Deal sinks Barnes, Republicans sweep state races

ATLANTA – Despite the last-minute prospect of a runoff, former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal denied former Gov. Roy Barnes’ bid to return to the governor’s mansion.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Deal, A Republican, had 53 percent to Barnes’ 43 percent. Libertarian John Monds rounded out the field with 4 percent.

In other races:

  • Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a Republican, won a second bid as the state’s second in command. He defeated Democrat Carol porter and Libertarian Dan Barber, garnering 54.6 percent of the vote with 97 precincts reporting.
  • Secretary of State Brian Kemp, appointed to the post earlier this year, fended off a challenge from Democrat Georganna Sinkfield and Libertarian David Chastain.
  • Former Cobb County Commission Chair Sam Olens, a Republican, will be the state’s next attorney general after he defeated Democrat Ken Hodges and Libertarian Don Smart. The seat is a pick up for Republicans; former Attorney General Thurbert Baker opted not to seek re-election, but instead ran for governor – he lost to Barnes in the Democratic primary.
  • Republican Ralph T. Hudgens will be the state’s next insurance commissioner, replacing John Oxendine who opted to run for governor, but lost in the Republican primary. Hudgens defeated Democrat Mary Squires and Libertarian Shane Bruce.
  • Republican Gary Black will be the state’s next agriculture commissioner, replacing Commissioner Tommy Irvin, who retired earlier this year; Irvin, a Democrat, was the longest-tenured elected official in the state. Black defeated Democrat J. B. Powell and Libertarian Kevin Cherry.
  • In the Labor Commissioner race, Republican Mark Butler defeated Democrat Darryl Hicks and Libertarian Will Costa. Butler replaces Michael Thurmond, a Democrat, who ran instead for U.S. Senate, but lost on Tuesday to Sen. Johnny Isakson.
  • Republican Tim Echols defeated Democrat Keith Moffett and Libertarian Jim Sendelbach to win a seat on the Public Service Commission.

Click here for a rundown of federal races in Georgia.