus and Macon, Republican candidate Johnson is set to challenge Democratic incumbent Rep. Sanford Bishop, who has held the position for 16 terms. Despite the district’s history of favoring Democratic candidates, Johnson is poised to make his case for a shift in representation.
Johnson has vowed to focus more closely on the needs of the area, particularly on its military bases. According to him, voters believe that Bishop has not done enough to enhance the economic conditions of a region that includes some of the state’s most impoverished counties.
According to Johnson, people do not hold him accountable for the situation. They simply feel that he has not taken any significant steps to improve it or move it forward.
In the May 21 primary, Johnson emerged as the leading candidate among the four-way race. However, Hand, who finished second, gained attention for his criticism of Johnson during a televised debate, which led to his dramatic walkout.
A construction superintendent named Hand has been sentenced to 20 days in federal prison and six months of probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor offense related to the Capitol riot. Interestingly, he is not alone as there are at least five people convicted of crimes during the Jan. 6th Capitol riot who are running for Congress this year as Republicans. Unfortunately, three of them have already lost primaries so far.
In his campaign, Hand aimed to unite Black and white working-class voters under Trump’s leadership to boost the economy. When asked for comment on Tuesday evening, there was no immediate response from Hand. However, he did post a video earlier in the day where he stated, “Regardless of today’s outcome, it’s all in God’s hands, just like yesterday.”
3rd District
Brian Jack, a former aide to President Trump, has secured the Republican nomination in the 3rd Congressional District by defeating former state Senate Majority Leader, Mike Dugan.
In November, Democrat Maura Keller will run against Jack, who is favored to succeed Republican U.S. Rep Drew Ferguson. Ferguson is stepping down after serving four terms.
Jack, a 36-year-old native of Peachtree City, was endorsed by Trump due to his prior work in the former president’s campaign and administration. He also worked for then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Throughout his campaign, Jack emphasized his alignment with Trump, asserting that voters were seeking “somebody President Trump trusts to be an America First ally.” He utilized his connections in Washington to raise funds in support of his candidacy.
According to Dugan, Jack’s affiliation with Washington insiders could be seen as a disadvantage. Instead, voters should appreciate and prioritize his Georgia values.
In the May 21 primary, Jack emerged victorious with nearly 47% of the vote, dominating in 14 out of 15 counties. Dugan, on the other hand, received almost 25% of the votes and was able to carry his home county of Carroll. It’s interesting to note that the third and fourth-place finishers threw their support behind Jack, further solidifying his position.
The southern and western suburbs of Atlanta, extending all the way down to Columbus, make up the 3rd District. Historically, around two-thirds of the vote in this area has gone to Republican candidates.
Other races
Retired Army General and rancher, Shawn Harris, emerged victorious over Clarence Blalock, a 2021 Atlanta City Council candidate, in the Democratic primary to challenge Greene in the 14th District. Although Blalock held a slight lead over Harris in the four-way primary, Harris managed to come out on top. However, Harris faces a challenging battle in the heavily Republican district.
Eight state legislative seats were up for nomination in the runoffs, with the candidates being decided upon. One of the races saw Republican incumbent Steven Sainz emerge victorious against challenger Glenn Cook, to retain his House District 180 seat in Camden and Glynn counties.
