Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for May 20, 2026

Georgia Colonists signed the Treaty of Savannah with the Lower Creeks on May 21, 1733.

George Washington left Georgia on May 21, 1791, crossing a bridge over the Savannah River at Augusta.

Blue jeans with copper rivets were patented by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis on May 20, 1873.

On May 20, 1916, more than 20,000 visited Stone Mountain for the dedication ceremony to mark the beginning of a Confederate memorial on the north face.

American Charles Lindbergh landed at Paris on May 21, 1927 in The Spirit of St. Louis, completing both the first nonstop transatlantic flight and the first nonstop flight from New York to Paris.

On May 21, 1942, German authorities removed 4300 Polish Jews from Chelm to an extermination camp at Sobibor and killed them by poison gas. The Sobibor camp’s five gas chambers would kill 250,000 Jews during 1942 and 1943.

On May 20, 1995, the section of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House was closed to automotive traffic.

The 400th episode of The Simpsons aired on May 20, 2007.

On May 21, 2011, Herman Cain announced his candidacy for President of the United States at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

To me, the biggest story from yesterday is the reelection of two Georgia Supreme Court Justices in what I think are the closest races I’ve seen for the state high court. From WABE:

Justice Sarah Hawkins Warren beat former state Sen. Jen Jordan, and Justice Charlie Bethel beat attorney Miracle Rankin in two races for the Georgia Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Justice Benjamin Land ran unopposed in the third state Supreme Court race on the ballot.

Both Bethel and Warren were appointed to the court by former Republican Gov. Nathan Deal, and both won re-election in 2020. Bethel’s was a significantly closer race, winning with 52% of the vote.

These races saw the endorsements of former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Republicans also talked about the race, most notably Gov. Brian Kemp, who was concerned about the early voting lead Democrats had going into Tuesday’s election.

“If you want people that will actually go up there and, you know, not try to interpret what the law is but follow the law and not try to make it, you should vote for our incumbent judges and justices that’s on the ballot,” Kemp told reporters at a campaign event for Senate candidate Derek Dooley on Thursday.

“It’s unfortunate the other side, backed by money that’s from outside of the state, is trying to make a nonpartisan race political. That’s not how our judiciary works in our state. And I would urge people to vote for the incumbents they have bipartisan support, from people that really understand how important it is to have a nonpartisan judiciary,” he added.

On Monday, statements from Georgia’s Judicial Qualifications Commission were made public, saying Jordan and Rankin violated its rules of conduct by endorsing one another and running on the issue of restoring abortion rights to Georgia.

Warren and Bethel both voted to reinstate Georgia’s six-week abortion ban in 2024.

The JQC says candidates can’t make promises that commit them to issues that are likely to come before the court.

In separate statements, Jordan responded that candidates like herself “must be allowed to communicate their views so that voters know who aligns with their values.” And Rankin wrote that the JQC’s complaint violates her First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

From the AJC:

Warren won 59% of the vote in her race against Jordan, a former Democratic state senator, according to data reported by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

Bethel was locked in a closer race against Rankin, a Morgan & Morgan trial lawyer, securing 51% of the vote.

Both incumbents were appointed in 2018 by then-Gov. Nathan Deal and endorsed in Tuesday’s election by Gov. Brian Kemp and other Republicans. Warren and Bethel stressed the importance of impartiality in their campaigns.

Jordan and Rankin were supported by former President Barack Obama and other Democrats. They focused their campaigns in large part on restoring abortion rights, prompting a court battle against the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission.

Warren said Georgia voters made clear they want to keep politics out of courtrooms, adding she’s thankful the state Supreme Court will remain nonpartisan. She said she was up against “negativity, partisan attacks and misleading ads” in the race.

“I am grateful to the many Georgians who have once again placed their trust in me to serve the role of justice and who have voted to ensure that our judicial branch remains separate, independent and nonpartisan,” she said. “It is a true honor to be able to continue serving my state.”

Bethel said he looks forward to continuing to serve Georgians, echoing Warren’s relief that “voters reaffirmed their desire for a nonpartisan judiciary.”

“I remain committed to keeping my oath and thank everyone who entrusted me with their vote,” he said.

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey said more than $8 million was spent supporting Jordan and Rankin in an audacious attempt to flip state Supreme Court seats.

