Black Candidates in Georgia
Black Candidates in Georgia
David A. Bositis
July 20, 2006
Georgia held its primary on July 18. Several black candidates were nominated, and two face run-off elections on August 8. Georgia has a black voting age population (BVAP) of 26.9 percent.
Three black candidates were nominated for statewide office. Two incumbents, Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker (D) and State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond (D) were re-nominated. Former U.S. Representative and 2004 Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Denise Majette received the Democratic nomination for State School Superintendent. She will be opposed by incumbent Kathy Cox (R). In addition, Darryl Hicks, a lobbyist and community activist, will face State Representative Gail Buckner in the August 8 run-off for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State.
Democratic U.S. Representatives John Lewis (GA-5), David Scott (GA-13), and Sanford Bishop (GA-2) were all re-nominated, and all are solid favorites for re-election in November. Lewis is unopposed, and Bishop has only minor opposition. However, the Republicans nominated a black woman, Deborah Honeycutt to oppose Scott in November; GA-13 is a white majority district with a BVAP of 37.3 percent. Honeycutt is a physician, and a health clinic medical director.
Incumbent Representative Cynthia McKinney (GA-4) did not fare as well as Lewis, Scott, and Bishop. Rep. McKinney outpolled her black opponent, DeKalb County Commissioner Hank Johnson, 47 to 43 percent in the Democratic primary. However, because she failed to reach 50 percent, she faces a run-off on August 8. When Rep. McKinney lost the Democratic primary in 2002, white Republican voters crossed over (Georgia has open primaries, and voters can vote in any primary they choose) to vote for her opponent. Given the narrowness of her advantage in the first round, Rep. McKinney has to be concerned about a repeat of 2002. The eventual Democratic nominee will face black Republican nominee Catherine Davis in the general election. The district is a safe Democratic one. Davis, the 2004 GOP nominee, received only 36 percent of the vote that year.