ATLANTA – Georgia Republicans settled two congressional nominations in Tuesday’s runoff, with a former federal official defeating a man who was convicted of illegally demonstrating inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and a former Donald Trump’s advisor winning a race for an open mandate. seat in another district.
Meanwhile, Democrats have chosen their candidate to run against Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the November general election.
The two parties also chose nominees in eight state legislative runoffs, where no one won a majority in the May 21 primary.
Here’s a look at the races:
Former U.S. Department of Education official Wayne Johnson beat up Jan. 6 convicted lawbreaker Chuck Hand for the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District.
“I think people are looking for solutions,” Johnson told The Associated Press by phone afterward. “They are looking for people who can bring some experience. And I think I managed to communicate that I am a solutions-focused person.”
Johnson Will Challenge 16-Term Democrat Incumbent Representative Sanford Bishop in the district, which spans 30 counties in southwest Georgia, extending to Columbus and Macon. The district has provided comfortable Democratic majorities in recent years.
Johnson promises greater attention to the needs of the region, including its military bases. He said voters believe Bishop has not done enough to improve economic conditions in a region that includes some of the state’s poorest counties.
“It’s not that they feel he’s responsible,” Johnson said. “They just don’t feel like he did anything important to lift him up or propel him forward.”
Johnson was the top vote-getter in the May 21 primary, but second-place Hand drew attention after criticizing Johnson and then abandoning a televised debate.
Hand, a construction superintendent, was sentenced to 20 days in federal prison and six months of probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor offense related to the Capitol riot. He is one of at least five people convicted of the January 6 crimes who ran for Congress this year as Republicans, three of whom have lost in the primaries so far.
Hand campaigned to rally black and white working-class voters under Trump’s banner to improve the economy. When asked for comment on Tuesday, Hand responded via text message: “To be continued…”
Former Trump adviser Brian Jack defeated former state Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan for the Republican nomination in the 3rd Congressional District.
Jack will be the favorite against Democrat Maura Keller in November to succeed Republican U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, who is stepping down after four terms.
A 36-year-old Peachtree City native, Jack was endorsed by Trump after working on his campaign and administration. He later worked for then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Jack based his campaign on his alignment with the former president and using his Washington connections to raise funds.
“The power of the Trump endorsement is alive and well,” Jack told the AP by phone. “I wouldn’t be a Republican candidate if it weren’t for President Trump’s endorsement, his repeated endorsements.”
Jack promised to campaign hard during November, in part to try to boost Trump’s turnout, and touted his experience and connections as a way to achieve goals in Congress, including extending tax cuts and cracking down on immigration.
“I think this gives me a unique opportunity to be incredibly effective on day one and be incredibly responsive to the constituents in my district,” Jack said.
Dugan argued that Jack’s status in Washington was a liability, saying voters should prefer his values in Georgia.
“While tonight did not go as we had hoped, we are grateful for the support that got us here,” Dugan said in a statement. “We wish Brian Jack well.”
Jack won nearly 47% of the vote in the May 21 primary and was first in 14 of the 15 counties. Dugan won nearly 25% and won his home county of Carroll. Third and fourth place supported Jack.
The 3rd District includes some of Atlanta’s southern and western suburbs, stretching as far south as Columbus, with Republicans typically winning about two-thirds of the vote.
In the Democratic race to challenge Greene in the 14th District, Shawn Harris, a retired Army general and farmer, defeated Clarence Blalock, a candidate for Atlanta City Council in 2021. Blalock barely led Harris in the four-way primary. Harris faces an uphill fight in the heavily Republican district.
The nominees for eight state legislative seats were being decided in a second round.
Republican incumbent Steven Sainz defeated challenger Glenn Cook to retain his House District 180 seat in Camden and Glynn counties. Sainz will face Democrat Defonsio Daniels in November.
Military veteran and Democratic activist Kenya Wicks defeated former state Rep. Valencia Stovall for the Democratic nomination in Senate District 34 in Clayton and Fayette counties after party organizations endorsed Wicks, citing Stovall’s past support of school choice and other issues . Wicks will face Republican Andrew Honeycutt for the seat.