“This unprecedented operation stoked sky-high Democratic enthusiasm, drove the record-shattering turnout we saw, and brought Miracle Rankin within two points of unseating an incumbent Supreme Court justice–a feat that has not been accomplished in a century of Georgia history,” Bailey said Wednesday.

Georgia hasn’t seen an incumbent justice unseated in an election in more than 100 years, according to research by local litigators. An overwhelming lack of opposition in judicial elections is the norm in Georgia, where judges are both appointed by the governor and elected by voters.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms (Atlanta) won the Democratic nomination for Governor without a runoff, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Moultrie Observer.

Georgians who pulled a Democratic ballot Tuesday had a clear preference for governor, giving former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms a commanding early lead over six challengers Tuesday night before all votes had been counted.

But Republican voters were divided, giving no GOP contender for governor a majority. They mostly went for two candidates out of the field of eight, putting Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire entrepreneur Rick Jackson in the lead with a similar number of votes.

With Fulton County and nearly two dozen other counties remaining to be counted, Jackson took the stage and looked ahead to the June 16 primary runoff election.

“The job is not done. We have 28 days to finish it,” he told supporters at the Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta.

Jackson, who founded and leads a health care staffing and services company, dropped tens of millions of dollars of his own money on political ads, and quickly took a lead in polling, in a race that had seemed to be Jones’ to lose.

Jones, a former state senator who won the lieutenant governor’s office four years ago, had something no other candidate did: an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

The pair go back many years. Jones faced the risk of prosecution after supporting Trump’s effort to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss to Joe Biden. Jones served as one of 16 fake electors for Trump and was investigated by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis until the courts disqualified her from the case due to a conflict of interest.

Earlier this month, Trump held a “tele-rally” to boost Jones’ campaign.

He “has my complete and total endorsement,” Trump said in the May 6 call. “He blows his competition away.”

Even so, Jackson pitched himself in Trump’s image, telling supporters Tuesday that he opposed “illegals” and “woke ideology” and supported law enforcement, working moms and foster children, having been one himself.

“I’ll be President Trump’s favorite governor,” Jackson said.

Jones pushed back Tuesday night, issuing a statement that noted his slight edge in the results.

“Tonight Georgia sent a clear message — you can’t buy this state and now, Georgia, it’s time to finish the drill,” the Jones campaign said in a statement. “Georgia is too important to risk handing it to a billionaire Never Trumper with a checkbook.”

He was referring to Jackson.

No one on the Democratic side came close to Bottoms’ lead late Tuesday, with the caveat that Fulton, Georgia’s most populous county, had not yet reported results due to delays at a polling site.

The former Atlanta mayor turned off many voters when she declined to run for a second term, instead choosing to serve in the Biden administration.

But she was a known quantity and all but one of the others in the Democratic field were men, which was a factor for voters such as Juliette Morgan.

The retired public health worker emerged from Ormewood Church in Atlanta Tuesday afternoon and said she had considered voting for Geoff Duncan, a former Republican who had switched parties after clashing with Trump. She had seen him a lot on CNN and said he seemed amiable.

“Of all people, I would have (voted for) him,” Morgan said. “I just, I don’t know, I’m inclined to vote for women lately.”

Her husband, Bob Maxfield, a high school science teacher, followed her lead and cast another vote for Bottoms.

Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (Jackson) and Billionaire Rick Jackson will be filling our mailboxes and voicemail in their Runoff for Governor. From Georgia Recorder via the Valdosta Daily Times:

A bruising fight between two Georgia Republican frontrunners for governor will continue for a few more weeks.

Neither Lt. Gov. Burt Jones nor wealthy healthcare executive Rick Jackson received over 50% of the vote Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race around 8:38 p.m., saying both Jackson and Jones would advance to a runoff.

Jones and Jackson will face off in a runoff for the Republican nomination on June 16.

Speaking at an election night watch party in north Atlanta, Jackson said that his campaign “shook up the career politicians and insiders to their core,’ often distinguishing himself from Jones’ career in politics spanning over a decade.

“I think it’s safe to say we shook up the career politicians and insiders to their core, but the job is not done. We have 28 days to finish it, and the choice could not be more clear or more important,” Jackson said Tuesday night.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (Jackson) leads the U.S. Senate field headed to a June 16, 2026 Primary Runoff against Derek Dooley (Clayton), according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Moultrie Observer.

Republican voters winnowed their field of candidates for U.S. Senate Tuesday, sending U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former college football coach Derek Dooley to the June 16 primary runoff election.

