Notable Georgia races, 2016
| Notable Georgia Races | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Primary | May 24, 2016 |
| General | November 8, 2016 |
| 2016 Notable Races | |
|---|---|
| Choose a state below: | |
Ballotpedia identified 14 notable Georgia state legislative races in 2016.
Overview
State legislature remained Republican
- Main articles: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2016 and Georgia State Senate elections, 2016
Republicans held considerable majorities in the state House and state Senate and retained control of the legislature. Although Democrats could have retook the legislature based on the number of seats up for election, they would have had to win 30 state House seats and 12 state Senate seats.
| Partisan breakdown of the Georgia Legislature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Republicans | Democrats | Independents |
| Georgia House | 118 seats | 61 seats | 1 seat |
| Georgia Senate | 39 seats | 17 seats | - |
What makes a race notable?
Ballotpedia uses these criteria to identify notable races:
- Incumbents facing more conservative or liberal challengers
- Rematches between candidates
- Races that receive considerable media attention
- Races that could significantly affect the state's partisan balance
- Competitive races involving party leaders
- Open, competitive races with Republican and Democratic primaries
- Races that capture money and attention from outside groups, including key endorsements
Know of an interesting race we should include here? Email us!
Notable primary elections
State Senate District 21
- A Republican incumbent faced a conservative challenger.
Incumbent state Sen. Brandon Beach (R) ran for re-election. He defeated Aaron Barlow (R) in the Republican primary contest. No Democratic candidate filed. Beach was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
At an April 2016 candidate forum, Barlow said he was challenging Beach in order to "take back the district for conservatives." Beach responded that his voting record was conservative and pointed to his support for low taxes, fewer government regulations, and his opposition to Obamacare.[1]
Transportation was a major issue in Georgia. In 2015, the state legislature passed and Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signed a transportation bill that provides around $900 million per year in infrastructure improvements statewide. Included in the bill were a $5-per-night hotel tax and an increase in the state's gas tax to pay for the road projects.[2]
Barlow criticized Beach's vote in favor of the bill. Barlow said that infrastructure improvements should be funded by the state's budget surplus and not through a gas tax increase. Beach said that the gas tax helped fund necessary bridge and road repairs and reduced the time it would have taken to get federal and state approval for the projects.[1]
State Senate District 54
- A Republican incumbent faced a primary challenger over taxes and transportation issues.
Incumbent state Sen. Charlie Bethel (R) ran for re-election. He defeated Conda Lowery-Goodson (R) in the Republican primary contest. No Democratic candidate filed. Bethel was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
Transportation was a major issue in Georgia. In 2015, the state legislature passed and Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signed a transportation bill that provides around $900 million per year in infrastructure improvements statewide. Included in the bill were a $5-per-night hotel tax and an increase in the state's gas tax to pay for the road projects.[2]
Bethel voted in favor of the bill and defended his vote, though he was skeptical of the hotel tax. "I thought it was a bad idea to do it as a part of the transportation bill and at a set amount. ... But I didn't run for dictator. I ran for senator, and you have to make decisions with everybody else. And historically, funding levels [for transportation in Georgia] have been inadequate to keep up with the pace of the growth of our economy and the growth of our population."[2]
Lowery-Goodson criticized Bethel's vote and argued that the taxes would put a strain on communities in the district. "It just seems like they're taxing everything."[2]
State House District 7
- The House Speaker faced a rematch with his 2014 primary challenger over taxes and transportation.
Incumbent House Speaker David Ralston (R) ran for re-election. He defeated Sam Snider (R), his 2014 primary opponent, in the 2016 Republican primary contest. No Democratic candidate filed. Ralston was unopposed in the 2016 general election. Ralston defeated Snider by a margin of 64 percent to 35 percent in 2014.
Snider challenged Ralston on his vote for the 2015 transportation bill, which provides nearly $900 million each year for road projects funded by a $5-per-night hotel tax and an increase in the state's gas tax. Snider touted his opposition to the transportation taxes. "Two years ago, when I lost with only 35 percent of the vote, the promise was made to cut taxes, red tape and to create jobs. ... And in the first session [after the election] taxes were increased $1 billion a year for transportation."[3]
Ralston defended the gas tax as "probably the most fair tax there is" and said that the bill would help pay for overdue bridge and road projects in the state.[3]
According to The Atlantic-Journal Constitution on May 11, 2016, "Since the vote, the House speaker received about $30,000 in contributions from road construction and related companies."[2]
State House District 8
- Four Republicans competed for an open seat left by the Republican incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Stephen Allison (R) declined to run for re-election. Four Republicans competed for the open seat: David Barton (R), Joshua Littrell (R), Kent Woerner (R), and Matt Gurtler (R). No Democrat filed to run for the seat. Gurtler and Woerner advanced to the runoff election, which Gurtler won. Gurtler was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
Littrell's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for reducing government spending, legalizing medical marijuana, reforming the criminal justice system, and instituting tax breaks for companies in order to create jobs.[4]
Woerner's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for a balanced state budget, tax reform, the Second Amendment, and state investments in education.[5]
Gurtler's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for reduced taxes and fewer regulations, the Second Amendment, and pro-life policies.[6]
As of May 13, 2016, Barton had no campaign website.
