More than 50 state lawmakers face May primary opponents
Qualifying for state and federal offices ended at noon Friday.
- Number of state legislative primaries: 52
- Number of congressional primaries: 7
- Number of competitive state general elections: 48
- Number of competitive federal general elections: 10
- Incumbents with both primary and general election opponents: U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson; U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Evans; U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany; U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville; U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Roswell; U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton; state Sen. Frank Ginn, R-Danielsville; state Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody; state Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague, D-Red Oak; state Rep. Joyce Chandler, R-Grayson; state Rep. Mike Cheokas, R-Americus; state Rep. Bert Reeves, R-Marietta; state Rep. Dexter Sharper, D-Valdosta; state Rep. Tom Weldon, R-Ringgold; and state Rep. John Yates, R-Griffin.
Fifty-two state lawmakers and seven Georgians in Congress face primary opponents in May, according to the final results of candidate qualifying.
The deadline to sign up to run for state and federal office was noon Friday. In all, 454 Georgians signed papers and paid their fee to run for election.
Among the highlights:
- U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson has two Republican primary opponents: Derrick Grayson and Mary Kay Bacallao. Four Democrats will face off in May, and one Libertarian will also be on the ballot in November.
- U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a Cassville Republican, is besieged from all sides. He picked up four Republican opponents for the May primary, as well as a Democratic opponent for the general election.
- U.S. Rep. Doug Collins faces not just former U.S. Rep. Paul Broun in the May Republican primary, but also three other candidates.
- The seat left open by the retirement of U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland drew seven Republican candidates and one Democrat.
Several top state lawmakers face primaries, including House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, House Majority Leader Jon Burns, R-Newington, Senate Majority Leader Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, and more than a dozen committee chairmen in the House and Senate.
There are primaries for an additional 18 seats with no returning incumbents.
Among those not seeking re-election are Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Virgil Fludd, D-Tyrone.
Williams and Sen. Bill Jackson, R-Appling, are the only two retiring senators. A third, Sen. Mike Crane, R-Newnan, is running for the U.S. House. Sixteen House members chose to retire.
Longtime House Ethics Committee Chairman Joe Wilkinson, R-Dunwoody, picked up two late primary opponents: Sandy Springs City Councilman Graham McDonald and attorney Deborah Silcox.
Finally, the longest-serving member of the General Assembly, Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, signed up for another term. He is unopposed.
