Atlanta Progressive News

(APN) ATLANTA — Qualifying for the upcoming July 31, 2012, Primary and Nonpartisan Elections began on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, and ended on Friday, May 25.

Among the races appearing on July 31 ballots will be State House and Senate seats across the State of Georgia.  This article will review those races.  Stay tuned for an upcoming overview of additional races, including US Congress, Public Service Commission, judicial races, and various Fulton County races.

STATE SENATE

State Sens. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), Steve Thompson (D-Marietta), Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale), Ronald Ramsey (D-Decatur), Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta), Steve Henson (D-Tucker), Judson Hill (R-Marietta), and Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) have all qualified to be reelected with no opponent.

In District 05, State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Norcross) will face Garry Guan, a Republican, in November.

In District 06, State Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna), who has been redistricted into a more Republican district, will face a Republican nominee in November.  Josh Belinfante, Drew Ellenberg, and Hunter Hill are competing for the Republican nomination; Beth Beskin, who was previously running, dropped out of the race.

In District 21, State Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) will face Brandon Beach in the Republican Primary in July.

In District 35, State Sen. Donzella James (D-College Park) will face two challengers for the Democratic nomination, Detrius Jones and Cory Lynch, in July.  The winner of the Democratic nomination will face Benjamin Brooks, a Republican, in November.

In District 38, State Sen. Horacena Tate (D-Atlanta) will face Reginald Crossley, a Democrat, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 42, State Sen. Jason Carter (D-Decatur) will face Kenneth Quarterman, a Republican, in the General Election in November.

In District 44, State Sen. Gail Davenport (D-Jonesboro) will face former State Sen. Gail Buckner (D-Jonesboro) and Marcus Davis, both Democrats, in the Primary Election in July.  Buckner previously unseated Davenport in 2008 and held the seat until 2010, when Buckner ran for the second time for Secretary of State of Georgia.  In 2010, Davenport won her seat back.  This will now be the second time that Buckner attempts to unseat Davenport.

In District 55, State Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) will face Mark Williams, a Democrat, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 56, State Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) will face Akhtar Sadiq, a Democrat, in the General Election in November.

STATE HOUSE

State Reps. Stacey Evans (D-Smyrna), Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta), Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta), Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), Howard Mosby (D-Atlanta), Rahn Mayo (D-Decatur), Karla Drenner (D-Avondale), Coach Williams (D-Avondale), Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta), Dee Hawkins-Daigler (D-Lithonia), Hugh Floyd (D-Norcross), Brian Thomas (D-Lilburn), Mike Dudgeon (R-Suwanee), Rich Golick (R-Smyrna), Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), Jan Jones (R-Milton), Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell), Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta), Lynne Riley (R-Johns Creek), Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs), Joe Wilkinson (R-Sandy Springs), Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody), David Cases (R-Lilburn), and BJ Pak (R-Lilburn) all qualified without opposition.

In District 21, State Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs) faces Scot Turner, a Republican, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 34, State Rep. Judy Manning (R-Marietta) faces Charles Gregory, a Republican, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 37, State Rep. Sam Teasley (R-Marietta) faces Bill Bolton, a Democrat, in the General Election in November.

In District 41, Marietta, three Democrats and a Republican are seeking an open seat.  The Democrats are Diane Eckles, Justin O’Dell, and Michael Smith.  Phil Daniell is the Republican.

In District 44, State Rep. Don Parsons (R-Marietta) faces JoEllen Smith, a Republican, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 45, State Rep. Matt Dollar (R-Marietta) faces Nick Johnson and Cynthia Rozzo, both Republicans, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 46, State Rep. John Carson (R-Marietta) faces Martin Hawley, a Republican, in the Primary Election in July.  The Republican nominee will face Kevin Westphal, a Democrat, in November.

In District 53, two incumbents, State Reps. Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta) and Elly Dobbs (D-Atlanta) were redistricted to run in the same District.  Dobbs announced she would not be running for reelection, and has endorsed Jason Esteves, a Democrat, who is challenging Jones in the Primary Election in July.  Robert Patillo, a Democrat, is also seeking the seat.

In District 54, State Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta) faces Lynn McKinney, a Democrat, in the General Election in November.,

In District 56, State Rep. Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta) has announced she will not be running for reelection, as previously reported by APN.  According to Georgia Voice magazine, Ashe has endorsed Ken Britt, a Democrat.  As first reported by APN, former State Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas (D-Atlanta) is also seeking the seat.

