GOP gov coasts in primary
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp cruised to victory in his state’s Republican primary Tuesday, easily defeating ex-Sen. David Perdue, who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
With 78% of precincts reporting, Kemp held 73% of the vote while Perdue had just 22.4%.
Kemp, who was endorsed by Trump Vice President Mike Pence, will face off against Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams in November for the second consecutive gubernatorial election. Kemp defeated Abrams in 2018 and has held a consistent polling lead over the Democrat this time around.
Tuesday’s election was marked by massive turnout during Georgia’s early-voting period, with the state secretary of state’s office tallying 483,149 Republican submissions and 368,949 Democratic votes as of last Friday — a huge spike from the 2018 midterms that saw just under 300,000 early inperson votes.
The impressive early-voting numbers come one year after the state came under fire for passing an election-reform bill that President Biden slammed as “Jim Crow in the 21st century.”
Passed in March 2021, the legislation imposed new rules on absentee voting — including requiring a photo ID and shortening the absentee-voting window.
High-profile candidates endorsed by Trump cruised to victory elsewhere in Georgia, as well as in Texas and Arkansas.
Former University of Georgia Heisman Trophy winner and profootball running back Herschel
Walker easily defeated six other GOP candidates to win the US Senate primary in the Peach State, positioning him to take on incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock in the general election.
Walker had 69.4% of the vote with 78% of precincts reporting.
He had secured endorsements from Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Trump called into Walker’s after-party to rally the candidate and his supporters with a ringing victory speech.
“You were the greatest football player, you’ll be an even greater politician and senator,” Trump said.
“What a long distance you’ve come, right? What a long distance. And I’m only going to be more proud of you after November,” the ex-prez added.
“There’s nobody like this man. He’s a winner and he’s a champion, and we all love him. And congratulations to everybody in that room.”
Walker held a narrow polling lead in a headto-head matchup against Warnock, who easily brushed back a primary challenge from Tamara Johnson-Shealey in his bid to secure a full six-year term in the Senate, winning 96 percent of the vote with the race called and 56% of precincts reporting.
The 52-year-old senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was first sent to Washington by voters last year in a special election.
Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene easily won a crowded Republican primary in Georgia on Tuesday, fending off five challengers and surviving ongoing backlash over her controversial statements and behavior.
The 47-year-old political lightning rod leaned in to her national notoriety to raise millions for her first reelection bid and will now run in the general election to represent the safely Republican 11th Congressional District.
Greene held 70.6% of the vote with 91% of precincts reporting.
Greene, a Trump loyalist who has peddled conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic, was stripped of her House committee assignments last year and was booted from Twitter in January.
In response, a group of voters unsuccessfully tried to get Greene kicked off the primary ballot earlier this month, saying she was ineligible because she had engaged in insurrection and encouraged the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot that disrupted Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s victory over Trump.
Paxton wins in Texas
In Texas, a Trump endorsement and broad GOP support helped dash a political dynasty as Attorney General Ken Paxton fended off a challenge from George P. Bush to win the Republican primary.
Paxton took home the nomination with 68% of the vote over Bush’s 32% in the run-off election with 75% precincts reporting.
In Arkansas, former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders coasted to victory in her primary election for governor in Arkansas, a seat once held by her father, Mike Huckabee.
Sanders easily defeated radio host Doc Washburn, winning 83% of the vote with 59% of precincts reporting.
Washburn had mounted a longshot bid to upset Sanders, who spent 23 months as Trump’s chief spokesperson between 2017 and 2019.