Georgia primary could have ripple effect on national politics

"In the U.S. Senate contest, with or without Trump's endorsement, Hershel Walker is so far ahead, it just doesn't really matter," said M.V. (Trey) Hood, University of Georgia political science professor and director of the survey research center.

Walker's absence at the first major Republican Senate debate in Gainesville, allowed more stage time for his opponents: state Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black; contractor and military veteran Kelvin King; ex-state Representative Josh Clark; former Navy SEAL Latham Saddler; and former Brigadier General of the U.S. Army Jonathan McColumn.

Adversaries of Walker question his past, after his ex-wife accused him of violently threatening her. On Thursday, a Democratic-leaning political action committee requested an investigation by the Department of Justice into his inconsistent business financial disclosures.

In last year's runoffs, Georgia voters elected Democrats to the U.S. Senate for the first time in two decades. The Reverend Raphael Warnock, a senior pastor at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, became the state's first Black senator and now he is seeking reelection.

Warnock is up against one other Democratic candidate, Tamara Johnson-Shealey, who wants to provide financial services to descendants of slaves, raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour and expand Medicare.

As some voters blame incumbent lawmakers for the inflated costs of gas and other goods, Warnock vowed to "lower the costs for consumers" and suspend the federal fuel tax.

Democratic victories in the last election were partly due to Georgia's changing demographics throughout recent years, according to Steigerwalt, creating what she compares to a twist ice cream cone of red and blue.

"A lot of people moving in to the cities. We've brought in a lot of industry here and so, we now have headquarters from major tech companies that are in Georgia and things like that. So what we've seen is a real change and that's becoming increasingly reflected in the politics," said Steigerwalt, the Georgia State University professor.

"It's sort of always been true that Atlanta has been blue, generally speaking cities are bluer than sort of, suburban, rural, and exurban areas, but what we've seen and what was kind of noticeable about 2020 is that the circle really expanded to where it was encompassing," she said. "On the other hand, a lot of the other parts of Georgia, that are red, became even redder."

Multiple Democratic candidates are pursuing the role of Georgia's top election official, including state Representative Bee Nguyen, cybersecurity expert Michael Owens, former state Senator Floyd Griffin, former Fulton County Commissioner John Eaves and former state Representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler.

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is up for reelection but has drawn scrutiny from both sides of the political coin for his handling of voting, most notably from Trump and his followers after Raffensperger refused to comply with Trump's request to "find" enough votes to give him a victory over President Joe Biden.

Although the state's electoral votes were certified by bipartisan officials in early January 2021, Trump's denial of his loss is echoed with his endorsement of Congressman Jody Hice, a "Stop the Steal" conspiracist who is leading Raffensperger in the latest survey.

Abram's voting rights advocacy group, Fair Fight Action, is also suing Raffensperger's office in federal court over several hurdles Georgian's face in the voting process.

"I think the number one concern for Georgians, hands down, is voting rights, and about ensuring we all have equitable access to the ballot box," said Dontaye Carter, communications chair of the Fulton County Democratic Committee.

From May 1-3, Georgia Public Broadcasting will livestream and broadcast debates scheduled for the governor, U.S. Senate secretary of state and lieutenant governor races, plus other contests, as part of the Loudermilk-Young Debate Series.

Early voting for the primary begins on May 2 and Georgia voters can check their registration status, find their poll precinct, and request a mail-in application here.

"We focus a lot on politics, the campaigns and on the horse race, but that's not what this is really about. It's about policy. It's about the actual laws that are going to be passed and the decisions that are made and how that's going to affect you every single day," Steigerwalt said.

Follow @Megwiththenews

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit