James MagazineJames_July-August_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 73
JACKSON
deficit in the crowded GOP primary for lieutenant governor. Other
runoff reversals occurred in Democratic contests for the 1st Congressional District, two state House
seats and a special election for the
state Senate.
OSSOFF
BOTTOMS
UNDECIDED BROKE FOR WINNERS
COLLINS
THIS YEAR is a generational
election in terms of the number
of open high-profile elective office
positions. Consider that the top four
statewide constitutional offices and
four congressional districts have
no incumbent. These opportunities
brought forth numerous primary
candidates in both parties. And
with so many eager to serve, six
statewide Republican contests and
four on the Democratic side extended to June 16th runoffs.
In addition to the ten statewide
contests, 17 other offices were
decided in runoffs. Results followed
the historic pattern where the primary leader wins 70 percent of the
time. This year, primary leaders won
77 percent of the runoffs. The ten
strong leaders won— i.e. they got at
least 40 percent of the vote and led
the runner-up by five points.
The results also fell in line with
a pattern unique to Georgia gubernatorial contests. Since Georgia
eliminated the county unit system
in 1962 and moved to choosing
nominees with the popular vote,
eight of our governors have competed in runoffs. In five of those
pairings, the runner-up overtook
the primary leader. If Republican
Rick Jackson wins in November,
then six of nine governors will have
benefited from the second chance
given them in the runoff.
A second high-profile flip saw
Greg Dolezal overcome a 4.2-point
Surveys leading up to the
primary found many voters undecided, even in the GOP gubernatorial
contest where candidates spent
more than $100 million on television
alone. The primary results suggest
that late deciders broke heavily
for the individuals who ultimately
placed first. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who
polls showed trailing Jackson, rose
to 38 percent with a 6-point lead.
Surveys had shown Keisha Lance
Bottoms (KLB) stagnant at about 40
percent but late deciders favored
her and she won 56 percent of the
vote. A less dramatic change saw
GOP Senate candidate Mike Collins
rising to 40 percent.
Republican outsiders made dramatic gains going from unknown to
competitive. Jackson’s heavy investment in television and mail-outs got
him into the runoff which he won by
5 points despite President Donald
Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp endorsing his opponent. Kemp recruited
Derek Dooley, who for most of his
adult life never bothered to vote, to
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