Georgia’s elections on Tuesday include a state Supreme Court race that’s grown unusually heated by the sleepy standards of the state’s nonpartisan judicial elections, as well as a five-way GOP primary for an open seat in the strongly Republican 3rd Congressional District south and west of Atlanta. Two Democratic congressional incumbents — U.S. Reps. David Scott and Lucy McBath — face primary challengers in metro Atlanta districts that were redrawn by Republicans after redistricting lawsuits. Parties are also choosing their nominees for other congressional and state legislative seats and local offices including sheriffs, district attorneys, and county commissioners. Runoffs will be held June 18 in races where candidates don’t win a majority.
In the state Supreme Court race, incumbent Justice Andrew Pinson, appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022, is trying to win a six-year term and is opposed by John Barrow, a former Democratic congressman. The race has become heated with Barrow suing in federal court over alleged free-speech violations. Other judicial candidates are unopposed or contending for open seats on the court. In the 3rd Congressional District, five Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination to succeed GOP Rep. Drew Ferguson, with former President Donald Trump endorsing his onetime aide Brian Jack for the seat. On the Democratic side, Val Almonord and Maura Keller are seeking the party’s nomination in the same district.
In the 13th Congressional District, incumbent David Scott faces challenges from six Democratic candidates as he seeks a 12th term. Republican candidate Jonathan Chavez is running against Johsie Cruz Fletcher. The district has been significantly reconfigured, leading challengers to accuse Scott, 78, of being out of touch. In the 6th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Lucy McBath is running in a new district after redistricting, facing primary opposition from Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson and state Rep. Mandisha Thomas. McBath has made gun control and reducing gun violence her primary focus.
Republican Sanford Bishop Jr. faces four challengers in southwest Georgia’s 2nd District, including Wayne Johnson, who was an official in the U.S. Education Department under Trump. In the 14th Congressional District, four Democrats are competing to challenge Republican incumbent Marjorie Taylor Greene. Other races include Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk facing a primary challenge in the 11th Congressional District, and Democrats choosing nominees to challenge Republican incumbents in other districts. The outcome of these races will have a significant impact on the political landscape in Georgia and the United States as a whole.
