Georgia Runoffs Set November Matchups for Lt. Gov, Secretary of State
Georgia’s runoff elections on Tuesday locked in the final field of candidates heading into November, with contested races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and several other statewide offices now decided.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Georgia voters finalized party nominations Tuesday for a slate of statewide offices, setting up November general election matchups for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, Public Service Commission District 5, state school superintendent, labor commissioner, and insurance commissioner.
Both Democrats and Republicans returned to the polls to choose nominees for lieutenant governor and secretary of state. Republican voters also settled nominations for the Public Service Commission District 5 seat and state school superintendent, while Democratic voters picked their nominees for labor commissioner and insurance commissioner.
Lieutenant Governor
State Sen. and attorney Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs secured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, defeating former state senator and consultant Nabilah Parkes of Duluth. McLaurin earned roughly 54% of the vote to Parkes’ approximately 45%, according to unofficial results from the secretary of state’s website.
Both candidates had centered their campaigns on lowering the cost of living for Georgians, focusing on expanding Medicaid and increasing affordable housing. Parkes had resigned her state Senate seat during the March legislative session to focus on her lieutenant governor campaign, a decision McLaurin criticized during the runoff.
McLaurin attributed his win to adjusting his messaging to connect with voters outside of metro Atlanta. “Republicans have tried to keep a monopoly over issues outside of metro Atlanta, so we’ve got to break that monopoly,” McLaurin told the Georgia Recorder. “I tried to campaign in a way that would help break it by traveling to all corners of the state, really listening, and it made a big difference.”
On the Republican side, state Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming clinched the GOP nomination with about 54% of the vote, defeating former Macon state Sen. John F. Kennedy, who received approximately 45%. Dolezal’s campaign focused on property tax reform, public school alternatives, election integrity, and opposition to illegal immigration. Dolezal and McLaurin will face each other in the November general election.
Secretary of State and Other Statewide Races
Democratic and Republican voters also selected their nominees for secretary of state on Tuesday. The winners from both parties will advance to the November ballot alongside the lieutenant governor nominees.
Republican voters additionally resolved the race for Public Service Commission District 5 and the state school superintendent nomination, while Democrats chose between the top two finishers from the earlier primary for both labor commissioner and insurance commissioner.
Road to November
All nominees from Tuesday’s runoffs now shift their attention to the November general election. The races span the full ballot, from the top executive offices to key regulatory and education posts that affect Georgians statewide.
Unofficial results were posted to the Georgia secretary of state’s website as returns came in Tuesday night. Final certified results are expected to follow in the coming days according to standard Georgia election procedures.
