Georgia’s race for secretary of state is moving into its final runoff stretch, with four candidates fighting to become the next official in charge of one of the state’s most politically charged offices.
State Rep. Tim Fleming and former state Rep. Vernon Jones faced off in the Republican runoff during the Atlanta Press Club debates, while Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett and former Fulton County State Court Judge Penny Brown Reynolds met in the Democratic contest.
The Republican debate sharpened around Trump and 2020. Fleming and Jones spent much of the debate competing over who supported the president the most, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Jones cast himself as an outsider who would overhaul the office, while Fleming pointed to his past work in the secretary of state’s office and state Legislature.
The Democratic race also picked up a fresh jolt when Stacey Abrams endorsed Barrett, giving the Fulton County commissioner a high-profile boost against Reynolds. Rough Draft Atlanta reported Reynolds led the Democratic primary with 42.3% while Barrett received 35.2%. On the Republican side, Fleming received 39.2% and Jones received 27.3%.
Barrett’s Fulton County election board fight also needs an update. AP reported the Georgia Court of Appeals overturned the contempt ruling tied to Fulton County’s refusal to seat two Republican nominees to the county election board.
The next secretary of state will inherit more than a campaign fight. Georgia lawmakers are also facing a QR-code voting issue after state law barred QR codes from being used to tally votes after July 1 without lawmakers settling on a replacement.The office is not limited to elections. Georgia.gov says the state’s top elections official also tracks corporate filings, grants professional licenses and oversees the state’s securities market.
