Five of the 15 metro Atlanta legislative primaries that we’ve been watching are heading to runoffs on June 16, because open Democratic seats for the May 19 primaries going to a runoff attracted a plethora of candidates.
Here are the runoff candidates for these five Democratic primaries, along with the results of 10 other legislative primaries — both Republican and Democratic — that were decided on Tuesday.
Metro Atlanta legislative seats with Democratic primary runoffs
Georgia Senate runoffs for Democratic primaries
District 7 (Duluth)
Democrats Rahul Garabadu and Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth) advanced to a primary runoff with 33.2% and 38.2% of the vote, respectively. Astrid Ross finished third with 28.6% of the vote.
For this safe blue seat, Republican Aizaz Shaikh ran uncontested in the GOP primary.
District 14 (Sandy Springs)
Democrats Kevin Abel and Nathalie J Kanani are headed to a primary runoff. Abel finished first in the primary with 37.5% of the vote to Kanani’s 32.6%. Kay Howell finished third with 29.9%.
For this safe blue seat, Republican Michael Dvorsack won a three-way GOP primary.
Georgia House Runoffs for Democratic primaries
House District 58 (Atlanta)
Democrat Demetria Henderson, a non-profit founder and maternal health advocate, is headed to a primary runoff against software engineer Mathewos Samson, a political newcomer who rose from Democratic Socialist volunteer to their endorsed candidate in just six months.
Henderson, with 39% of the vote to Samson’s 29.4%, secured a surprise runoff spot after spending just under $400 on a shoestring campaign, according to her latest campaign finance disclosures. Kyle Lamont, with backing from establishment Democrats, finished third with 22.2% of the vote, while relative unknown Edith Ladipo finished fourth with 9.4%.
Republican Torrey Balam won an uncontested GOP primary for this deep-blue seat.
House District 62 (South Atlanta)
Kenn Collier placed first in a four-way open Democratic primary with 38.3% of the vote, benefitting from over $354,000 in outside spending from sports betting PAC American Future. He’ll face off against Kavon Arnold, who garnered 32% of the vote, in the primary runoff. Third-place finisher Matt Rinker won 23.9% of the vote, and relative unknown Willie Horace Roseberry got 5.8%.
No Republican is seeking this seat, so Democratic voters will be choosing the election-winner in the Democratic primary runoff.
House District 68 (Tyrone)
No Republican is contesting this deep blue seat straddling Fulton and Fayette Counties, so the Democrat who wins the primary runoff wins the seat.
In this six-way Democratic primary, Democrat Mark Baker, a founding councilmember for the city of South Fulton, finished first with 29.7% of the vote.
He’ll face Timoria McQueen Saba, a maternal health policy and community advocate, who won 18.1% of the vote. Quentin “Q” Pullen finished third with 16.8%, followed by Jonathan Bonner with 13.7%, Courtney Heard with 11.1%, and Jane Williams with 10.6%.
Settled metro Atlanta legislative primaries
Georgia Senate:
Senate District 27 (Cumming)
Republican Mike Dudgeon won a four-way GOP primary for this solidly red district, while Democrat Jessica Roper ran uncontested in her primary.
Senate District 48 (Suwanee)
This swing district is one to watch in November. Republican incumbent Sen. Shawn Still (R-Suwanee) will face Laura Murvatian, who won her Democratic primary against Nathan Hombroek with 63.7% of the vote.
Georgia House:
House District 37 (Marietta)
Rep. Mary Frances Williams (D-Marietta) handily fended off a young progressive challenger, IT professional Graham Bowers, in the Democratic primary with 74% of the vote. Since no Republican is challenging Williams, she’s effectively won the general election.
House District 51 (Sandy Springs)
Rep. Esther Panitch (D-Sandy Springs) decisively fended off a primary challenge from the left by Aaron Baker, winning 56.5% of the vote. A sports betting PAC, American Future, spent nearly $241,000 promoting Panitch, along with other outside groups.
Republican Keith Gettman ran unopposed in the GOP primary for this safe blue seat.
House District 53 (Sandy Springs)
Republican incumbent, Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs) will face Democrat Beth Fuller in the general election for this swing district that extends from Buckhead north to Roswell. Fuller, a former CDC contractor, trounced tech entrepreneur Tim Dorr in the Democratic primary with 80.4% of the vote.
House District 57 (Atlanta)
Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Atlanta) easily dispatched a primary challenge from the left by Jeremiah Olney, winning 84.6% of the vote. Evans outspent Olney by almost 4 to 1, while sports betting PAC American Future separately spent $175,000 in support of Evans.
For the general election Evans will face Republican Helmut Love, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary.
House District 90 (Atlanta)
Democrat Bentley Hudgins decisively beat Leisa Stafford with 66% of the Democratic primary vote for this open seat. Despite Hudgins’ stated opposition to sports-betting, American Future spent nearly $335,000 supporting their candidacy.
Hudgins will face Republican Samantha Nicole Boston in the general election. Since it’s a deep blue seat, Hudgins will likely become the first openly transgender state legislator in Georgia.
House District 97 (Duluth)
Jyot Singh won the Democratic primary with 59.1% of the vote against Jacques Laurent, making him Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth)’s heir apparent. Singh, who also benefited from sports-betting PAC support, will face Republican Yassin Moghazi in the general election.
House District 99 (Duluth)
Democrats are hoping to flip this seat held by Republican Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) in November. Michelle Kang won the Democratic primary with 71.5% of the vote against Shelly Abraham.
House District 100 (Buford)
Republican Josh Clark handily defeated Edwin Duncan in the GOP primary with 78.5% of the vote. Clark also benefited from nearly $180,000 in outside spending by sports betting PAC American Conservative Action Fund Georgia.
Clark seems poised to succeed his brother — Rep. David Clark (R-Buford), who unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor — for this safe red seat. In the general election, he’ll face Democrat Jennifer Ambler, who ran uncontested in her primary.
