Multiple Georgia Statewide Races Head to June Runoffs After Primary
Several Georgia statewide races are heading to June runoffs after candidates failed to reach the 50% threshold needed to avoid additional voting.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Multiple statewide races in Georgia will continue to June 16 runoffs after candidates failed to secure the required majority of votes in Tuesday’s primary elections.
Under Georgia law, candidates must receive more than 50% of votes to win outright and avoid a runoff election. While several candidates claimed decisive victories this week, many others fell short of the majority threshold needed for nomination.
The runoff elections will feature at least one week of early voting. Voters who participated in a party’s primary ballot on May 19 must remain with that same party for the runoff, while those who did not vote in the primary can choose which runoff ballot they prefer.
Republican Runoffs Feature High-Profile Contests
Republican voters will decide two major statewide races in the June runoff. The party’s nominations for U.S. Senate and governor remain unsettled after no candidates reached the 50% threshold required under state law.
Other Republican runoffs include races for state school superintendent, where the incumbent faces a challenger advocating for educational changes. These down-ballot contests will share the ballot with the higher-profile gubernatorial and Senate races.
Democratic Races Largely Decided
The Democratic side saw fewer contested outcomes, with former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms securing the gubernatorial nomination outright. Bottoms won her race with a majority of votes, avoiding the need for a runoff in the party’s most prominent contest.
However, several crowded Democratic down-ballot races for statewide offices have not yet been decided and will proceed to runoffs. These contests will give Democratic voters additional choices to make during the June 16 election.
Runoff Election Rules and Timeline
Georgia’s runoff system ensures that winning candidates have broad support by requiring a majority rather than just a plurality of votes. The June 16 date provides nearly four weeks for additional campaigning between the top vote-getters in each race.
Voters who selected nonpartisan ballots in the May 19 primary will also have the option to participate in either party’s runoff election. This flexibility allows previously uncommitted voters to engage in the nomination process for their preferred party’s candidates.
The runoff outcomes will determine the final matchups for November’s general election, when voters will choose between the Democratic and Republican nominees for each statewide office. Early voting for the runoffs will begin at least one week before the June 16 election date.
