The results from Georgia’s primary election on Tuesday were a mixed bag for LGBTQ+ and allied candidates across the state.
Of the 55 candidates endorsed by Georgia Equality, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, 29 won or went to a runoff.
Among the statewide races, one Georgia Equality-endorsed candidate won and two went to a runoff. Tanya Miller won the Democratic primary for attorney general in a landslide, with 84.55% of the vote. Josh McLaurin will go to a runoff against Nabilah Parks for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination, and Dana Barrett will face Penny Brown Reynolds for secretary of state in the June 16 runoff.
Several LGBTQ+ Democratic candidates also won their primaries, including Bentley Hudgins for State House District 90, Kim Jackson for State Senate District 41, and Marvin Lim for State House District 98.
However, there were also some major losses for LGBTQ+ and allied candidates.
Jason Esteves, who was endorsed by Georgia Equality, was defeated by Keisha Lance Bottoms in the Democratic primary for governor. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated her six rivals to win the nomination outright on Tuesday.
Both Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin, the challengers for the Georgia Supreme Court, lost their races, and LGBTQ+ prosecutor Will Wooten lost his race for Georgia Court of Appeals.
Georgia Equality-endorsed candidate Brett Hulme also did not move forward in the runoff for the Democratic Commissioner of Labor nominee.
Related stories:
• LGBTQ+ advocate Bentley Hudgins runs for Georgia legislature
• LGBTQ+ prosecutor Will Wooten challenges incumbent in Court of Appeals race
Transgender candidates Robin McCoy and Aaron Baker both lost their primaries for State Senate District 5 and State House District 51, respectively.
“Things didn’t work out in our favor this time, but my heart is full and I am filled with sincere gratitude for my family, supporters, and community,” Baker posted to Instagram following the election. “…If anything this result underscores the need for this – despite knocking thousands of doors, making thousands of phone calls, and running a comprehensive paid communication plan, hundreds of thousands of dollars in dark money propped up my opponent and protected her from being held accountable.”
Bella Bautista, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for State House District 14, joins Bentley Hudgins as the only openly transgender or non-binary candidates to be on the general election ballot in November.
