United States Senate election in Georgia, 2016

United States Senate election in Georgia, 2016

November 8, 2016

Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson Republican

The 2016 United States Senate election in Georgia will take place on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Georgia, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primary election for the Republican and Democratic parties will take place on May 24, 2016.^[1]

Incumbent Republican Senator Johnny Isakson is running for re-election to a third term in office.^[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Mary Kay Bacallao, college professor, former Fayette County Board of Education member and candidate for State Superintendent of Schools in 2014^[3]
• Derrick Grayson, MARTA engineer, minister and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014^[4][5]
• Johnny Isakson, incumbent U.S. Senator^[2]

Withdrawn

• Lee Benedict, teacher and State Senate candidate in 2007 (running for the Columbia County Commission)^[5][6]

Declined

• Paul Broun, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1996 and 2014 (running for GA-09)^[7][8]
• Tom Graves, U.S. Representative^[9][10]
• Kelly Loeffler, owner of the Atlanta Dream^[11][12]
• Tom Price, U.S. Representative^[9][13]
• Allen West, former U.S. Representative from Florida^[2]

Endorsements

Johnny Isakson

Gary Black, Agriculture Commissioner[14] Casey Cagle, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia[14] Doug Collins, U.S. Representative[14] Nathan Deal, Governor of Georgia[14] Phil Gingrey, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014[14] Tom Graves, U.S. Representative[14] Brian Kemp, Secretary of State of Georgia[14] Jack Kingston, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014[14] David Ralston, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives[14] David Shafer, President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate[14] Lynn Westmoreland, U.S. Representative[15]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Johnny Isakson	Another candidate	Undecided
InsiderAdvantage	June 11–14, 2015	492	± 4.4%	50%	26%	24%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• James F. Barksdale, investment firm executive^[16]
• Cheryl Copeland, AT&T Manager^[17]
• John Coyne, businessman and perennial candidate^[18]

Withdrawn

• Jim Knox, information technologist and United States Air Force veteran^[18][19]

Declined

• Stacey Abrams, Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives^[20][21]
• Thurbert Baker, former Attorney General of Georgia and candidate for Governor in 2010^[12]
• Roy Barnes, former Governor^[22]
• John Barrow, former U.S. Representative^[23]
• Jason Carter, State Senator and nominee for Governor of Georgia in 2014^[20][22][24]
• Stacey Evans, State Representative^[20][25]
• Shirley Franklin, former Mayor of Atlanta^[21][22][26]
• Scott Holcomb, State Representative and candidate for Secretary of State in 2006^[21][22][27]
• Margaret Kaiser, State Representative^[20][28]
• Jim Marshall, former U.S. Representative^[22]
• Michelle Nunn, former CEO of Points of Light and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014^[22][24]
• Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta^[29]
• Michael Sterling, Executive Director of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, former Assistant United States Attorney and former adviser to Mayor Kasim Reed^[26][30]
• Doug Stoner, former State Senator^[20][31]
• Ed Tarver, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia and former State Senator^[27][32]
• Regina Thomas, former State Senator and candidate for GA-12 in 2008 and 2010^[16][18]
• Teresa Tomlinson, Mayor of Columbus^[33]
• Raphael Warnock, Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church^[21][34]
• Valarie Wilson, former President of the Georgia School Boards Association, former Chair of the Decatur School Board, and nominee for State Superintendent of Schools in 2014^[21][22]

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Declared

• Allen Buckley, attorney, accountant, nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2008 and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia in 2006^[35]
• Ted Metz, insurance agent, former Cobb County Republican District Chairman, and nominee for Insurance Commissioner in 2014^[36]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[37]	Likely R	March 25, 2016
Daily Kos[38]	Safe R	April 4, 2016
Roll Call[39]	Safe R	April 4, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball[40]	Safe R	March 21, 2016