The candidates received the following key endorsements:[7][8]
| Key endorsements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gurtler | Woerner[9] | Barton[10] | Littrell | |
| Georgia Gun Owners | Georgia Equality | |||
| National Rifle Association | ||||
| Georgia Right to Life | ||||
| American Federation for Children | ||||
State House District 52
- Two Republicans competed for an open seat left by the Republican incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Joe Wilkinson (R) declined to run for re-election. Deborah Silcox (R) defeated Graham McDonald (R) in the Republican primary contest. No Democrat filed to run for the seat. Silcox was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
McDonald's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for reducing property taxes, reducing transportation congestion, and promoting innovation in education. Silcox's campaign website did not highlight any campaign themes, though Silcox has expressed her support for reducing taxes and exempting senior citizens from paying school property taxes.[11][12]
The candidates received the following key endorsements:[13]
| Key endorsements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silcox | McDonald[14] | |||
| Outgoing state Rep. Joe Wilkinson (R) | ||||
State House District 59
- Three Democrats competed for the open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D) declined to run for re-election. Three Democrats competed for the open seat: David Dreyer (D), Janine Brown (D), and Josh Noblitt (D). No Republican filed to run for the seat. Dreyer and Brown advanced to the runoff election, which Dreyer won. Dreyer was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
Dreyer's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for the expansion of voting rights, Medicaid expansion in Georgia, environmental protections, and state funding for MARTA, Atlanta's public transit system.[15]
Brown's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for Medicaid expansion, a minimum wage increase, state funding for Atlanta's public transit system, and LGBT rights.[16]
Noblitt's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for a minimum wage increase, increased funding for Pre-K and K-12 education, and increased funding for Georgia's HOPE scholarship program for college students.[17]
The candidates received the following key endorsements:[18][19][20]
| Key endorsements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | Dreyer | Noblitt | ||
| Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council | Governor Roy Barnes | Georgia Equality | ||
| Georgia’s WIN List | Mayor Kasim Reed | LGBTQ Victory Fund | ||
| state Sen. Nan Orrock (D) | state Sen. Jason Carter | Georgia Stonewall Democrats | ||
| Atlanta City Council Member Natalyn Archibong | Congressman Buddy Darden | |||
| Fulton County Commissioner Joan Garner | state Rep. Stacey Evans | |||
| state Rep. Stacey Evans | ||||
| state Rep. Pat Gardner | ||||
| state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver | ||||
| state Rep. Stephanie Benfield | ||||
| state Rep. David Wilkerson | ||||
State House District 62
- Six Democrats competed for the open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Ladawn Blackett Jones (D) declined to run for re-election. Six Democrats competed for the open seat: Aaron Johnson (D), Joshua Butler (D), Larry Perkins (D), Rafer Johnson (D), Valerie Vie (D), and William Boddie (D). Boddie and Vie advanced to the runoff election, which Boddie won. Boddie was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
Butler's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support of increasing parental involvement in education and reducing unemployment.[21]
Rafer Johnson's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support of improving graduation rates, creating jobs, and developing trust between residents and law enforcement.[22]
Vie's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support of a minimum wage increase, increased pay for school personnel, and opposition to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the privatization of public education.[23]
Aaron Johnson's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for improving education, creating jobs, and reducing crime.[24]
Boddie's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for growing small businesses, establishing after-school and mentoring programs for children, and improving education.[25]
As of May 13, 2016, Perkins had no campaign website.
State House District 72
- Three Republicans competed for the open seat left by the Republican incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Matthew Ramsey (R) declined to run for re-election. Three Republicans competed for the open seat: James Clifton (R), Josh Bonner (R), and Lisa Inagawa (R). Bonner defeated Clifton and Inagawa in the primary, and was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
The three candidates highlighted their conservative credentials.