In District 57, two incumbents, State Reps. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) and Rashad Taylor (D-Atlanta), have been paired in redistricting to run against each other.  Gardner and Taylor are both seeking the Democratic nomination this July.  Kwabena Nkromo is also collecting signatures to gain access the ballot in the General Election as a member of the Green Party.

In District 58, two incumbents, State Reps. Simone Bell (D-Atlanta) and Ralph Long (D-Atlanta), have been paired in redistricting to run against each other.  Bell and Long are both seeking the Democratic nomination this July.  The nominee will face Earl Cooper, a Republican, in the General Election in November.

In District 59, State Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta) faces William Phelps, a Democrat, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 60, State Rep. Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) faces a whopping four challengers for the Democratic nomination, including Gary Davis, William Fisher, Antonio Lewis, and LaTrenka Riley.

In District 62, four Democrats are running for an open seat.  They are Marvin Arrington, Jr., Kipp Carr, Benny Crane, and Ladawn Jones.

In District 63, three Democrats are running for an open seat.  They are TJ Copeland, Ronnie Mabra, and Linda Pritchett.

In District 74, two Democrats, Charles Davis and Valencia Stovall, are running for an open seat.

In District 75, State Rep. Yasmin Neal (D-Riverdale) faces former State Rep. Mike Glanton (D-Ellenwood) in the Primary Election in July.  Glanton previously served in the District 76 seat, but apparently has been redistricted into 75; Glanton ran for State Sen. Buckner’s seat in 2010 but lost to Sen. Davenport.

In District 76, State Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) faces Jeffery Benoit and Kim Owens, both Democrats, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 77, State Rep. Darryl Jordan (D-Riverdale) faces Kevin Thomas, a Democrat, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 78, State Rep. Glenn Baker (D-Jonesboro) faces Demetrius Douglas, a Democrat, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 80, State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta) faces Sandy Murray, a Democrat, in the General Election in November.

In District 81, two incumbents, State Reps. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) and Elena Parent (D-Atlanta), were paired in redistricting to run against each other.  Parent recently announced she is taking on a new job as Executive Director of Georgia Watch and is not running for reelection.  Two Republicans, Chris Boedeker and Carla Roberts, are seeking the Republican nomination this July.  The Republican nominee will face Holcomb in November.

In District 83, two incumbents, State Reps. Stephanie Benfield (D-Decatur) and Howard Mosby (D-Atlanta), were paired in redistricting to run against each other.  As previously reported by APN, Benfield has joined GreenLaw as Executive Director and is not running again.  Mosby faces no competition for reelection.

In District 86, State Rep. Michele Henson (D-Stone Mountain) faces Lisa Kennemore, a Democrat, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 90, State Rep. Pam Stephenson (D-Lithonia) faces Scott Hudges, a Democrat, in the Primary Election in July.

In District 92, five Democrats are seeking an open seat.  They are Tonya Anderson, Doreen Carter, Kathy Harvey, Sherri Washington, and Doreen Williams.

In District 93, State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick faces two Democrats, Dexter Dawston and Glen Williams, in the Primary Election in July.  The Democratic nominee faces Christine Hoffer, a Republican, in November.

In District 94, five Democrats are seeking an open seat.  They are Karen Bennett, Patricia Bourdeau, Vernon Jones, Tony Lentini, and Jaye Peabody.  Jones previously served as CEO of DeKalb County, in 2008 ran for US Senate, and in 2010 challenged US Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA).

In District 95, State Rep. Tom Rice (R-Norcross) faces Brooke Siskin, a Democrat, in the General Election in November.

In District 96, State Rep. Pedro Marin (D-Duluth) will face a Republican nominee in the General Election in November.  Two Republicans, Mike Gorman and Mark Williams, are competing in the Primary Election this July, for the nomination.

In District 97, State Rep. Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth) faces Robert McClure, a Republican, in the Primary Election this July.

(END/2012)

CORRECTION: This article corrects the HD97 race to reflect that challenger Robert McClure is a Republican.  The article previously stated that he is a Democrat.  Accordingly, the correction also notes that State Rep. Coleman and Mr. McClure will face off in the Republican Primary, not the General Election.