Georgia voters on coast favor GOP incumbent lawmaker; state Legislature runoffs stick to script

Delma Harris waves to voters outside the North Fayette Baptist Church polling station in Fayetteville during the June 18 runoff primary. Harris wore a campaign shirt supporting retired U.S. Army Major Kenya Wicks, who defeated Rep. Valencia Stovall in the Democratic primary runoff for Senate District 34. Ross Williams/ Georgia Recorder

A coastal Georgia GOP state lawmaker defeated a challenger in Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff, positioning him as the heavily favored candidate in November.

St. Marys Republican Rep. Steven Sainz defeated Glenn Cook with 2,294 votes, or 52.5%, to 2,096 votes, or 47.5%, according to unofficial results.

In another contest highlighted by intra-party negative attacks , Democratic candidate Kenya Wicks defeated former Rep. Valencia Stovall in the primary to replace retiring state Sen. Valencia Seay, who has represented the south metro Atlanta district since 2003.

Tuesday’s election determined the winner in eight state legislative primaries that went to a two-person runoff after no candidate earned 50% of the overall vote on May 21.

In the May 21 GOP primary, Sainz fell just 39 votes short of avoiding a runoff in the three-candidate field, which saw Cook earn second place with about 27% of the vote. Sainz will face Democratic Party candidate Defonsio Daniels on Nov. 5 to decide who will spend the next two years representing the GOP-leaning district at the state Capitol.

Sainz said Tuesday night he is thankful for the support he received from the “amazing” people of Georgia House District 180. Sainz was first elected to the state House in 2019.

“I worked hard to make sure there was a solid voice in the state legislature that was Camden County focused,” Sainz said in a text message. “I could not think of a better pairing than the people of South Glynn County and Exit 29. They want the same thing… a legislator focused on public safety, and economic security. We plan to deliver the same record of results over the next two years.”

As of late night Tuesday, Wicks was leading Stovall by 4,904 votes to 2,550, or 66% to 34%, according to unofficial election results. Wicks victory in Tuesday’s primary moves her one step closer to serving in the same position as her mentor, Seay, for whom Wicks previously served as chief of staff.

Wicks’ victory Tuesday was a reversal of the outcome of the May 21 primary when her 2,037 votes, or 15%, was well short of Stovall’s 46% of votes in a crowded field of seven candidates.

Wicks’ campaign was boosted by endorsements from Seay, several state Democratic senators as well voting rights organization Fair Fight Action and several other groups. Stovall expressed frustration at having to deal with negative campaigning from within her own party, including being labeled as a Republican in mailers funded by a Senate Democratic Political Action Committee led by Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler.

Wicks, who served 30 years in the military, will next face Republican university administrator Andrew Honeycutt in November for the Senate district that primarily spans Clayton County and a section of Fayette County. More than 75% of voters in the district voted for Democratic presidential winner Joe Biden in the 2020 general election.

Wicks said Tuesday evening that she was still in shock about the runoff outcome but said she’ll continue fighting as an advocate for the residents of her district.

She credited the primary runoff success to “meeting the citizens where they are, hearing their concerns and also the endorsements of 19 state senators” and various groups.

“They know my integrity, know that I’m an honest and transparent person,” Wicks said. “I’m very thankful for everyone that believed in me.”

Several other races will also be decided in the Georgia House and Senate on Tuesday, with the winners of these matchups going into the Nov. 5 general election as the heavy favorites.

A Democratic Senate District 55 primary for DeKalb and Gwinnett counties had DeKalb County attorney Randal Mangham taking an edge over Gwinnett County registered nurse Iris Knight-Hamilton. The winner will face Republican Mary Williams Benefield in November to determine who replaces Butler, a Stone Mountain Democrat, who is stepping down after 26 years in the Legislature.

In a Democratic runoff to replace outgoing Sen. Horacena Tate, nonprofit executive RaShaun Kemp’s clinched 2,409 votes, or about 60%, was well ahead of the 1,626 tallied for real estate broker Ralph Long III in the suburban Atlanta district.

A newly drawn majority Black House District 145 covering Monroe and Macon-Bibb counties that is up for grabs saw Tangie Herring leading Juawn Jackson by 1,262 to 929 votes, or 53% to 47% of overall votes, according to unofficial results. The winner will face Republican Noah Redding Harbuck.

After Tuesday’s GOP primary results, Columbia County contractor Rob Clifton replaced Evans Republican Rep. Jodi Lott, who announced last year that she would not seek reelection for District 131. Clifton on Tuesday defeated retired educator Paul Abbott by earning 1,561 votes to Abbott’s 569.

Arlene Beckles will replace retiring Duluth Democratic Rep. Pedro Marin in the state House District 96 after defeating Sonia Lopez Tuesday by 217 votes to 116 votes. No Republican candidates qualified for the primary for the Gwinnett district.

Also on Tuesday, Gwinnett Republican J. Gregory Howard emerged the victor of Senate District 7 primary runoff with a 1,347 to 840 edge over construction company owner Fred Clayton. Howard will challenge Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, a Duluth Democrat, in the general election.

The post Georgia voters on coast favor GOP incumbent lawmaker; state Legislature runoffs stick to script appeared first on Georgia Recorder .