Collins had the most votes in the field of five candidates, with Dooley and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter vying for second place.

Just before 11 p.m., Dooley told supporters at Park Bench Battery at The Battery Atlanta that Carter had given him a call.

“Tonight, guys, we punched our ticket to the runoff,” Dooley told the cheering crowd.

Dooley’s wife, Allison, stood by his side, along with Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife Marty.

Last year, the term-limited governor bucked expectations, announcing he would not run for U.S. Senate against the incumbent Democrat, Jon Ossoff.

Instead, he backed Dooley, son of famed University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley.

Ossoff’s team had a tart retort after seeing the outcome.

“After Brian Kemp’s crushing refusal to run for Senate, Trump puppets Collins and Dooley have made themselves terminally inseparable from the toxic president,” the Ossoff campaign said.

At least twenty million dollars in Democratic advertising will greet the GOP nominee, according to the AJC.

The Senate Majority PAC today announced it has secured $20 million in TV advertising slots backing Ossoff’s reelection bid.

[T]he Democrats’ TV buy makes them poised to defend Ossoff’s record or attack his opponent once the general election campaign is underway. Plus, the spending will increase when digital advertisements are added in.

“It doesn’t matter which Republican wins their primary — Carter, Collins, and Dooley are all the same: Trump loyalists who’ve never put Georgia first a day in their lives,” Senate Majority PAC spokesperson Lauren French said in a statement. “Jon Ossoff does. He’s focused on expanding care for veterans and lowering costs for families crushed by this economy, and come November, voters will reelect him to Congress.”

Georgia is one of a handful of states where Senate Democrats are either defending vulnerable incumbents like Ossoff or looking to flip seats currently held by Republicans.

Steve Kornacki of NBC says Georgia’s U.S. Senate race could determine partisan control of the chamber, according to the Savannah Morning News.

“Obviously in Georgia, the Senate race on the Republican side, I think, is the race for us because it has those national implications for control of the Senate,” Kornacki said. “I think any path, looking at it from the standpoint of the Democrats are going to flip control of the Senate, any realistic path they have runs through retaining Georgia.”

The race is likely to go to a runoff, Kornacki continued, but what will be interesting is who the final two candidates will be, and where their momentum is coming from. Kornacki is also curious to see if President Trump will get involved in the general election race.

“I think also sort of just lurking in the background here is the question of if they do get to the runoff, does Trump get involved just given the success he’s had in recent primaries here the last few weeks, if that makes it more tempting to try to get in,” Kornacki said.

“If Dooley does make it into the runoff, I’m curious about that dynamic because of the history between Trump and Kemp which has sort of receded in the last few years, (but) ultimately they have a very touchy history,” Kornacki said. “Trump tried to take him out in 2022 and he failed. If you get into a runoff situation where the candidate of Brian Kemp is running against, let’s say they were Mike Collins, who’s been a pretty steadfast Trump ally, does that sway Trump to get involved a little bit too?”

“I think it feeds into a dynamic that we’ve been seeing pretty consistently now, and that is that there’s a portion of the Democratic Party base that is just off the charts motivated politically right now, has been for a while. Motivation flows from their deep, deep dislike of Donald Trump and of the Trump Republican Party, and we’ve been seeing in special elections, in sort of off-year elections, we’ve been seeing this portion of the Democratic Party,” Kornacki said.

“The pattern in these special elections to Congress is just so clear now. I think we’ve had seven or six of the seven of them since Trump came back to the White House, and in each one by double digits the Democrats have done better, have improved on their showing since the 2024 presidential race, they’ve done double digits better in every single one in U.S. House election,” Kornacki said.

“It’s that motivation of that party base that’s really driving that. When you talk to Republicans about it, they kind of concede the point. They say our voters will be there in November, they’re not going to be there for special elections, off-year elections. That’s certainly their hope.”

Both parties will host Primary Runoff Elections for Lieutenant Governor, according to WRDW.

Aside from governor, lieutenant governor was perhaps the highest-profile and most contentious statewide office on Georgia’s primary ballot on Tuesday.

It’s a powerful office, chairing the state Senate and frequently serving as a springboard for a gubernatorial run.

For example, current gubernatorial candidates include Democrat Geoff Duncan, who was a Republican when he held the office, and current Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.

On the Republican side

Tuesday’s primary included a number of conservative Republican stalwarts who played up their connection to President Donald Trump.

