Live Updates Politics
Live Updates Politics

Cochran-Johnson leads in DeKalb CEO race

By
Updated May 22, 2024

Former Commissioners Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Larry Johnson are leading in the race to become DeKalb’s next chief executive officer.

With just over a third of precincts reporting, Cochran-Johnson, the former Super District 7 commissioner, is ahead in the three-way race to succeed a term-limited Michael Thurmond.

Cochran-Johnson, who would be the first African-American woman to hold the job if elected, has not clinched the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff.

Johnson, a longtime commissioner for southwest DeKalb’s District 3, is in second place.

District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw is trailing in third.

About the Author

Sara Gregory covers transportation for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Previously, she covered local government in DeKalb County. A Charlotte native, she joined the paper in 2023 after working at newspapers in South Carolina and Virginia.

Follow Sara Gregory on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

A person walks past a voting sign on Election Day outside the Helene Mills Senior Center on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Atlanta. Runoff elections were held to settle local contests across 30 counties in Georgia. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Roswell, South Fulton select new mayors in runoff election

Runoffs decided more than a dozen local contests in metro Atlanta on Tuesday.

Election Day II: Tuesday’s runoffs will decide local races in metro Atlanta

More than a dozen contests in metro Atlanta, including some races for city council and school board in the city of Atlanta, are being decided Tuesday in runoff elections.

Meet the democratic socialist elected to Atlanta City Council

Kelsea Bond won a landslide victory in the District 2 race while championing Beltline rail, dense affordable housing and workers’ rights.

The Latest

Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, one of three vying to be DeKalb County's next chief executive officer, speaks to supporters outside of her campaign headquarters in Stone Mountain on Thursday, March 7, 2024. She and Larry Johnson are headed to a June runoff to determine the next CEO. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Cochran-Johnson, Johnson head to runoff in DeKalb CEO race

Here are the referendums and issues on the May primary ballot in metro Atlanta

Sen. Tim Scott tells GOP audience he’s ready for the fight

Featured

Former Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman talks to her daughter, Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, after she testified before the U.S. House Select Committee at its fourth hearing on its Jan. 6 investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Credit: TNS

OPINION

The 2020 election interference case is gone, but it can’t be forgotten

The decision by a Georgia prosecutor not to pursue the massive Trump election interference case leaves some bad deeds unpunished.

Officials to install opioid reversal kits in Georgia’s public schools

The kits will contain Narcan, which can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and restore breathing.

Odom-led comeback nets Conference USA championship for Kennesaw State

The Owls continue to be one of the most intriguing stories of the season, going from a two-win season to a conference title and beating the defending league champions.