Traditionally, turnout for primary elections is very low. However, if no one is running from an opposing party, the primary can decide an election. Primaries are also the time when a field of many becomes a field of few. Good candidates can lose their bid for office if their supporters don’t go to the polls during the primaries. For that and other reasons, paying attention to primary elections is important and voting is critical. Take a moment to find out about any local races in your area. You can usually find this information from the local election board, chamber of commerce or newspaper.
Early voting for primaries has already begun and the actual primary is on July 20. In the primary and in any runoffs that may follow, voters must choose to vote on either the Democratic or Republican ballot. In the November general election, they may vote for either party in any race. ?
At the GSBA Summer Conference, Democratic and Republican candidates for governor were asked a series of questions on their beliefs about how public education should be funded, whether they believe in vouchers, what their first legislative action would be regarding education and more. Click here to visit the GSBA website to view videos from this discussion.
Here is a rundown of state races:
United States Senator
- Rakeim “RJ” Hadley (D) and Michael “Mike” Thurmond (D)
- Johnny Isakson (R)
Governor
- Thurbert Baker (D), Roy E. Barnes (D), Bill Bolton (D), Carl Camon (D), Randal Mangham (D), DuBose Porter (D) and David Poythress (D)
- Jeff Chapman (R), Nathan Deal (R), Karen Handel (R), Eric Johnson (R), Ray McBerry (R), John W. Oxendine (R) and Otis Putnam (R)
Lieutenant Governor
- Tricia Carpenter McCracken (D) and Carol Porter (D)
- Casey Cagle (R)
Secretary of State
- Gail Buckner (D), Gary Horlacher (D), Michael Mills (D), Angela “Miss Angela” Moore (D) and Georganna Sinkfield (D)
- Brian Kemp (R) and Doug MacGinnitie (R)
Attorney General
- Ken Hodges (D) and Rob Teilhet (D)
- Sam Olens (R), Preston W. Smith (R) and Max Wood (R)
State School Superintendent
- Beth Farokhi (D), Joe Martin (D) and Brian Westlake (D)
- John D. Barge (R), Kathy Cox (R) and Richard Woods (R)
- Note: Kathy Cox withdrew after ballots were printed so her name does appear.
Commissioner of Agriculture
- J.B. Powell (D)
- Gary Black (R) and Darwin Carter (R)
Commissioner of Insurance
- Mary Squires (D)
- Dennis Cain (R), Rick Collum (R), Seth Harp (R), Ralph T. Hudgens (R), Tom Knox (R), John Mamalakis (R), Stephen Dale Northington (R), Gerry Purcell (R) and Maria Sheffield (R)
Commissioner of Labor
- Terry Coleman (D) and Darryl Hicks (D)
- Mark Butler (R) and Melvin Everson (R)
Public Service Commissioner
- Keith Moffett (D)
- B. Joseph “Joey” Brush (R), John Douglas (R), Tim Echols (R) and Jeff May (R)
Early voting for primaries has already begun and the actual primary is on July 20. In the primary and in any runoffs that may follow, voters must choose to vote on either the Democratic or Republican ballot. In the November general election, they may vote for either party in any race. ?
At the GSBA Summer Conference, Democratic and Republican candidates for governor were asked a series of questions on their beliefs about how public education should be funded, whether they believe in vouchers, what their first legislative action would be regarding education and more. Click here to visit the GSBA website to view videos from this discussion.
Here is a rundown of state races:
United States Senator
- Rakeim “RJ” Hadley (D) and Michael “Mike” Thurmond (D)
- Johnny Isakson (R)
Governor
- Thurbert Baker (D), Roy E. Barnes (D), Bill Bolton (D), Carl Camon (D), Randal Mangham (D), DuBose Porter (D) and David Poythress (D)
- Jeff Chapman (R), Nathan Deal (R), Karen Handel (R), Eric Johnson (R), Ray McBerry (R), John W. Oxendine (R) and Otis Putnam (R)
Lieutenant Governor
- Tricia Carpenter McCracken (D) and Carol Porter (D)
- Casey Cagle (R)
Secretary of State
- Gail Buckner (D), Gary Horlacher (D), Michael Mills (D), Angela “Miss Angela” Moore (D) and Georganna Sinkfield (D)
- Brian Kemp (R) and Doug MacGinnitie (R)
Attorney General
- Ken Hodges (D) and Rob Teilhet (D)
- Sam Olens (R), Preston W. Smith (R) and Max Wood (R)
State School Superintendent
- Beth Farokhi (D), Joe Martin (D) and Brian Westlake (D)
- John D. Barge (R), Kathy Cox (R) and Richard Woods (R)
- Note: Kathy Cox withdrew after ballots were printed so her name does appear.
Commissioner of Agriculture
- J.B. Powell (D)
- Gary Black (R) and Darwin Carter (R)
Commissioner of Insurance
- Mary Squires (D)
- Dennis Cain (R), Rick Collum (R), Seth Harp (R), Ralph T. Hudgens (R), Tom Knox (R), John Mamalakis (R), Stephen Dale Northington (R), Gerry Purcell (R) and Maria Sheffield (R)
Commissioner of Labor
- Terry Coleman (D) and Darryl Hicks (D)
- Mark Butler (R) and Melvin Everson (R)
Public Service Commissioner
- Keith Moffett (D)
- B. Joseph “Joey” Brush (R), John Douglas (R), Tim Echols (R) and Jeff May (R)