As of late Tuesday night, former state senator John Kennedy and current lawmaker Greg Dolezal are headed to a runoff to determine the Republican lieutenant gubernatorial nominee.

By late Tuesday, a runoff appeared likely, but it was unclear exactly who’d be in it. Kennedy was the top vote getter, followed by Dolezal and Tillery, but 19% of the votes were still out

On the Democratic side

State lawmakers Nabilah Parkes and Josh McLaurin are headed to a runoff to determine this fall’s Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial nominee.

Neither candidate was able to secure an outright win Tuesday night in a race that also included Democrat Richard Wright.

The last Democrat to serve as lieutenant governor was Mark Taylor, who served two consecutive terms from 1999 to 2007 before unsuccessfully running for governor in 2006 against incumbent Sonny Perdue.

McLaurin, a Democratic state senator from Sandy Springs, was the first candidate to announce a bid for the office, which also serves as president of the Senate.

Parkes was a late entry into the race, announcing her candidacy during qualifying week.

Both runoffs will be June 16.

Democrats Penny Brown Reynolds and Dana Barrett will contest a Runoff Election for Secretary of State, according to WRDW.

Barrett and Reynolds are hoping to become the first Democrat to hold the office since Cathy Cox from 1999 to 2007.

Two candidates advance to the next round in the GOP race for Secretary of State, according to Atlanta News First.

Republicans Tim Fleming and Vernon Jones finished first and second, respectively, in Tuesday’s GOP Secretary of State primary, but neither was able to secure an outright win in their quest to replace incumbent Brad Raffensperger this fall.

That means the two men will face each other in a June 16, 2026, runoff.

Congratulations to Republican Jim Kingston, who won the GOP Primary for the First Congressional District without a runoff. From the Savannah Morning News:

Jim Kingston will be the Republican nominee for Georgia’s U.S. House District 1, receiving 52% of the vote in a crowded field, according to unofficial results.

Kingston, son of former seat holder Jack Kingston, carved an outright win despite a deep field of six candidates that included a former Chatham County Commissioner and multiple military veterans. Kingston’s win came behind an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

“We will be growing this tent from now until next November,” Kingston said at his election watch party in Savannah Tuesday night. “Tonight we celebrate, and tomorrow we get back to work.”

Kingston’s general election opponent will be decided in the June 16 primary. Democrats Joyce Marie Griggs and Amanda Hollowell advanced to the runoff after Tuesday’s results, with Griggs receiving 34% of the vote and Hollowell with 25%.

Kingston said during the campaign that rising costs were the biggest issue facing the district. He proposed cutting taxes, supporting domestic energy production and advocated for key Southeast Georgia industries, according to reporting by the Savannah Morning News.

“Georgia’s First District deserves someone who understands what life actually looks like for the families, farmers and businesses that make this region work and who will bring that perspective – and our Southeast Georgia values – to Washington,” Kingston said in a Savannah Morning News preview of the race.

“The general election is a choice. Two different visions for Southeast Georgia, and I believe conservative leadership will prevail,” Kingston said Tuesday night.

From WSAV:

[Jim Kingston] said he wouldn’t be seeing the results he’s seeing if it weren’t for the endorsements he received from 60 elected officials in the region and President Donald Trump.

“This is still the greatest country in the history of mankind, but we need a fight every single day to defend it,” said Kingston. “I appreciate every one of you who joined me in this fight. We are moving on till November.” Thanks again. And with that, let’s all have a great night and get home safely. Thank you all.”

Kingston will now advance to the general election in November, continuing to follow in his father Jack Kingston’s footsteps.

First Congressional District Democrats will return to the polls on June 16, 2026 to decide the Runoff Election, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Joyce Marie Griggs and Amanda Hollowell will be going to a runoff to decide who faces Republican nominee Jim Kingston, who won the nomination outright Tuesday night, according to unofficial results. The Democratic race is going to a runoff because candidates needed a majority vote, or 50% plus one vote, in order to win outright.

Griggs carried the highest vote total Tuesday night, receiving 34% of the vote. Hollowell followed with 25%. In total, Griggs collected 19,675 votes to Hollowell’s 14,086.

Griggs also won Chatham County, the district’s most populous region, by over 2,500 votes. Griggs outpaced Hollowell in Chatham 11,535 to 8,836.

From WSAV:

Throughout the campaign, Hollowell said she focused heavily on affordability, health care access and voter engagement across southeast Georgia.

