Although Georgia's attention has been focused on the northern suburbs' 6th Congressional District, the area's other runoff election will be held Tuesday to represent parts of Cobb and Fulton counties in the state Senate.
Democrat Christine Triebsch and Republican Kay Kirkpatrick are facing off a race that has appeared surprisingly competitive, after Triebsch topped an eight-candidate field in the April 18 special election.
The state Senate District 32 seat, however, has been held by a Republican since 1995, and Kirkpatrick has been boosted by the race's other Republican candidates. Including her, the five GOPers earned a combined 60.2 percent of the vote in April, something Kirkpatrick's supporters hope bodes well Tuesday.
Triebsch, a family and juvenile attorney, has often tied the contest to Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff’s push to “flip” the northern metro area’s 6th District away from the state’s majority Republican leadership. A political novice, she has said she was “deeply affected” by the results of November’s presidential election and has tried to harness the grassroots energy among liberals that followed.
Kirkpatrick, a retired orthopedic surgeon, has in turn run a more traditional campaign, far out-fundraising Triebsch and tapping into a support network that has included state Reps. Beth Beskin, R-Atlanta, Deborah Silcox, R-Atlanta, and U.S. Health Secretary Tom Price’s wife, state Rep. Elizabeth Price.
Longtime state Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, held the seat since 2005 but resigned to run for Congress. He came in fourth in the 6th District vote on April 18, missing a June 20 runoff.
Tuesday’s runoff election for state Senate District 32
Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Eligible voters must live in the district, which includes parts of Cobb and Fulton counties.
You can check the Georgia Secretary of State Office's online "my voter page" website (www.mvp. sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do) or download the "GA SOS" app to see if you live in the district, view a sample ballot and find polling locations.
On Election Day, voters can use the office's Facebook and Twitter to report on their experience. The office also receives complaints through the "Stop Voter Fraud" website (sos.ga.gov/index.php/Elections/stop_voter_fraud) and hotline at (877) 725-9797.
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