UPDATE: Gubernatorial runoff for GOP; Abrams wins among Democrats
Published 10:48 pm Tuesday, May 22, 2018
10:30 p.m.
ATLANTA (AP) — In Georgia’s gubernatorial primary, Democrats elected the state’s first woman nominee from either party, but no Republican candidate could gather more than 50 percent of the vote — so the top two face a July runoff.
If Stacey Abrams wins in November, she’ll become the first black woman governor in the U.S. She will face either Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle or Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Their runoff is scheduled for July 24.
Abrams beat former state Rep. Stacey Evans. The one-time legislative colleagues tussled over ethics accusations and their records on education. Both are Atlanta-area attorneys. Abrams got a last-minute boost with an endorsement — in the form of a 60-second robo-call — from Hillary Clinton.
In the Republican race, Cagle and Kemp beat three GOP rivals in a race characterized by strong support for gun rights and tough talk on immigration. The field was all white men – former legislators, officeholders and businessmen, some with decades of political experience and others positioning themselves as outsiders challenging the establishment.
In the ballroom of a downtown Atlanta hotel, Abrams supporters trickled in to a soundtrack of R&B and hip-hop songs. Two young women — one black and one white and both wearing shirts reading “Elect Black Women” — huddled over a table as Rihanna’s “Diamonds” played in the background.
At Cagle’s gathering in Gainesville, he walked through a crowd of supporters shaking hands, offering hugs and taking selfies while country singer Tyler Hammond performed on stage.
In Athens, supporters of Kemp streamed into the upstairs ballroom of the Holiday Inn to await returns.
The candidates are vying to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Nathan Deal, who has held the office since 2011.
All of Georgia’s statewide constitutional offices are up for grabs this election cycle, including those vacated by Cagle and Kemp, as well as the position of insurance commissioner vacated by Ralph Hudgens, who isn’t seeking re-election.
Georgia’s 180 state House and 56 state Senate seats are also up for a vote.
Five of Georgia’s U.S. House members face primary challengers.
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9:50 p.m.
x – indicates candidate has been declared victorious.
Governor Dem – Primary
1,211 of 2,619 precincts – 46 percent
x-Stacey Abrams 175,903 – 75 percent
Stacey Evans 58,597 – 25 percent
Governor GOP – Primary
1,069 of 2,619 precincts – 41 percent
Casey Cagle 124,148 – 39 percent
Brian Kemp 83,452 – 27 percent
Hunter Hill 54,728 – 17 percent
Clay Tippins 36,351 – 12 percent
Michael Williams 15,396 – 5 percent
Eddie Hayes 491 – 0 percent
Lieutenant Governor Dem – Primary
1,067 of 2,619 precincts – 41 percent
Sarah Amico 104,983 – 56 percent
Triana James 82,148 – 44 percent
Lieutenant Governor GOP – Primary
1,065 of 2,619 precincts – 41 percent
David Shafer 134,175 – 48 percent
Rick Jeffares 73,630 – 26 percent
Geoff Duncan 72,448 – 26 percent
Secretary of State Dem – Primary
1,007 of 2,619 precincts – 38 percent
John Barrow 96,147 – 52 percent
Dee Dawkins-Haigler 55,448 – 30 percent
Rakeim Hadley 33,788 – 18 percent
Secretary of State GOP – Primary
999 of 2,619 precincts – 38 percent
Brad Raffensperger 94,867 – 35 percent
David Isle 74,715 – 28 percent
Josh McKoon 56,464 – 21 percent
Buzz Brockway 41,296 – 15 percent
Appeals Court Judge Ellington Seat
895 of 2,619 precincts – 34 percent
Ken Hodges, NP 277,721 – 70 percent
Ken Shigley, NP 120,294 – 30 percent
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9:30 p.m.
Stacey Abrams has won the Democratic primary in Georgia’s gubernatorial race.
