Race For GA's 2nd Highest Office Heats Up: See Lt. Gov. Candidates

Friday marked the last day of early voting, but residents have one more chance to select their party nominees for lieutenant governor.

The Georgia primary for the midterm election will be held Tuesday, May 19. Polls will open at 7 a.m., and as long as voters are in line by 7 p.m., they can make their selections in some of Georgia's most important races.

The primary will determine who will either head into a runoff on June 16, or who will receive an admission ticket into the Nov. 3 general election.

Candidates must clear the required 50 percent plus one vote threshold to avoid a runoff in the primary.

With current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones vying for the governor's office, 10 candidates are hoping to fill his seat.

Georgia's lieutenant governor is the second in command at the state level and oversees Georgia Senate debates. The lieutenant governor may hold executive powers only if the governor is incapacitated.

Get to know all the candidates running for lieutenant governor, as well as their take on some local issues (in no particular order). These viewpoints do not represent Patch but rather the candidates.

Josh McLaurin

Party: Democrat

Title: Attorney, former state house representative and state senator

The Issues

• Work toward reversing the six-week abortion ban
• Reroute state funding to benefit working families
• Promote affordable homeownership

A Georgia native, McLaurin attended Yale University and graduated from the University of Georgia.

He has been a member of the Georgia General Assembly for nearly 10 years and now represents the state's 14th Senate District.

In the Legislature, he helped pass consumer protection laws and was instrumental in securing $1 million to benefit veterans facing post-traumatic stress, according to his campaign site.

"It's time to get serious," he said in an April 26 debate. "It's time to put real experience and a steady hand in the nomination position so that we can flip the state for Democrats and have a new era in Georgia."

Nabilah Parkes

Party: Democrat

Title: Former state senator

The Issues

• Pass civil rights legislation to protect residents against discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment
• Raise classroom funding
• Expand Medicaid

Parkes was 32-years-old when she became the youngest woman to be elected to the Georgia State Senate and the first woman to give birth while serving in the Senate. Parkes added she was the first Muslim and South Asian woman to be elected to the Senate, according to her campaign site.

A daughter of immigrants, she benefitted from the HOPE Scholarship by becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college.

While a state senator, she served on committees for banking and financial institutions, children and families, science and technology, veterans, homeland security and military.

"We're in a critical moment in Georgia and in this nation," Parkes said at a recent debate. "This year, Democrats have to win elections. ... My story is Georgia's story, and that's why I know I can connect with voters."

Richard Wright

Party: Democrat

Title: Certified public accountant

The Issues

• Develop rural-area manufacturing
• Increase employee tax credit opportunities
• Legalize recreational marijuana use

A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Wright currently owns a certified public accounting firm.

The Fulton County resident has also been a chief financial officer in the nonprofit sector.

He said he is focusing his platform on civility, visionary leadership and affordability.

"You can depend on me fighting hard with the financial expertise to lead this state forward in a position of importance," he said during a debate.

David Clark

Party: Republican

Title: Army veteran and state representative

The Issues

• Remove the state income tax
• Combat drug traffickers and gangs
• Pause property taxes and extend a $500,000 homestead exemption to older residents

Clark, a Georgia native, attended Georgia Gwinnett College and obtained a license in real estate.

A veteran, he has served in Afghanistan and was honored with the Green Beret in the U.S. Army Special Forces, according to his campaign site.

In 2015, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives and led the Welfare Fraud Study Committee and Interstate Cooperation Committee.

"You have seven candidates to choose from, but I can tell you I'm the only battle-tested candidate running in this race," Clark said at a debate. "... I've given up chairmanship on committees to stand against corruption, to be a voice for the people. Politicians talk, but I've been tested under fire, and I'm glad to do that as the next lieutenant governor of Georgia."

Greg Dolezal

Party: Republican

Title: Businessman and state senator

The Issues

• Fully fund law enforcement
• Eliminate Dominion machines and restore election integrity
• Reduce waste and remove corporate handouts to move toward eliminating the income tax rate

Dolezal's work is extensive and includes time as a tour manager for Christian singer Chris Tomlin, according to his campaign site. He has also completed other ministry work for local churches.

During some time, he crafted software that has been utilized by the likes of The White House, Chick-fil-A and the FL, the campaign site read.

As a senator, he has taken the helm of the Senate Transportation Committee and is a member of the Committee on Assignments.

"Right now, Georgia families are getting crushed by the cost of gas, groceries and property taxes - all while big politicians give billions to corporations," Dolezal said during a debate. "If you're tired of politicians protecting the powerful while telling you to wait in line, it's time to send them a message. Georgia doesn't belong to the lobbyist or the special interests, it belongs to you."