“What it looks like is actually figuring out the way that we can give tax breaks and help the middle class and those folks who are on the margins or lower income,” Hollowell said. “Because right now, what we’re seeing is that billionaires are making money, having horrible business practices, and we’re all suffering from it. We really need to think about how we lower the prices on utilities, food and health care right now.”

From WSAV:

Griggs said this election season feels different and she will be optimistic as she moves forward to the runoff against Amanda Hollowell.

“Well, it feels different because, well, I’ve had, what, seven other candidates in this race,” Griggs said. “We’re coming out on top. So that is that makes me feel really good. It shows that the people believe in Joyce Marie Griggs, and they believe and the work that I can do.”

Griggs said if she were to be elected in this seat her primary focuses will be on affordability and health care.

In the Twelfth Congressional District, two Democrats head to a Runoff Election to challenge Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, according to WJBF.

With 24 out of 24 precincts reports, Ceretta Smith received 32.62% (17,430 votes) of the votes and Traci “Acree” George” received 27.22% (14,545 votes) of the votes.

The run-off will take place Tuesday, June 16th.

In the Republican primary race, incumbent Rick W. Allen received 83.30% (58,768 votes) of the votes and Tori Branum received [16.70% ](11,785 votes) of the votes.

State House District 177 voters of both parties will decide a Special Runoff Election on June 9, 2026 and a Runoff Election for the term begininig in January 2027 on June 16, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

Last week’s special election was split with Alvin Payton Jr. receiving 35.75% of votes and Eric Howard receiving 19% of votes, as declared by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. Without a declared 50% majority, Payton and Howard will enter the runoff to finish former state Rep. Dexter Sharper’s term, which ends at the end of this year.

Tuesday’s primary election ended with Payton receiving 25.65% of votes and Elsie Napier taking the lead with 29.96% of votes. However, there is no declared majority, and this will result in a runoff as well.

Runoffs for the special election take place on June 9, while the primary runoff will take place on June 16.

State Rep. Teddy Reese (Columbus) won the Democratic Primary for Senate District 15, which is being vacated by the retirement of Sen. Ed Harbison (D-Columbus), according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

The seat became up for grabs with no incumbent candidate after state Sen. Ed Harbison announced in March he would not seek reelection.

He led the primary with about 58% vote, ahead of Edward D. Harbison, Sen. Harbison’s son and public policy specialist, and community organizer Alyssa Nia Williams.

State Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth) heads to a Runoff against Rahul Garabadu in Senate District 7, according to AccessWDUN.

“We are ecstatic because at the end of the day we were completely outspent by our opponent, and this is such a clear example of how the many can absolutely beat the money,” Romman told AccessWDUN Tuesday night. “We have a philosophy of putting everything on the table and running through the tape … [our supporters] are already giving, and they’re already helping us refill our war chest.”

Reports filed with the Georgia State Ethics Commission show Garabadu’s spending at nearly $144,000 compared to Romman’s nearly $66,000.

The runoff will be June 16.

Romman currently has 38% of the vote and Garabadu has 33.3% of the vote with 98% of the vote in as of 12:17 a.m. Wednesday.

A special election to fill out former State Senator Nabilah Parkes’ term was also held, with it too going to a runoff. That runoff is too close to call, with each candidate having roughly one-third of the vote as of 11 p.m. with 83% of votes counted.

The winner of the Democratic Primary for the full term between Romman and Garabadu will face real estate broker Aizaz Shaikh, who ran unopposed in the Republican Primary.

Democrat MiQuan Green was elected to State House District 165, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Lifelong Savannahian MiQuan Green is slated to be the next state House District 165 representative after winning Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Green won the race with 53% of the vote in a field with three candidates. All vote totals are currently unofficial.

Green defeated two other Democratic candidates and no Republicans qualified for the seat, making Green the only candidate in November’s general election. Green defeated Kendra Clark and Jaylen “Jay” Morris in Tuesday’s primary.

Colquitt County voters approved two referenda, according to the Moultrie Observer.

In Tuesday’s election, Colquitt County residents chose to say “yes” to both referendums that were on the ballot. So, residents will see a $10,000 homestead exemption from both their county property taxes and school property taxes. This act will go into effect in 2027.

In local elections, three incumbents who faced opposition retained their seats.

For County Commission chairman, incumbent Denver Braswell received 3,708 votes to win over Seaborn Folsom, who received 349 votes.

