Georgia Primary Election 2018 Results: Abrams Wins, GOP Runoff

ATLANTA, GA — It was a surprisingly short night in the Democratic primary race for governor in Georgia. With less than half the state's precincts officially reporting, state House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams declared victory in the race.

The Republicans, however, will need a few more weeks to pick her opponent. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp appeared headed to a runoff late Tuesday night.

The Associated Press called the race for Abrams at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and, shortly thereafter her only rival, former state Rep. Stacey Evans conceded, calling Abrams and pledging to work to "turn Georgia blue" in November.

"You did it," Abrams posted on Twitter.

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With the win, Abrams becomes the first woman and first African American nominated by a major party to run for governor in Georgia.

At about 11:30 p.m., with about 90 percent of the state's precincts reporting, Abrams had more than 75 percent of the vote, with less than 25 percent for Evans.

As had been expected, Cagle was the top vote-getter in a five-man Republican field. With those same precincts in, Cagle had about 39 percent of the vote, compared to about 26 percent for Kemp. The next closest candidate was state Sen. Hunter Hill, who was pulling about 18 percent.

Businessman Clay Tippins had earned about 12 percent of the vote while state Sen. Michael Williams — who drew headlines with his controversial "Deportation Bus" political stunt— was dead last with less than five percent.

Georgia requires candidates in primaries to get a majority of votes to win outright and, when they don't, a runoff election is held. This year's primary runoff date is July 24.

Atlanta Police say they believe a woman shot and killed herself late Tuesday morning near Lindsay Street Baptist Church, where polls were open. Polls were not closed and police say the woman is not believed to have worked at the polling place.

Two-term Republican Gov. Nathan Deal is prevented by law from seeking another term and, as such, the well-liked governor will exit the stage, making way for whomever emerges out of two heated primary contests.

»Patch will update this story with developments and election results throughout the day.

Whether Democrats have a legitimate chance of toppling the GOP's Peach State supremacy in 2018 is a matter of conjecture. While trends have seen Democrats making up ground in metro Atlanta's suburbs and other areas, some analysts think the state is an election cycle or two away from being truly purple.

With Cagle running for governor, the No. 2 spot in state government is also up for grabs.

Three Republicans and two Democrats are on the ballot to replace him.

On the Republican side, state Sen. David Shafer was living up to his billing as the favorite in the race, pulling about 48 percent of the vote compared to about 26 percent for former state Rep. Geoff Duncan and 25 percent for former state Sen. Rick Jeffares.

Shafer had established himself as the frontrunner in the race, despite a sexual harassment charge levied against him. The Senate Ethics Committe found in favor of Shafer — who denied any wrongdoing and maintained the accusations were fabricated. But, again, if he doesn't get 50 percent of the votes cast, a runoff will happen.

It was a closer race for the two Democratic newcomers seeking the seat, but business executive Sarah Riggs Amico appeared headed to victory. She had about 55 percent, with business owner Triana Arnold James getting a little more than 45 percent.

In other statewide primaries, nominees for Kemp's successor as Secretary of State will be chosen, as well as Democratic and Republican candidates for state schools superintendent, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner and public service commissioner.

Several heated primaries for Congress were on the ballot in metro Atlanta as well, as Democrats nationwide push to take back the House and Senate in an election cycle during which many Republican candidates are feeling the weight of President Donald Trump's unpopularity.

In Georgia's 6th Congressional District, where Rep. Karen Handel narrowly defeated John Ossoff in a special election in December, four Democrats are lining up to test her again in what was once a safe Republican seat.

Kevin Abel, Steven Knight Griffin, Bobby Kaple and Lucy McBath are all in the running. Kaple, a former television news anchor who made waves with his "Thank God For Obamacare" ad has raised the most money and gotten the most high-profile endorsements. But, again, a runoff is almost a sure thing in this one.

In late returns, McBath lead with about 37 percent of the vote, with Abel in second with about 30 percent.

Dems also are testing a Republican incumbent in the neighboring 7th District, which is mostly in Gwinnett County with a piece of Forsyth County. Historically a GOP stronghold, Gwinnett has seen its demographics shift dramatically, especially with an increase in voting-age Hispanics.

Incumbent Rep. Rob Woodall hasn't had a competitive race since 2010. But six Democrats are running to face him and three of them — David Kim, Ethan Pham and Carolyn Bordeaux — have either kept pace with Woodall in fundraising or even outpaced him.

Also running are Kathleen Allen, Melissa Davis and Steve Reilly. Woodall also has a Republican challenger, Shane Hazel.

Kim and Bordeaux were neck-and-neck in late returns and appeared headed to a runoff of their own, with both candidates getting about 26 percent of the vote in the crowded field.

Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis is unopposed in the Democratic primary for the Atlanta-based 5th Congressional District seat and faces no Republican opposition. Rep. Hank Johnson's DeKalb County-based 6th District seat appeared safe, as he lead challenger Juan Parks with about 75 percent of the vote late Tuesday.

Johnson faces unopposed Republican candidate Joe Profit in November.

One race for a State House seat in North Fulton County is also drawing the attention of politicos. Former Roswell Mayor Jere Wood is challenging incumbent State Rep. Betty Price in the Republican primary to face Democrat Mary Robichaux in the general election for the House District 48 seat.

A 2017 court order removed Wood from office after judge ruled he violated the term limits stipulations spelled out in Roswell's City Charter. As readers recall, Rep. Price is a doctor and the wife of former U.S. Rep. Tom Price, who briefly served as President Trump's health secretary before resigning over a private jet scandal. She also came under fire last year when she asked if quarantining people with HIV would limit the spread of the virus.

PHOTO: Campaign intern Courtney Reeder hands out signs to supporters at the primary election night event for Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on May 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Abrams is running against former state representative Stacey Evans. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)