Steve Gooch

Party: Republican

Title: State senator

The Issues

• Introduce President Donald Trump's America First agenda in Georgia
• Deport unlawful immigrants
• Overhaul property tax system

A proud Trump supporter, Gooch has not been silent about his backing of the president.

He has served in the Georgia Senate since 2011, serving on committees such as Transportation, Appropriations and Judiciary.

He is a graduate of North Georgia College and State University, where he earned a master of public administration.

"As your next lieutenant governor, I'll stand up against the left, and I'll make sure Georgia will continue to be the conservative state that it is today," Gooch said at a debate.

John Kennedy

Party: Republican

Title: State senator

The Issues

• Support farm families
• Support law enforcement
• Support education

A graduate of Mercer University and Mercer University School of Law, Kennedy's portfolio includes his work as a civil litigator and a partner at a Macon-based law firm.

Kennedy has served in the Georgia Senate since first being elected in 2014. During his time in the Assembly, Kennedy served as the Floor Leader during former Gov. Nathan Deal's tenure and was the Caucus Chairman for the Senate Majority.

Beyond business, he served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Central Georgia Council and Boy Scouts of America.

"I'm running for lieutenant governor because I want to keep Georgia running, keep Georgia growing, and I want to keep Georgia safe," Kennedy said. "Georgia needs a proven conservative leader that actually gets results."

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Dr. Brenda Nelson-Porter

Party: Republican

Title: Marine Corps. veteran and researcher

The Issues

• Introduce policy that benefits higher compensation and incentives for particular home-care agencies
• Support patient rights in nursing homes
• Introduce policy that allows high-school honor graduates to attend their first year of college for free

Nelson-Porter has an extensive education, according to Ballotpedia. She earned a doctor of philosophy from the University of Phoenix in 2004 and a doctorate in naturopathy in 2015.

She last ran for secretary of state in 2022, losing the race to current SOS Brad Raffensperger.

Nelson-Porter declined to participate in a recent debate among her opponents but has been vocal on X.

A champion of statewide research pertaining to banking fraud protection divisions, she tweeted on Tuesday, "Easy, Vote a Researcher for a Research Position! Dr. Brenda Lynn Nelson-Porter for Georgia Lieutenant Governor, Research Scholar #may19th #republican"

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Dr. Takosha Swan

Party: Republican

Title: Army and Georgia National Guard veteran, small business owner and former state public officer

The Issues

• Support veterans and their families
• Support parental rights in their child's education
• Balance budgets and reduce "government waste"

For seven years, Swan served as a governor-appointed executive board member of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, according to her campaign site. There, she represented almost 700,00 veterans and their families.

One of her most prominent accolades include crafting, "The Veterans Anthem," an inspirational song that the University of Phoenix alumna was able to present to the U.S. Office of Secretary of Veteran Affairs.

"I believe Georgia belongs to the people, not the politicians. As the president of the Senate, I'm here to bring accountability and trust back to our state," she said during a debate.

"For too long, everyday Georgians (that are) veterans, our seniors and our working families have been ignored. As your lieutenant governor, I'll fight for my original idea to end property taxes, specifically for seniors and cut taxes on every day essentials like groceries, gas and hygiene."

Blake Tillery

Party: Republican

Title: State senator and attorney

The Issues

• Minimize crime by supporting law enforcement officers and combatting unlawful immigrants
• Support "gun manufacturers that have been de-banked"
• Stop taxpayers from funding gender-altering surgeries

Since being elected in 2016, Tillery has served in the Georgia Senate, where he has chaired Appropriations.

The University of Georgia graduate started his public service career as a Toombs County Commission chairman in 2012.

His nonprofit portfolio includes being a member of the Kiwanis Club and graduating from Leadership Georgia, according to his campaign site.

"Lot of candidates are focused on each other, but while they're focused on each other, I'm focused on you," Tillery said at a debate. "I get it. I'm having a hard time with affordability, and you are, too. Gas, groceries and childcare cost more. We can do something about that. We just have to put people ahead of corporations, and I'm willing to do that."

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Election Day

Georgia voters can check the Secretary of State's website for races on the ballot in their city. The last day to register to vote in the Georgia primary was April 20.

Voters should go to the My Voter Page to determine that they are eligible to vote and to find their polling place and early voting locations. Voters can also confirm their addresses are up to date and view sample ballots.

If there is a runoff election, it will be held on June 16. Absentee ballot applications will be accepted through June 5.

Georgia's law requires photo ID while voting — either in-person or absentee.

The following identifications are accepted for voting, according to the Secretary of State's office:

• Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID issued by your county registrar's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services
• A Georgia driver's license, even if expired
• Student ID from a Georgia public college or university
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state
• Valid U.S. passport ID
• Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter
• Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter

More information on voting ID requirements, including for absentee ballots, can be found here.

Read more information on voting in Georgia here.