ATLANTA — Georgia Democrats have completed their statewide slate for November after voters selected nominees in four key runoff elections Tuesday night.
With roughly 80% of precincts reporting, state Sen. Josh McLaurin secured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, defeating former state Sen. Nabilah Parkes 55% to 45%.
In the race for secretary of state, former judge Penny Reynolds won decisively, earning 64% of the vote over Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett, who received 36%.
Democrats also selected their nominee for insurance commissioner, with former Atlanta City Council member Keisha Sean Waites defeating DeAndre Mathis by a 59% to 41% margin.
For labor commissioner, Nikki Porcher emerged victorious, defeating Michelle Sanchez 62% to 38%.
The runoff results complete the Democratic ticket ahead of the November 3 general election, when nominees will compete for several statewide offices that have been held by Republicans for years. Georgia Democrats are also fielding candidates in the state’s marquee races for governor and U.S. Senate, where incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking a second term. He’ll face challenger Mike Collins, who defeated Kemp-backed Derek Dooley in Tuesday’s GOP runoff.
MORE ELECTION RESULTS
Dems now hoping for statewide wins
McLaurin’s victory gives Democrats a nominee for lieutenant governor as the party seeks to win the office for the first time in more than two decades. The seat is open because current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is running for governor.
Tuesday’s runoffs were required because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the May 19 primary elections. Georgia law requires a runoff when no candidate wins an outright majority.
While vote counting was still ongoing Tuesday night, the margins in all four Democratic runoff contests appeared large enough to establish the party’s nominees heading into the fall campaign.
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