May 24’s primary election will set the tone for the Governor’s race in November — a race that has already begun to garner national attention.
Stacey Abrams is the only candidate on the ballot for the Democratic nomination, but incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp has significant competition for the Republican nomination. His most notable opponent is former Sen. David Perdue, who has received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. While Trump has explicitly spoken out against Gov. Kemp after he lost the Presidential election in Georgia, calling him a “complete and total disaster,” Kemp has received an endorsement from former Vice President Mike Pence.
Other Republicans vying for Governor include Catherine Davis, Kandiss Taylor, and Tom Williams.
Because he was elected in a special election to fill out the term of the late Sen. Johnny Isakson, Raphael Warnock will be on the Democratic ballot against Tamara Johnson-Shealey for the nomination for U.S. Senate. Those running for the Republican nomination are Gary Black, Josh Clark, Kelvin King, Jonathan McColumn, Latham Saddler, and Herschel Junior Walker.
The primaries will also determine the nominees for Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Insurance, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Labor, and several local positions. Judicial positions will be on the ballot in some counties, as well.
“Recent developments from SCOTUS show how important it is to have judges at every level of government that understand the lives of LGBTQ people — that’s one reason why we endorse in judicial races in addition to partisan and local ones,” Jeff Graham, the executive director of Georgia Equality, said in a press release. “It is imperative that LGBTQ Georgians and our allies support and elect officials who are guided by a fundamental belief in equality.”
Ahead of the primaries, Georgia Equality endorsed several candidates, including LGBTQ candidates Angela Duncan for Gwinnett County Superior Court; Renitta Shannon for Lieutenant Governor; Matthew Wilson for Insurance Commissioner; Park Cannon, Josh Noblitt, Karla Drenner, Imani Barnes and Bentley Hudgins for the State House of Representatives; Allen Jones for Athens-Clarke County Commissioner District 7; and Gwinnett County Commissioner District 2: Ben Ku for Gwinnett County Commissioner District 2.
Georgia Equality’s other endorsements are as follows:
Cobb County Superior Court Judge: Judge Sonja N. Brown
Gwinnett State Court Judge: Erica Dove
Senate District 2: Derek Mallow
Athens County Commissioner District 5: Matt Pulver
DeKalb County Commissioner District 3: Larry Johnson
Fulton County Commissioner District 5: Marvin Arrington, Jr.
Georgia Supreme Court:
Justice Verda Colvin
Fulton County Superior Court:
Judge Paige Whitaker
Fulton County Superior Court:
Judge Shalanda Miller
Gwinnett County Superior Court:
Judge Tracie Cason
Governor: Stacey Abrams
Secretary of State: Bee Nguyen
Attorney General: Jen Jordan
Labor Commissioner:
William Boddie (D), Kartik Bhatt (R)
State School Superintendent: Alisha Searcy
Senate District 6: Jason Esteves
Senate District 7: Beth Moore
Senate District 33: Michael Rhett
Senate District 36: Nan Orrock
Senate District 37: Titus Nichols
Senate District 38: Horacena Tate
Senate District 55: Gloria Butler
House District 40: Doug Stoner
House District 43: Solomon Adesanya
House District 50: Michelle Au
House District 51: Ester Panitch
House District 74: William Harris
House District 97: Ruwa Romman
House District 163: Anne Westbrook
Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Chairman: Robb Pitts
Fulton County Commissioner District 1: Maggie Goldman
Dekalb County Board of Education District 2: Candice McKinley
Fulton County Board of Education District 6: LaTonya Rogers
Fulton County Board of Education District 7: Dr. Michelle Morancie
An LGBTQ issue has also found its way onto the Republican ballot. One of the Republican Party advisory questions regards trans inclusion in school sports, but includes transphobic language. Instead of being asked if transgender students should be included on gender-affirming sports teams, Republican voters will be asked if Georgia schools should “allow biological males to compete in female sports.”
Election Day is on May 24, but early voting is going on now. You can find polling locations and hours, as well as sample ballots, online at My Voter Page.