Georgia Primary: What’s on your ballot?

After nearly 800,000 Georgians voted early over the last three weeks and with another 50,000+ absentee ballots received, election officials across the state are preparing to open all precincts in Georgia’s Primary at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Even if you don’t follow politics, you’ve likely heard of Brian Kemp, David Perdue, Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker. That last name you probably knew long before he decided to run for U.S. Senate.

And while you may not have known who was Georgia’s secretary of state before December 2020, thanks to former President Donald Trump, you’re likely aware that Trump’s followers don’t want Brad Raffensperger to win re-election to what is traditionally a low-profile job.

If you haven’t voted yet and plan to cast your ballot Tuesday, be prepared to see scores of other candidates you’ve never heard of on your primary ballot running for more than a dozen state and local offices. Especially if you’re a Republican.

Scroll down to read about everyone running for statewide offices and the U.S. House and state legislative seats representing Southeast Georgia. To see who’s on local ballots, go directly to voters guides for Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Glynn, Pierce and Ware counties.

U.S. Senate

Six men are running to be the Republican candidate on the November General Election ballot. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two advance to a runoff scheduled for June 21.

• Gary Black is the current Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture. Before becoming commissioner, Black co-managed the Georgia Food Industry Partnership. He also served as president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council and as a field representative in the Georgia Farm Bureau. (Campaign bio)
• Josh Clark - Born in Atlanta, Clark’s professional experience includes owning a nutraceutical distribution company and a real estate and management company. He was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 98 from 2011 to 2015. (Campaign bio)
• Kelvin King graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and served as an officer. His professional experience included working in procurement, business development and construction. King also founded Osprey Management, a construction firm. (Campaign bio)
• Jonathan McColumn received a BA from Georgia College in 1986 and master’s degrees from Elmira College (1992), Webster University (2002) and U.S. Army War College (2010). McColumn worked as a clergyman, a general officer in the U.S. Army and an instructor at Phoenix University. (Campign bio)
• Latham Saddler graduated from the University of Georgia and has a master’s in International Affairs from Georgia Tech. He served as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer and was director of intelligence programs for the National Security Council. Saddler also worked as a White House Fellow from 2018 to 2019. (Campaign bio)
• Herschel Walker attended the University of Georgia where he was an All-American in both football and track-and-field, leaving college after winning 1982 Heisman Trophy to play in the USFL and NFL. Since leaving sports, he has worked for a number of food-supply businesses. Former President Donald Trump appointed Walker as chair of the Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in 2018. (Campaign bio)

• Tamara Johnson-Shealey was born and raised in Chatham County with deep family roots in Effingham County. She is lead advocate of Reparations Sunday, an initiative that connects churches to the reparations movement, president of The Concerned Beauty and Barber Professionals and senior advocate of Politics Beauty and Barber. She has a BS from DeVry University and a Juris Master’s Degree from Emory University School of Law. (Campaign bio)
• Raphael Warnock is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate seat he won in January 2021 when he defeated Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler. He has served as senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta since 2005. He also chaired the New Georgia Project, a voter registration group founded by Stacey Abrams from 2017 to 2020. Warnock earned a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College in 1991 and a master’s degree in divinity, a master’s degree in philosophy, and Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary. (Campaign bio)

Georgia governor

Five candidates are running to be the Republican candidate on the November General Election ballot. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two advance to a runoff scheduled for June 21.

• Catherine Davis was born in Stamford, Connecticut. Davis earned a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University in 1973 and studied at the University of Bridgeport School of Law. Her career experience includes being president of the nonprofit organization The Restoration Project and a Fortune 500 human resources manager. (Campaign website)
• Brian Kemp is running for re-election as governor of Georgia. Kemp defeated former state Rep. Stacey Abrams (D) in the 2018 election by just over 1 percentage point, succeeding term-limited Gov. Nathan Deal (R). Kemp first won elected office in 2012, when he unseated state Sen. Doug Haines (D). In 2006, Kemp ran for agriculture commissioner but was defeated in the Republican primary. Four years later, then-Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) appointed Kemp to the Georgia Secretary of State office vacated by Karen Handel (R), who had resigned to run for governor. He was re-elected to that post twice. Before entering elected office, Kemp was a small business owner, managing Athens-based Kemp Properties. (Campaign bio)
• David Perdue was a member of the U.S. Senate from Georgia from January 2015, replacing retiring incumbent Saxby Chambliss (R). Perdue was defeated by Democrat Jon Ossoff in January 2021. Prior to running for Senate, Perdue served as CEO of Reebok, Dollar General and Pillowtex. (Campaign website)
• Kandiss Taylor was born in Baxley, Georgia. She received a bachelor’s degree in 2003, a master’s degree in 2005 and a specialist’s degree in 2006 from Georgia Southern University. She also received a Ph.D. from Regent University in 2014. Taylor’s professional experience includes working as a student services coordinator and she is certified in early childhood teaching and in school counseling. (Campaign website)
• Tom Williams - Little information is available about Williams. One news site described him as a civil service retiree. We could not find a campaign website or social media account for Williams.