She is the state’s first woman nominee for governor from either major party, and if she wins the general election in November, she’ll become the first black female governor in the U.S.
Former state House Minority Leader Abrams beat former state Rep. Stacey Evans in Tuesday’s race. Both are Atlanta-area attorneys. The race was characterized by a battle over the candidates’ legislative records on education.
Abrams is a celebrated romance novelist who made economic mobility and affordable health care cornerstones of her campaign.
Abrams has garnered major party endorsements including Hillary Clinton, U.S. Rep. John Lewis and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Abrams would succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Nathan Deal, who has held the office since 2011.
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9:20 p.m.
Governor Dem – Primary
649 of 2,619 precincts – 25 percent
Stacey Abrams 98,593 – 73 percent
Stacey Evans 35,826 – 27 percent
Governor GOP – Primary
646 of 2,619 precincts – 25 percent
Casey Cagle 86,799 – 40 percent
Brian Kemp 57,505 – 26 percent
Hunter Hill 37,563 – 17 percent
Clay Tippins 24,896 – 11 percent
Michael Williams 10,435 – 5 percent
Eddie Hayes 360 – 0 percent
Lieutenant Governor Dem – Primary
637 of 2,619 precincts – 24 percent
Sarah Amico 68,567 – 56 percent
Triana James 52,834 – 44 percent
Lieutenant Governor GOP – Primary
635 of 2,619 precincts – 24 percent
David Shafer 90,146 – 47 percent
Rick Jeffares 52,710 – 27 percent
Geoff Duncan 49,025 – 26 percent
Secretary of State Dem – Primary
617 of 2,619 precincts – 24 percent
John Barrow 59,987 – 51 percent
Dee Dawkins-Haigler 36,024 – 31 percent
Rakeim Hadley 21,528 – 18 percent
Secretary of State GOP – Primary
601 of 2,619 precincts – 23 percent
Brad Raffensperger 62,493 – 35 percent
David Isle 52,197 – 29 percent
Josh McKoon 37,569 – 21 percent
Buzz Brockway 27,546 – 15 percent
Appeals Court Judge Ellington Seat
420 of 2,619 precincts – 16 percent
Ken Hodges, NP 142,971 – 70 percent
Ken Shigley, NP 62,247 – 30 percent
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8:54 p.m.
Governor Dem – Primary
209 of 2,619 precincts – 8 percent
Stacey Abrams 36,965 – 69 percent
Stacey Evans 16,486 – 31 percent
Governor GOP – Primary
198 of 2,619 precincts – 8 percent
Casey Cagle 43,880 – 41 percent
Brian Kemp 29,482 – 27 percent
Hunter Hill 17,319 – 16 percent
Clay Tippins 11,509 – 11 percent
Michael Williams 5,400 – 5 percent
Eddie Hayes 192 – 0 percent
Lieutenant Governor Dem – Primary
194 of 2,619 precincts – 7 percent
Sarah Amico 27,185 – 56 percent
Triana James 21,411 – 44 percent
Lieutenant Governor GOP – Primary
194 of 2,619 precincts – 7 percent
David Shafer 42,578 – 46 percent
Rick Jeffares 26,015 – 28 percent
Geoff Duncan 23,824 – 26 percent
Secretary of State Dem – Primary
178 of 2,619 precincts – 7 percent
John Barrow 23,423 – 52 percent
Dee Dawkins-Haigler 13,816 – 31 percent
Rakeim Hadley 7,861 – 17 percent
Secretary of State GOP – Primary
178 of 2,619 precincts – 7 percent
Brad Raffensperger 29,129 – 34 percent
David Isle 24,978 – 29 percent
Josh McKoon 17,714 – 21 percent
Buzz Brockway 13,761 – 16 percent
Appeals Court Judge Ellington Seat
132 of 2,619 precincts – 5 percent
Ken Hodges, NP 76,619 – 70 percent
Ken Shigley, NP 33,051 – 30 percent