For the Board of Education District 4, incumbent Hayden Willis received 552 votes to win over Marc Eure, who received 270 votes.

For chief magistrate judge, incumbent Matt Littleton received 4,040 votes to win over Traci Williams, who received 1,397 votes.

Richmond County voters approved a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and a Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST), according to WJBF.

The unofficial election results are in for the Reimposition or Non-Reimposition Of a Special One Percent Sales and Use Tax (SPLOST) and the Special One-Half Percent Sales And Use Tax To Reduce Property Taxes (FLOST).

With 65 out of 65 precincts reporting, 70.73% (27,003 votes) voted yes while 29.27% (11,174 votes) voted no for the FLOST.

With 65 out of 65 precincts reporting, 58.58% (22,213 votes) voted yes while 41.42% (15,705 votes) voted no for the SPLOST.

From WRDW:

SPLOST 9 would add a 1% sales tax, with the money going toward improvement projects across the area.

More than $72 million of revenues from the 1% tax would go toward quality-of-life projects in Augusta-Richmond County, including:

• $2.8 million for the Fifth Street Marina
• $5.8 million for aquatic facilities improvements
• $4.7 million for landscaping, irrigation and amenities

FLOST would add a 0.5% sales tax aimed at reducing property taxes.

The FLOST idea came out of the city’s decision to opt out of a cap on property tax increases. After city residents expressed displeasure over that decision, leaders decided to put FLOST on the ballot to cut down on the need to raise property taxes.

If voters approve both measures, the total sales tax in Richmond County would rise to 9%.

Congratulations and condolences to Republican James Hall, who was reelected to the Chatham County Board of Elections, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Republican Incumbent James Hall emerged victorious in the race against fellow Republican Vicki Bradley for Seat 3, while Democratic Incumbent Latricia Brown defeated Democrat Tara Scott Brown for seat 4.

Hall is currently the vice chairman of the Chatham County Board of Elections. He is a longtime Savannah resident, public servant, community leader and active member of the Savannah Area Realtors Association, according to his website.

Hall garnered 54.48% of the vote, or 9,956 votes, in his victory, while Brown received 54.49%, or 17,418 votes, in hers.

Republican Jody Voss ran unopposed for Seat 1, while Democrat Ja’Quan Omari Oliver ran unopposed for Seat 2.

Republican Alison Couch won her party’s nomination for Chair of the Columbia County Commission, according to WRDW.

Gary Jones and Alison Couch faced each other in the Republican primary, and Couch prevailed.

Couch got 50.3% of the votes (9,836) compared to 49.7% (9,727) for Gary Jones.

Couch will go up against Cambrey Wood, the sole Democrat running.

From WJBF:

With 40 out of 40 precincts reporting, it is very close race with Allison Couch receiving 50.2% (9,836 votes) of the votes and Gary E. Jones receiving 49.7% (9,727 votes) of the votes.

Couch wins this race by just 109 votes. There will not be an automatic recount, but Gary Jones can request one.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson and Steven Kendrick willl meet again in a Runoff election for Mayor, according to WJBF.

Johnson earned 42.80 percent of the vote, getting 16,313 votes. Kendrick received 35.50 percent of the votes, and had 13,531 votes.

“This is nothing new for us, and this is overtime. We expected to be here with four candidates, and that’s where we are,” Johnson said at a watch party on Tuesday. “We’re primed and ready, and we’re going to continue selling our message, we’re going to continue to talking to the public about why Garnett Johnson deserves to be elected.”

“I think Augusta can just do better,” Kendrick said his watch party. “I think obviously, the community said they want better, so give me the opportunity to show what it can be like to have someone who understands how to grow this community, how to build this community, and unite this community.”

From WRDW:

Incumbent Garnett Johnson and challenger Steven Kendrick will go into a runoff, just like they did four years ago.

In Athens-Clarke County, Tim Denson and Dexter Fisher are headed to a Runoff Election, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

Denson garnered 9,634 votes or almost 38% of votes cast, while Fisher received 6,914 votes or about 27%, according to the totals on the Georgia Secretary of State website.

The runoff is set for June 16. Early voting begins June 8. Denson is a former Athens-Clarke commissioner, while Fisher currently serves as the District 5 commissioner.

Republican Bulloch County Commissioner Toby Conner faces challenger Dr. Ted Redman in a June 16, 2026 Runoff Election, according to the Statesboro Herald.