Even though there’s only one candidate for governor on the Democratic side, her name will appear on the ballot.

• Stacey Abrams graduated from Avondale High School and has earned degrees from Spelman College, the University of Texas, and Yale University Law School. Shas owned a business and worked as a partner in Insomnia LLC; the CEO of Sage Works LLC; was deputy city attorney for the city of Atlanta; special counsel to Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan; and a teacher at Spelman College and Yale University. She was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, District 89 in 2006 and served as House minority leader from 2011 to 2017. Abrams resigned her state House seat in August 2017 to run for governor in 2018, losing to Republican Brian Kemp but just over 1 percentage point. She founded and continues to lead the New Georgia Project, a voter registration group. (Campaign bio)

Lieutenant governor

Republican Geoff Duncan is not seeking re-election as Georgia’s lieutenant governor. Four Republicans and nine Democrats qualified to run for the office in 2022. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the party primary, the two receiving the most votes will meet in a runoff scheduled for June 21. The winners will face Libertarian Ryan Grahame in November.

• Burt Jones - a business owner from Jackson, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Mack McGregor - a manufacturing supervisor from LaFayette, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Butch Miller - an automobile dealer from Gainesville, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Jeanne Seaver - a business owner from Savannah (Campaign website)

• Erick Allen - consultant from Smyrna, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Charlie Bailey - attorney from Atlanta (Campaign website)
• Tyrone Brooks Jr. - Manager from Atlanta (Campaign website)
• Tony Brown - USAF veteran, consultant from McDonough, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Kwanza Hall - community and business developer from Atlanta (Campaign website)
• Jason T. Hayes - physician from Alpharetta, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Derrick L. Jackson - retired naval officer, adjunct professor from Tyrone, Georgia (Campaign website)
• R. Malik - entrepreneur from Lilburn, Georgia (No website listed)
• Renitta Shannon - small business owner from Decatur, Georgia (Campaign website)

Secretary of State

Three Republican challengers and five Democrats will try to unseat incumbent Brad Raffensperger. If no candidate exceeds 50% of the vote in either party primary, the two with the most votes will face either other in a runoff on June 21.

• David C. Belle Isle - business owner/attorney (Campaign website)
• Jody Hice - U.S. congressman (Campaign website)
• T.J. Hudson - county manager (Campaign website)
• Brad Raffensperger - incumbent secretary of state, engineer (Campaign website)

• Dee Dawkins-Haiglere - a minister (Campaign website)
• John Eaves - educator from Atlanta (Campaign website)
• Floyd Griffin - retired from Milledgeville, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Bee Nguyen - nonprofit director from Atlanta (Campaign website)
• Michael Owens - cyber security executive from Mableton, Georgia (Campaign website)

Attorney general

• Chris Carr - incumbent attorney general in Atlanta (Campaign website)
• John Gordon - business owner (Campaign website)

• Jennifer “Jen” Jordan - attorney from Atlanta (Campaign website)
• Christian Wise Smith - attorney from Atlanta (Campaign website)

Commissioner of agriculture

• Tyler Harper - farmer from Ocilla, Georgia (Campaign website)

• Winfred Dukes - farmer/contractor from Albany (Campaign website)
• Nakita Hemingway - farmer/realtor from Dacula, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Fred Swann - farm owner from Oakwood, Georgia (Campaign website)

Commissioner of insurance

• Ben Cowart - real estate developer from Johns Creek, Georgia (No campaign website listed)
• John King - incumbent commissioner of agriculture from Roswell, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Patrick Witt - legal consultant from Atlanta (Campaign website)

• Raphael Baker - insurance sales/entrepreneur (Campaign website)
• Janice Laws Robinson - self employed in Newnan, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Matthew Wilson - attorney from Atlanta (Campaign website)

State school superintendent

• John D. Barge - retired in Rome, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Richard Woods - incumbent state school superintendent from Tifton, Georgia (Campaign website)

• Currey Hitchens - attorney (Campaign website)
• Jaha Howard - pediatric dentist in Atlanta (Campaign website)
• James Morrow Jr. - teacher/coach from Powder Springs, Georgia (No campaign website listed)
• Alisha Thomas Searcy - former superintendent/business owner from Power Springs, Georgia (Campaign website)

Commissioner of labor

• Kartik Bhatt - businessman from Wacworth, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Mike Coan - deputy commissioner, department of labor from White, Georgia (Campaign website)

• William “Will” Boddie - attorney from East Point, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Thomas Deane - courier from Atlanta (No campaign website listed)
• Nicole Horn - entrepreneur in Atlanta (Campaign website)
• Lester G. Jackson III - dentist in Savannah, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Nadia Surrency - entrepreneur and philanthropist in Atlanta (Campaign website)

Public Service Commission, District 3

• Fitz Johnson - member of Public Safety Commission in Atlanta (Campaign website)

• Shelia Edwards - publisher/business owner in Mableton, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Chandra Farley - business owner (Campaign website)
• Missy Moore - commercial insurance agency owner in Decatur, Georgia (Campaign website)

Public Service Commission, District 2

• Tim Echols - incumbent public service commissioner from Hoschton, Georgia (Campaign website)

• Patty Durand - former president/CEO of Smart Energy Consumer Collab (Campaign website)
• Russell Edwards - Athens/Clark County commissioner (No campaign website listed)

Georgia’s 1st Congressional District

One of Georgia’s 14 seats in the U.S. House represents Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, Pierce and Ware counties.

