The GOP gubernatorial primary was one of the most anti-gay races in recent Georgia history, and that didn't change as Nathan Deal and Karen Handel battled it out in the runoff.
Former Gov. Roy Barnes cruised to an easy victory in the July 20 Democratic gubernatorial primary, easily meeting the 50 percent plus one vote margin required to win without a runoff.
Barnes, who served one term before being beaten by Sonny Perdue, took 65.8 percent of the vote in a crowded field.
During his previous tenure, Barnes became the first sitting Georgia governor to address a gay rights group when he spoke to the Atlanta Executive Network in July 2000.
Barnes did not back specific gay-related legislation but expressed strong support for principles of non-discrimination, including sexual orientation. Barnes also signed Georgia’s first hate crimes law, although the measure was eventually struck down as “too vague.”
Nathan Deal released another commercial today citing Karen Handel’s alleged past support of gay issues. Deal, a former congressman, and Handel, former Secretary of State, face off Aug. 10 in the runoff to see who will be the Republican nominee for Georgia governor.
The commercial, a 30-second spot entitled “Straw,” hit YouTube this morning. Its release coincides with the announcement that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will speak at a Handel campaign rally on Aug. 9 – one day before the runoff.
In the days leading up to the July 20 primary, you couldn’t turn on the television without being inundated with ads from Republicans running for governor who wanted to tell you how anti-gay they are.
This year’s election season has been particularly bad, largely due to the particular Republicans on the ballot.
Karen Handel supported domestic partner benefits and was a member of the pro-gay Log Cabin Republicans during her campaigns for Fulton County Commission. But she denied those stands when she ran successfully for Secretary of State in 2006, and continues to deny her past support in her current bid for governor.
Handel should focus on her own family, not gay families
Re: “Karen Handel: ‘I would consider’ banning gay adoption” (blog by Laura Douglas-Brown, www.thegavoice.com, July 14)
We’re clearly at the “say anything” point in the campaign. I hope people remember GED Jane and her quitting ways will not fix the serious and longterm problems this state has.
Our coverage of yesterday's state and local primary races
Former Gov. Roy Barnes cruised to an easy victory in today's Democratic gubernatorial primary, easily meeting the 50 percent plus one vote margin required to win without a runoff.
None of the candidates to be Georgia’s next governor have campaigned for LGBT votes, although several have long — mostly negative — records on LGBT issues.
Most candidates declined to respond to surveys from the Georgia Voice and LGBT political groups, while several Republican candidates have tried to use their opposition to gay rights as campaign strategies.
Among the major Democratic candidates, former Gov. Roy Barnes has the clearest, generally positive record of not shutting out gay constituents, largely due to his former term in office.
Among the Republicans, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has continued his outspoken opposition to fairness for LGBT couples in his bid for higher office, while former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal has attempted to use former Secretary of State Karen Handel’s past support for issues like domestic partner benefits against her.