Former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal won the state’s Republican nomination Tuesday in the primary runoff for governor, but if it was up to Bryan County, his challenger Karen Handel would be on the ballot in November.
Deal defeated Handel by only 2,489 votes statewide. However in Bryan County, Handel beat Deal 938 votes to 742, according to unofficial returns.
As predicted, voter turnout was low across the county, as well as the state, with only about 10 percent of registered voters casting ballots in the primary runoff.
Handel, who had cast herself as an outsider, conceded the race Wednesday, avoiding what could have been a drawn-out recount. Deal now faces a general election battle with Democrat Roy Barnes, a one-term governor who was ousted eight years ago by Republicans.
“The best thing for our party is to rally around Congressman Deal as our nominee in the fight against Roy Barnes,” Handel said in a statement. “Barnes would return Georgia to a past that is best kept in our rearview mirror.”
Republicans quickly closed ranks around Deal, with Handel leading the way. There was no mention of her campaign attacks when she labeled Deal “a corrupt relic of Washington.”
The following are Bryan County results with 100 percent of precincts reporting:
- GOP governor: Nathan Deal, 742 votes; Karen Handel, 938.
- GOP attorney general: Sam Olens, 681 votes; Preston Smith, 754.
- GOP insurance commissioner: Ralph Hudgens, 626 votes; Maria Sheffield 840.
- GOP public service commissioner: Tim Echols, 710 votes; John Douglas, 689.
- Democrat secretary of state: Georganna Sinkfield, 27 votes; Gail Buckner, 35.
The following are statewide results with 99 percent of precincts reporting:
- GOP race for attorney general: Sam Olen, 59 percent; Preston Smith, 41 percent.
- GOP race for insurance commissioner: Ralph Hudgens, 55 percent; Maria Sheffield, 45 percent.
- GOP race for public service commissioner: Tim Echols, 52 percent; John Douglas, 48 percent.
- Democrat race for secretary of state: Georganna Sinkfield, 62 percent; Gail Buckner, 38 percent.
Deal defeated Handel by only 2,489 votes statewide. However in Bryan County, Handel beat Deal 938 votes to 742, according to unofficial returns.
As predicted, voter turnout was low across the county, as well as the state, with only about 10 percent of registered voters casting ballots in the primary runoff.
Handel, who had cast herself as an outsider, conceded the race Wednesday, avoiding what could have been a drawn-out recount. Deal now faces a general election battle with Democrat Roy Barnes, a one-term governor who was ousted eight years ago by Republicans.
“The best thing for our party is to rally around Congressman Deal as our nominee in the fight against Roy Barnes,” Handel said in a statement. “Barnes would return Georgia to a past that is best kept in our rearview mirror.”
Republicans quickly closed ranks around Deal, with Handel leading the way. There was no mention of her campaign attacks when she labeled Deal “a corrupt relic of Washington.”
The following are Bryan County results with 100 percent of precincts reporting:
- GOP governor: Nathan Deal, 742 votes; Karen Handel, 938.
- GOP attorney general: Sam Olens, 681 votes; Preston Smith, 754.
- GOP insurance commissioner: Ralph Hudgens, 626 votes; Maria Sheffield 840.
- GOP public service commissioner: Tim Echols, 710 votes; John Douglas, 689.
- Democrat secretary of state: Georganna Sinkfield, 27 votes; Gail Buckner, 35.
The following are statewide results with 99 percent of precincts reporting:
- GOP race for attorney general: Sam Olen, 59 percent; Preston Smith, 41 percent.
- GOP race for insurance commissioner: Ralph Hudgens, 55 percent; Maria Sheffield, 45 percent.
- GOP race for public service commissioner: Tim Echols, 52 percent; John Douglas, 48 percent.
- Democrat race for secretary of state: Georganna Sinkfield, 62 percent; Gail Buckner, 38 percent.