• Earl “Buddy” Carter - A pharmacist who has held this seat in Congress since 2015. Prior to election to this seat, Carter was mayor of Pooler, Georgia, served in the Georgia House and Senate. He lives in Savannah with a wife and four children. (Campaign website)

• Joyce Marie Griggs - Born in Bethel, North Carolina, Griggs served in the U.S. Army and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. She earned a B.A. from North Carolina Central University. Griggs’ career experience includes owning a business in Garden City, Georgia (Campaign website)
• Wade Herring - After graduating from Central High School in Macon, Georgia, Herring earned a law degree from the University of Georgia. His career experience includes working as a lawyer and judicial clerk. Herring has served with the Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club and Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy lawyer. (Campaign website)
• Michelle L. Munroe - She was born at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, and served in the U.S. Army from 1992 to 2020. She earned a master’s degree in midwifery and a doctorate in nursing practice. (Campaign website)

Georgia’s 8th Congressional District

This South Central Georgia U.S. House seat includes Clinch County.

• Austin Scott - Member of Congress from Tifton, Georgia. Before his election in 2011 he is agent and owner with The Southern Group and was senior agent with The Principal Financial Group. He has a BBA in risk management and insurance from the University of Georgia. (Campaign website)

• Darrius Butler - Pastor in Warner Robins with degree from Carver College. He founded a non-profit and has served as the chair of the Boys & Girls Club. (Campaign website)

Georgia State Senate, District 3

Represents Brantley Camden, Charlton, Glynn and part of Ware counties. One-term Republican state Sen. Sheila McNeill is not seeking re-election. No Democratic candidates qualified to run for this office.

• Nora Lott Haynes - retired resident of St. Simons Island (Campaign website)
• Mike Hodges - banker who lives in Glynn County (Campaign website)
• Jeff Jones - business owner from Brunswick (Campaign website)

Georgia State Senate, District 8

Includes Clinch, Pierce and part of Ware counties. No Democrat qualified to run for this seat.

• Russ Goodman - The incumbent, a Republican and a farmer from Homerville, drew no Republican or Democratic challengers. His name will appear on the ballot even though he is unopposed.

Georgia State House, District 167

Represents western Glynn County. No Democrat qualified to run for this seat.

• Buddy DeLoach - The incumbent, a Republican who lives in Shellman Bluff and retired after a career in insurance, drew no Republican or Democratic challengers. His name will appear on the ballot even though he is unopposed.

Georgia State House, District 174

Includes Brantley, Charlton, Clinch and part of Ware County. No Democrat qualified to run for this seat.

• John Corbett - The incumbent, a Republican business owner and farmer who lives in Slake Park, drew no Republican or Democratic challengers. His name will appear on the ballot even though he is unopposed.

Georgia State House, District 176

Includes part of Ware County. No Democrat qualified to run for this seat.

• James Burchett - The incumbent, a Republican who co-owns a law firm in Waycross, drew no Republican or Democratic challengers. His name will appear on the ballot even though he is unopposed.

Georgia State House, District 178

Includes Pierce County. No Democrat qualified to run for this seat.

• Cason Carbaugh - coffee shop owner (Campaign website)
• Steven Meeks - incumbent state representative and a farmer in Screven (Campaign Facebook page)

Georgia State House, District 179

Includes the city of Brunswick, St. Simons Island and other parts of eastern Glynn County. Current state Rep. Don Hogan is not seeking re-election and no Democrat entered the race for this seat.

• Bob Duncan - builder/developer who lives in St. Simons Island (Campaign website)
• John C. Killgallon - from St. Simons Island, works in senior care marketing (No campaign website listed)
• Rick Townsend - retired educator/consultant who lives in St. Simons Island (Campaign website)

Georgia State House, District 180

Includes all of Camden County and a strip of southern Glynn County. No Democrat qualified to run for this seat.

• Steven Sainz - the incumbent state representative is CEO of Camden Connection (Campaign website)
• Cody Smith - a small business owner in St. Marys (No campaign website listed)

MORE: Primary voting guides for Brantley County, Camden County, Charlton County, Clinch County, Glynn County, Pierce County and Ware County.

Candidate information for this guide was collected from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, individual county elections offices and Ballotpedia.com.