The incumbent commissioner is Toby Conner, who fell just short of a 50% majority need to win outright in the race for Board of Commissioners Seat 2-B with challengers Dr. Ted Redman and Frank Bedell. In the unofficial count as of 11 p.m., complete except for 12 provisional ballots countywide, Conner had 2,949 votes to Redman’s 1,935 votes and Bedell’s 1,078 votes. So a total of 5,962 votes had been counted in the race, and Conner had 49.46% of the total to Redman’s 32.46%. So as the two top vote getters, they appeared set for a Republican ballot runoff in Commission District 2.

Meanwhile, in the nonpartisan Board of Education race in District 5, which encompasses about one-eighth of the county’s population, incumbent Glennera Martin, now in her 12th year on the board, garnered 308 votes, or 55.9% of the total, to challenger Jessica L. Jones’ 243 votes, or 44.1%.

From WSAV:

In Tuesday’s non-partisan race [for Bulloch County Board of Education District 5, Incumbent Glennera Martin has won another term as she defeated challenger Jessica L. Jones, receiving 308 votes to 243 votes.

Two new members of the Floyd County Commission will take their seats next year, according to WRGA News.

Shane Cowan defeated Incumbent Rhonda Wallace for the Post 1 seat.

Wallace is also the current chair of the county commission.

Cowan received 6,098 votes to Wallace’s 5,601.

In Post 5, Cleve Jackson defeated Ronnie Kilgo and will face Democrat Shonna Bailey in November.

Jackson got 5,906 votes to Kilgo’s 5,545.

In Post 4, Incumbent David Thornton was re-elected by a comfortable margin.

Thornton got 7,286 votes. Tonya Eden Shepard got 2,906 votes, and Bryon Benefield got 1,418 votes.

For the Floyd County Board of Education, Todd Wheeler was elected in District 4 with 6,110 votes to Carmen Jones’ 2,301 votes.

For the Georgia State House in District 13, Incumbent Katie Dempsey handily won against her primary challenger, Kristie Miner. Dempsey received 4,633 votes to Miner’s 1,775. Dempsey will now face Democrat Vincent Mendes in November.

For the U.S. House in District 14, Clay Fuller won easily, without the need for a runoff, garnering 81 percent of the vote in Floyd County, setting up a rematch with Democrat Shawn Harris in November.

Hall County Planning Commissioner Shannon Davidson and Tyler Crawford will meet in a Republican Runoff Election for Hall County Commission District 3, according to AccessWDUN.

Crawford led the voting with 36.5 percent of the vote, while Davidson finished second with 32 percent. Former Hall County Commissioner Steve Gailey finished third with 31.3 percent of the vote, failing to reach the runoff.

Joanne Cogle and Isaiah Hugley will meet in a June 16, 2026 Runoff Election for Mayor of Columbus, according to WTVM.

Joanne Cogle secured 9,188 votes, (25%), and Isaiah Hugley secured 16,315 votes, (45%).

Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Board of Education President Roger Moss was reelected, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Roger Moss won a second term Tuesday as Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) Board of Education president, defeating long-time board member Dione Hoskins-Brown.

The unofficial results were announced around 11:30 p.m., showing Moss won by a margin of 2.14% — a difference of just 1,122 votes.

Two candidates for the District 7 and 8 (both at-large) seats on the Bibb County Board of Education won without runoffs, according to the Macon Telegraph.

Six candidates, including one incumbent, competed for at-large posts 7 and 8. Newcomer Amy Morton won Post 7 with 56.7% of the vote, while incumbent Lisa Garrett-Boyd retained her post 8 seat with 55.7%, according to unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State website.

Amy Morton received about 57% of the vote in the Post 7 race and won out over challenger Kerry Hatcher.

The newcomer will succeed her husband and former board president, Daryl Morton. While looking at early results, Amy Morton noted that she led in most precincts across Bibb County. She said the outcome reflects broad support for a community‑driven vision of “excellent schools,” not just adequate ones

Republicans Joe Anglin and Susan Aycock Smith are headed to a Primary Runoff Election for an at-large seat on the Hall County Board of Education, according to AccessWDUN.

Anglin received 44% of the votes, while Smith received just over 32%. A third opponent, Carla Baker, received just over 22% of the vote.

The winner of the runoff will face Democratic challenger Susan Martin Taylor in the general election in November.

13WMAZ has results from the highly-watched Macon-Bibb County Water Authority elections.