James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 88
The Senate contest has also
opened the First District that encompasses the Georgia coast. Seven Republicans have announced
to succeed Buddy Carter although
none of these candidates has a
lengthy officeholding resume. The
early favorite is Jim Kingston, son
of Jack Kingston. The father represented the district for two decades
and was a powerful “cardinal” as
Appropriations Committee subcommittee chairs are respectfully
known. The Cook Partisan Voting
Index scores this district as Republican +8 which makes it surprising
that half a dozen Democrats have
indicated an interest.
The other congressional district tilts heavily Democrat. It’s the
crazy-quilt Thirteenth in the southeast of metro Atlanta. David Scott
has represented the turf since its
creation in 2003. He even became
chairman of the Agriculture Committee. But Democrats wanting
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younger and more aggressive
leadership deposed Scott at the
beginning of the 119th Congress.
With blood in the water, nine have
indicated an interest in competing in the 2026 primary. The two
most experienced challengers
are Sen. Emanuel Jones and Rep.
Jasmine Clark who are from different generations. Jones has been in
the Senate for two decades and is
66-years-old. The 42-year-old Clark,
who holds a PhD in microbiology, is
in her fourth term.
runoff predictions
With candidate filing scheduled
for the first week in March, there
is time for additional candidates to
step forward. Undoubtedly some of
those who have currently indicated
an interest will reconsider and save
the filing fee.
Identifying likely winners in the
contests with large fields exceeds
AI capability. A prediction that will
almost certainly be born out is that
contests with crowded fields will
extend to runoffs. With a second
round needed to choose each party’s gubernatorial nominee, runoff
turnout should be robust although
not equaling the primary vote. On
the Republican side, nominees for
lieutenant governor, secretary of
state and school superintendent
may not be known until the runoff. A Democratic runoff might be
needed for labor commissioner.
More GOP than Democratic primary runoffs is in keeping with a
sense that Republicans continue to
have a slight advantage in Georgia.
To maintain that status, Republicans will have to unite if runoffs
bring out the worst in the competitors-- as often happens.
Charles S. Bullock, III, is Distinguished University Professor of Public and International
Affairs at the University of Georgia. He is the
co-author of The Three Governors Controversy, a book that examines the bitter 1946
Democratic gubernatorial primary.