Clifton's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for lower taxes, pro-life policies, local control of education, the Second Amendment, and religious freedom protections.[26]
Bonner's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for pro-life policies, the Second Amendment, local control of education, as well as opposition to Common Core and tax increases.[27]
Inagawa's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for local control of education and school choice, the Second Amendment, and religious freedom protections.[28]
State House District 79
- A Republican incumbent ran for re-election despite an arrest on DUI charges.
Incumbent state Rep. Tom Taylor (R), the chairman of the joint House-Senate committee on MARTA (Atlanta's public transit system), ran for re-election. He defeated Tom Owens (R) in the Republican primary contest, and was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
Taylor was arrested on DUI charges in April 2016. He was driving 72 miles per hour in a 45-miles-per-hour zone with four juveniles in the vehicle, according to the police report. He also had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit. In a statement, Taylor said, "I profoundly regret this serious mistake. There’s no one to blame but me, and I greatly appreciate the professionalism of the officers involved. This was my first run-in with the law in my life, and it will also be my last."[29]
Owens' campaign website stated that he supports revoking drivers' licenses for six months from drivers with blood-alcohol levels twice the legal limit. Owens' website also stated that he supports alcoholic rehabilitation counseling for offenders in addition to revoking drivers' licenses.[30]
State House District 80
- Three Republicans competed for the GOP nomination to challenge the Democratic incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Taylor Bennett (D) ran for re-election. Three Republicans competed for the Republican nomination: Alan Cole (R), Catherine S. Bernard (R), and Meagan Hanson (R). Bennett and Hanson faced off in the 2016 general election.
Bernard was accused of violating Georgia's campaign finance laws by Will Kremer, a former chairman of the Georgia Association of College Republicans. Kremer claimed that Bernard did not disclose how she spent more than $8,000 in campaign funds over the past two years. Kremer also supported Bernard's opponent, Meagan Hanson. Bernard denied any wrongdoing and called the charge a "shamelessly dishonest ethics complaint" and "a huge, annoying distraction."[31]
State House District 82
- A Democratic incumbent faced a primary challenger backed by teachers' unions.
Incumbent state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D) ran for re-election. She defeated Brian Westlake (D) in the Democratic primary contest. No Republicans filed to run for the seat. Oliver was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
Westlake challenged Oliver's stance on education issues. Oliver voted in favor of legislation, signed by Gov. Nathan Deal (R), that amended the state's constitution "to authorize the establishment of an Opportunity School District to provide for state intervention for failing schools," a bill many Democrats opposed. Westlake characterized the legislation as a power grab for the governor. Oliver defended her vote as a way for the state to help failing schools in low-income neighborhoods.[32][33]
The candidates received the following key endorsements:[34][35]
| Key endorsements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver | Westlake | |||
| Georgia's WIN List | Georgia Association of Educators | |||
| Georgia Federation of Teachers | ||||
| Organization of DeKalb Educators | ||||
| Atlanta Progressive News | ||||
| Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry | ||||
| DeKalb County Commissioner Gale Walldorff | ||||
State House District 123
- Three Republicans competed for the open seat left by the Republican incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Barbara Sims (R) declined to run for re-election. Three Republicans competed for the open seat: Lori Greenhill (R), Mark Newton (R), and Wright McLeod (R). No Democrat filed to run for the seat. Newton was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
Greenhill's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for the Second Amendment, local control of education, a balanced budget, and fewer government regulations.[36]
Newton's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for lowering taxes, reducing illegal immigration, keeping education under local control, and upholding the Second Amendment.[37]
McLeod's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for reducing and then abolishing the state income tax, constructing a hospital in Columbia County, Georgia, and investing in infrastructure improvements.[38]
State House District 156
- A Republican incumbent faced his 2014 primary challenger, whom he defeated by 71 votes in 2014.
Incumbent state Rep. Greg Morris (R) ran for re-election. He defeated Lee Burton (R) in the Republican primary contest. No Democrat filed to run for the seat. Morris was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
The 2016 contest is a rematch between Morris and Burton. Morris defeated Burton by just 71 votes out of 6,651 votes cast in 2014.
State House District 159
- The state House majority leader faced a conservative challenger.
State House Majority Leader Jon G. Burns (R) ran for re-election. He defeated Daniel Almond (R) in the Republican primary contest. No Democrats filed to run for the seat. Burns was unopposed in the 2016 general election.
Almond, a conservative activist and former counterintelligence officer, helped organize rallies in Washington, D.C., to protest Obamacare and the 2008 financial bailout. Almond said recent governmental actions prompted him to run for office. "As I've watched our liberties continue to be eroded and the size and scope of government at all levels continue to expand, I began to consider running for public office myself," Almond said. Almond's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, local control of education, lowering taxes, and preventing those in the country illegally from obtaining drivers' licenses.[39][40]
Freshman legislators
The following is a list of challengers who won election on November 8.
