Live Updates Politics
Live Updates Politics

Cochran-Johnson leads in DeKalb CEO race

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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.

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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)

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