After stunning the nation in 2020 voting for President Joe Biden and electing two Democratic Senators, Georgia once again found itself in the center of the political universe for the 2022 midterms. Georgia cemented its position as a swing state when, barely a month after Gov. Brian Kemp won a resounding bid for re-election, Democrat Raphael Warnock beat back a challenge by the Goal Line Stalker himself, Herschel Walker, in a runoff.

As a result of Warnock’s victory, all statewide offices are held by Republicans except for the two U.S. Senate seats, a tension which, correctly or not, the media sees as harboring implications for the 2024 Presidential election. Gov. Kemp and Sen. Warnock are both being discussed as a potential 2024 candidates; the Democratic National Committee has already expressed interest in having Georgia vote earlier in the presidential primary, and Georgia is a finalist to host the Democratic National Convention. With both Democrats and Republicans holding statewide offices, expect Georgia to stay in the national spotlight, although sharp money still has Georgia a more-conservative-than-not state.

U.S. Senate

The federal runoff cycle in Georgia was shortened from nine weeks to four thanks to a change in the law in 2021; the truncated timeframe only intensified the scrutiny the Senate race received (it was perhaps the most significant race in the country, even if Senate power did not hang in the balance.) Turnout was the key factor. Walker – the consensus is he was a “bad candidate” – could not match the numbers he received in November, nevertheless find new votes. This, despite the governor’s overwhelming popularity at the top of the ticket. For his part, Warnock ran a disciplined campaign, focusing on issues like capping the cost of insulin, lowering the cost of prescription drugs for seniors, and Medicaid expansion.

Governor

Gov. Kemp was soundly re-elected, earning over 53% of the vote. For the second time, Kemp defeated former State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams. The Republican incumbent cruised to victory by emphasizing his administration’s strong record and conservative accomplishments, including his decision to reopen the state after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Kemp received more than his share of backlash from former President Donald Trump. Nevertheless, he has managed to successfully navigate Republican circles. Meanwhile, Leader Abrams, who exceeded expectations in 2018 and was one of the architects of the Democratic wins in 2020, had a difficult time regaining traction with voters. Kemp will look to spend the next four years continuing to build his conservative resume while working with the Republican Governors Association. The now term-limited Republican may also garner some attention in the 2024 Presidential cycle.

Lieutenant Governor

Republican State Sen. Burt Jones soundly defeated Democrat Charlie Bailey to retain the state’s number two seat for the GOP. Jones represents a far more conservative wing of the Republican Party compared to his predecessor. He was the first elected official in Georgia to endorse the Trump campaign in 2016 and one of the few Republicans on the statewide ballot in Georgia to receive the former President’s endorsement this year. Jones is young, popular with the base of the party, and has personal wealth, all which puts him on the shortlist to succeed Kemp in 2026.

Secretary of State

After rising to national prominence following the 2020 elections, incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was re-elected to a second term. Like Kemp, Raffensperger was able to easily cruise to victory despite being the target of criticism from former President Trump. Raffensperger has proven appeal to independent voters and is also well positioned if he chooses to seek higher office.

Attorney General

Republican Attorney General Chris Carr defeated State Sen. Jen Jordan by a margin of 52% to 47% to retain his seat for another term. Carr’s efforts fighting human trafficking and his crackdown on criminal gang activity helped him to victory. Given his background as chief of staff to former U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and a stint as the head of economic development for the state, Carr is seen as another bright star on the GOP bench.

The success of Republicans at the top of the statewide ticket yielded similar success for Republicans down the ballot. Seventh generation farmer and State Sen. Tyler Harper succeeded Commissioner Gary Black at the helm of the Department of Agriculture. Also moving into higher office: Bruce Thompson, succeeding embattled Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. Insurance Commissioner John King and State School Superintendent Richard Woods, both Republicans, were also re-elected.

Georgia General Assembly

Also on the ballot were all 180 seats in the Georgia House and all 56 seats in the Georgia Senate. However, the biggest news out of the legislature came before the polls opened on election day. Citing health reasons, long-time Speaker David Ralston announced he would not be seeking a seventh term for the top post in the House. Not long after his announcement, Speaker Ralston passed away. During his 13-year tenure, Ralston rose to be one of the most powerful leaders in the state while often being viewed as a steady hand amidst turnover in the executive branch and state senate. His absence is a heavy shroud over the current session, and he is missed by his many friends. May he rest in peace. 

Succeeding Ralston, John Burns, the House’s prior Majority Leader, assumed the role of Speaker. He has proven a steady hand. All in all, the real news after the elections is that there is a new slate of leaders in both chambers.