The Fulton County Board of Commissioners will have a new chair next year after the incumbent lost in the Democratic primary – along with at least three more new faces on the dais.
Chair Robb Pitts lost the June 16 Democratic primary runoff to former Commissioner Mo Ivory. While Pitts campaigned for Ivory during her 2024 election to the board of commissioners, the officials clashed throughout 2025 on a property tax hike, program funding, and policy priorities.
Three sitting commissioners either lost in party primaries or ran for state office, and, counting the District 4 seat that Ivory vacated earlier this year, Fulton County residents can expect major changes next year.
More than half of the board of commissioners will be new members, indicating voters’ willingness to task new leaders with tackling the county’s longstanding problems.
According to unofficial results, Ivory won nearly 47,000 out of 70,946 ballots cast, or more than 65%, in the Democratic primary runoff.
Ivory expected to succeed Pitts
Pitts, 84, has served on either the Fulton County Commission or the Atlanta City Council off and on since 1977. He’s only lost twice in his more than 50-year career: a 1973 Atlanta City Council race and the 2001 Atlanta mayoral election.
Before discussing his own race, Pitts said he’s happy to report Fulton County conducted “another successful, flawless election.”
“Obviously, the results are not what I had hoped for, but the voters have spoken,” Pitts said. “It’s business as usual, but from a personal point of view … I’m very concerned about the future of Fulton County.”
Pitts said he is concerned about turnover on the board of commissioners and the impact of a property tax increase on people with a fixed income, seniors, young families, homeowners, and renters.
“Based upon what they have said, significant changes may be in store,” Pitts said.
Ivory, born in 1969, would bring a new generation of leadership to Georgia’s largest county. She is heavily favored to defeat Republican candidate Eric Tatum in November’s general election.
In an election night speech, Ivory said her campaign did not pay attention to her opposition’s attacks during the campaign and thanked Pitts for his service.
In a June 17 campaign statement, she said Democrats voted “overwhelmingly for a new generation of leadership and a new direction for Fulton County.”
“Throughout this campaign, I promised to lead with transparency, accountability, and honesty,” Ivory said. “Whether you supported me, supported another candidate, or did not vote in this election, I intend to serve every resident of Fulton County. Our county faces serious challenges, from fixing the jail and strengthening our courts to expanding access to healthcare and restoring trust in government.”
According to Ivory’s Georgia State University biography, she and her husband reside in Atlanta and have six kids and grandchildren. Ivory ran unsuccessfully for the Atlanta City Council in 2017. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat, and District Attorney Fani Willis endorsed her for chair.
In March, Ivory resigned from the District 4 seat on the board of commissioners, citing state law. Pitts scheduled a special election on Nov. 3 to fill the vacant seat.
In this fall’s special election, four candidates have qualified to run for the Fulton County’s District 4 seat: Hall (nonpartisan), Karen Rene (nonpartisan), Rohit Malhotra (D), and Aaron Sampson (D).
Analyzing Fulton County ballots
In the runoff between Pitts and Ivory, Election Day and advance voting numbers were nearly even at around 34,800, separated by 12 votes. Only 1,202 people voted absentee by mail in the Democratic primary for county chair.
In the May 19 primary, more than twice as many people voted.
In Sandy Springs, Ivory won every precinct except for one around Riverside Drive. Most of the precincts Pitts won were within the cities of Atlanta, Chattahoochee Hills, and College Park. Ivory carried every precinct in the North Fulton cities.
In the Democratic primary runoff for the District 3 seat, Jodi Merriday defeated former Commissioner Lee Morris with nearly 60% of the vote, according to unofficial results. More than 8,500 ballots were cast, and the margin was around 1,500 votes.
Merriday will face Republican Paul Burton in November’s general election to fill the District 3 seat currently held by Commissioner Dana Barrett, who lost the Democratic runoff for secretary of state to Penny Brown Reynolds.
In District 5, which includes Chattahooche Hills, College Park, Fairburn, Palmetto, Union City, and South Fulton, Helen Willis defeated Sojourner Grimmett in the Democratic runoff. Willis will face Republican Tiffany Henyard, a former Illinois mayor whose controversial tenure made national headlines.