References

1. http://georgia.state-election.info/
2. "Johnny Isakson to announce he will seek a third term". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
3. "Qualifying for Georgia's May primaries ends". WSB-TV. March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
4. Malloy, Daniel (January 9, 2015). "It looks like Johnny Isakson has his first challenger". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
5. "Tea Party Talk". Fetch Your News. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
6. Lennon, Abbigail (March 13, 2016). "Columbia County incumbents faces opposition after qualifying ends". Columbia County News-Times. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
7. Wirth, Michelle (November 17, 2014). "Sen. Isakson Announces Re-Election Bid". WABE. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
8. Bluestein, Greg (March 9, 2016). "Barry Loudermilk, Doug Collins attract two new primary challengers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
9. Wilson, Reid (November 12, 2014). "READ IN: Back To School Edition". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
10. Wilson, Reid (November 18, 2014). "READ IN: Keystone’s Klose Edition". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
11. Bluestein, Greg (November 11, 2014). "Georgia’s Isakson readies run for third Senate term — and seeks GOP unity". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
12. Bluestein, Greg (May 5, 2015). "House speaker: ‘You’re going to hear more discussion’ about horse racing". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
13. Gould Sheinin, Aaron (March 7, 2016). "Qualifying opens for Georgia’s 2016 elections". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
14. Richards, Jon (November 17, 2014). "Johnny Isakson Announces Re-Election Bid". Peach Pundit. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
15. Joseph, Cameron (November 20, 2014). "Senator watching his back in reelection bid". The Hill. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
16. Bluestein, Greg (March 10, 2016). "Party-backed Georgia Democrat qualifies for U.S. Senate seat". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
17. "Southwest Georgia’s congressional delegation qualifies for re-election". The Albany Herald. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
18. Bluestein, Greg (March 6, 2016). "More Democrats come out of woodwork for Georgia Senate race". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
19. Hankerson, Jazmyne (April 18, 2016). "Candidate changes affects May primary ballot". WFXL. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
20. Cahn, Emily. "Republicans Line Up for Open Seats in Georgia | Farm Team". Roll Call. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
21. Bluestein, Greg (October 2, 2015). "Pastor of MLK’s church will not run for Georgia Senate seat". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
22. Bluestein, Greg; Malloy, Daniel (April 28, 2015). "Georgia Democrats still searching for a 2016 Senate contender". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
23. "John Barrow to teach at University of Georgia, signaling he’s out for 2016". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
24. Schultheis, Emily (November 12, 2014). "Losing Democrats Already Being Touted for 2016 Comebacks". National Journal. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
25. Bluestein, Greg (August 25, 2015). "Scouted for Senate run, Stacey Evans decides to stay in Georgia House". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
26. Leslie, Katie (December 2, 2015). "Democrats vetting Reed ally for Senate race against Isakson". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
27. Henry, Scott (March 3, 2016). "Johnny Isakson appears to scare off all potential challengers". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
28. Bluestein, Greg; Malloy, Daniel (April 11, 2015). "Get ready for three open-seat House races in Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
29. Galloway, Jim (May 9, 2013). "Kasim Reed rules out a 2016 run for U.S. Senate". The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
30. Leslie, Katie (December 18, 2015). "Search for Democratic challenger to Isakson continues". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
31. "Former state senator to run for Smyrna City Council". Marietta Daily Journal. July 6, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
32. Bluestein, Greg (January 16, 2016). "Democrat Ed Tarver eyes a potential Senate bid". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
33. Galloway, Jim (November 20, 2014). "DuBose Porter announces re-election bid as chairman of Georgia Democrats". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
34. Bluestein, Greg; Malloy, Daniel (August 6, 2015). "Exclusive: Pastor of historic Ebenezer Baptist Church considers U.S. Senate run". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
35. Bluestein, Greg; Malloy, Daniel (October 7, 2015). "Johnny Isakson draws a Libertarian challenger as he raises another $1 million". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
36. Bluestein, Greg; Malloy, Daniel (November 19, 2015). "Johnny Isakson gets an opponent — a Libertarian one". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
37. "2016 Senate Race Ratings for March 25, 2016". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
38. "Election Outlook: 2016 Race Ratings". Daily Kos. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
39. "2016 Race Ratings". Roll Call. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
40. "2016 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved April 4, 2016.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Johnny Isakson for Senate
• Mary Kay Bacallao for Senate
• Jim Barksdale for Senate
• Lee Benedict for Senate
• Cheryl Copeland for Senate
• John Coyne for Senate
• Allen Buckley for Senate
• Derrick Grayson for Senate
• Jim Knox for Senate
• Ted Metz for Senate