2020–21 Georgia elections
November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03)
January 5, 2021 (2021-01-05)

Several elections took place in the U.S state of Georgia in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020, and the runoff on January 5, 2021. A combined partisan primary for president and all other offices on the ballot was held on June 9, 2020, with a primary runoff held on August 11.

To vote by mail, registered Georgia voters must have requested a ballot by October 30, 2020.[1] By early October some 1,589,147 voters requested mail ballots.[2] Following the November 3, 2020 general election, voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected could make corrections ("cure") until 5 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2020.[3][4]

Federal offices

President of the United States

Georgia had 16 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Democrat Joe Biden won all of them with 49.5% of the popular vote. It was the first time a Democratic presidential candidate had won Georgia since Bill Clinton in 1992.

United States House of Representatives

General

Georgia had 14 seats in the United States House of Representatives which were up for election. The Republicans won 8 while the Democrats won 6. Democrats gained one seat, the 7th district.

Special

A special election was held for the 5th district due to the death of the incumbent John Lewis. The first round was held on September 29 and the runoff was held on December 1. Democrat Kwanza Hall won the seat.

United States Senate

General

Incumbent Republican David Perdue, first elected in 2014, lost his reelection bid to challenger Jon Ossoff. Perdue won the first round with 49.73% of the vote, but in the runoff election lost to Ossoff's 50.57% vote share.

Special

Following the resignation of Senator Johny Isakson in 2019, Governor Brian Kemp appointed Kelly Loeffler to serve out the term. Republican senator Loeffler then went on to come second in the first round with 25.9% of the vote while Democratic pastor Raphael Warnock won with 32.9%. Warnock went on to win in the runoff with 51.04% of the vote, becoming the first black senator to represent Georgia.

Public Service Commission

Elections were held for Public Service Commission districts 1 and 4.[5]

District 1 Democratic primary

  • Robert G. Bryant

Primary results

Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert G. Bryant 926,028 100
Total votes 926,028 100

District 1 Republican primary

  • Jason Shaw, incumbent

Primary results

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason Shaw (incumbent) 942,043 100
Total votes 942,043 100

District 1 General Election

Georgia Public Service Commissioner election, 2020[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason Shaw (incumbent) 2,445,181 50.11
Democratic Robert G. Bryant 2,255,325 46.22
Libertarian Elizabeth Melton 179,011 3.67
Total votes 4,879,517 100
Republican hold

District 4 Democratic primary

  • Daniel Blackman
  • John Noel

Primary results

Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daniel Blackman 762,740 71.64
Democratic John Noel 301,948 28.36
Total votes 1,064,688 100

District 4 Republican primary

  • Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Jr., incumbent

Primary results

Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Jr. (incumbent) 929,919 100
Total votes 929,919 100
2020-21 Georgia Public Service Commission District 4 election
November 3, 2020 (first round)
January 5, 2021 (runoff)
 
Candidate Lauren McDonald Daniel Blackman
Party Republican Democratic
First round 2,415,248
49.91%		 2,272,969
46.97%
Runoff 2,234,689
50.38%		 2,200,962
49.62%
McDonald:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Blackman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%
Commissioner before election

Lauren McDonald
Republican

 Elected Commissioner

Lauren McDonald
Republican

Georgia Public Service Commissioner election, 2020[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Jr. (incumbent) 2,415,248 49.91
Democratic Daniel Blackman 2,272,969 46.97
Libertarian Nathan Wilson 151,196 3.12
Total votes 4,839,413 100

Runoff results

Georgia Public Service Commissioner runoff election, 2021[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Jr. (incumbent) 2,234,689 50.38
Democratic Daniel Blackman 2,200,962 49.62
Total votes 4,435,651 100
Republican hold

General Assembly

State senate

All 56 seats in the Georgia State Senate were up for election in 2020. The Republicans won 34 seats and the Democrats won 22 seats.

State House

All 180 seats in the Georgia House of Representatives were up for election in 2020. The Republicans won 103 seats and the Democrats won 77 seats.

District Attorneys

Out of the state's 49 judicial circuits, 40 held elections for district attorney, and 15 incumbents were replaced either by primary or general election. In addition, a special election for the Western Judicial Circuit saw the appointed incumbent Democrat defeated in the first round, with Deborah Gonzalez winning the second round against James Chafin (independent).

  • Augusta: Natalie Paine (R) was defeated by Jared Williams (D)
  • Brunswick: Jackie Johnson (R) was defeated by Keith Higgins (independent)
  • Chatham: Meg Heap (R) was defeated by Shelena Cook Jones (D)
  • Chattahoochee: Julia Slater (D) was defeated in the Democratic primary by Mark Jones (D), who had no general challenger
  • Cobb: Joyette Holmes (R) was defeated by Flynn Broady (D)
  • Fulton: Paul Howard (D) was defeated in the Democratic primary runoff by Fani Willis (D), who had no general challenger
  • Gwinnett: Danny Porter (R) was defeated by Patsy Austin-Gatson (D)
  • Macon: David Cooke (D) was defeated in the Democratic primary by Anita Reynolds Howard (D), who had no general challenger

Ballot measures

Amendment 1

"Allow Tax Revenue Dedication"

Authorizes the Georgia State Legislature to pass legislation establishing special funds with dedicated revenue sources to fund statute specific projects.

Amendment 1
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 3,862,568 81.62
No 869,540 18.38
Total votes 4,732,108 100.00

Amendment 2

"Waive Sovereign Immunity"

Waives the state's sovereign immunity, allowing residents to seek relief through the superior courts from state or local laws that are found to violate the U.S. Constitution, state Constitution, or state law.

Amendment 2
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 3,491,296 74.46
No 1,197,792 25.54
Total votes 4,689,088 100.00

Referendum A

"Extend Charity Tax Exemption"

Exempts property taxes for property owned by a 501(c)(3) public charity as long as the property is owned exclusively for the purpose of building or repairing single-family homes and the charity provides interest-free financing to the purchaser of the home.

Referendum A
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 3,451,116 73.09
No 1,270,737 26.91
Total votes 4,721,853 100.00

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com, archived from the original on October 6, 2020
  2. ↑ Michael P. McDonald, "2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics", U.S. Elections Project, retrieved October 10, 2020, Detailed state statistics
  3. ↑ "Democrats urge voters in Georgia to fix their absentee ballots before a Friday deadline", New York Times, November 6, 2020
  4. ↑ Absentee By Mail Ballot Signature Cure Affidavit Form (PDF), Georgiademocrat.org, retrieved November 6, 2020
  5. ↑ "Georgia state executive official elections, 2020". Ballotpedia.
  6. ↑ "General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  7. ↑ "General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  8. ↑ "November 3, 2020 General Election". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  9. ↑ "General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  10. ↑ "General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  11. ↑ "November 3, 2020 General Election". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  12. ↑ "January 5, 2021 Runoff Election". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved January 19, 2021.

Further reading

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