- Bill McGowan (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 138
- Blake Tillery (Republican), .Georgia State Senate, District 19
- Brenda Lopez (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 99
- Clay Cox (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 108
- David Dreyer (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 59
- Deborah Silcox (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 52
- Debra Bazemore (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 63
- Derrick Jackson (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 64
- Dewayne Hill (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 3
- Don Hogan (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 179
- J. Collins (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 68
- Jason Ridley (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 6
- Josh Bonner (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 72
- Karen Mathiak (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 73
- Lee Anderson (Republican), .Georgia State Senate, District 24
- Mark Newton (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 123
- Matt Brass (Republican), .Georgia State Senate, District 28
- Matt Dubnik (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 29
- Matt Gurtler (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 8
- Meagan Hanson (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 80
- Miriam Paris (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 142
- Renitta Shannon (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 84
- Rhonda Burnough (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 77
- Ricky Williams (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 145
- Samuel Park (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 101
- Scott Hilton (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 95
- Sheila Clark Nelson (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 125
- Todd Jones (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 25
- Tonya Anderson (Democratic), .Georgia State Senate, District 43
- Vernon Jones (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 91
- William Boddie (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 62
Defeated incumbents
The following is a list of incumbents who were defeated on November 8.
- Janice Frey Van Ness (Republican), .Georgia State Senate, District 43
- Mike Cheokas (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 138
- Taylor Bennett (Democratic), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 80
- Valerie Clark (Republican), .Georgia House of Representatives, District 101
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 TribuneLedgerNews.com, "Sparks fly in Senate debate," April 14, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 myajc.com, "Transportation tax puts some Georgia incumbents on rocky road," May 11, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedmyajc - ↑ Vote Littrell, "Campaign issues," accessed May 2, 2016
- ↑ Woerner for State House, "Kent's Agenda," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ Matt Gurtler, "Issues," accessed May 2, 2016
- ↑ Matt Gurtler, "Endorsements and other updates from the campaign trail," April 30, 2016
- ↑ Project Q Atlanta, "Georgia Equality endorses some but not all LGBT candidates," May 10, 2016
- ↑ As of May 23, 2016, no endorsements had been listed on the candidate's website.
- ↑ As of May 23, 2016, no endorsements had been listed on the candidate's website.
- ↑ Patch.com, "Candidate Wants To Exempt Seniors From Paying School Property Taxes," April 29, 2016
- ↑ Graham McDonald, "The Issues," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ reporternewspapers.net, "Rep. Wilkinson drops re-election bid, endorses Silcox," March 23, 2016
- ↑ As of May 23, 2016, no endorsements had been listed on the candidate's website.
- ↑ Dreyer for Georgia, "Issues," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ Janine Brown, "Issues" accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ Josh Noblitt for Georgia, "Issues," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ janicebrown.org, "Endorsements," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ thegavoice.com, "Georgia LGBT groups release endorsements for May primaries," May 11, 2016
- ↑ victoryfund.org, "Victory Endorses 3 Legislative Candidates in Georgia," January 5, 2016
- ↑ joshuabutlerfor62.org, "Issues," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ vote4rafer.com, "Home page," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ votevie.com, "Issues," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ electaaronjohnson.com, "About," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ voteboddie62.com, "Home page," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ Clifton for Georgia, "Why James?" accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ Bonner for State House, "Issues," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ lisainagawa.com, "Why I'm Running," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ ajc.com, "Georgia Rep. Tom Taylor charged with DUI in Rabun County," April 14, 2016
- ↑ Tom Owens for DeKalb, "The issues," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ reporternewspapers.net, "Catherine Bernard target of ethics complaint in House District 80 GOP primary contest," May 10, 2016
- ↑ atlantaprogressivenews.com, "APN Candidate Q&A: State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver," March 31, 2016
- ↑ decaturish.com, "Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver draws challenger in Democratic primary," February 3, 2016
- ↑ Brian Westlake, "Endorsements," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ gawinlist.com, "2016 Endorsed Candidates," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ Elect Lori Greenhill, "The issues," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ Elect Dr. Mark Newton, "Issues," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ Wright McLeod, "Issues," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ Daniel Almond for Georgia House District 159, "Issues," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ savannahnow.com, "Almond challenges Jon Burns in State House District 159," March 28, 2016
