ATLANTA – Here is a brief recap of 2010 elections headlines in Georgia:
Democrats jump ship, join GOP: A number of Democratic state lawmakers and a Hall County commissioner decided they could better serve their constituents if they were Republicans. Case in point: Rep. Doug McKillip from the state’s liberal stronghold of Athens switched sides, saying, “by joining the House Republican Caucus, I can best represent my community and help move beyond partisanship and the divisiveness that will only prevent real progress at this critical time.”
Graves selected to House Appropriations committee (Dec. 10): U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., was selected to a post on the House Committee on Appropriations for the upcoming 112th Congress. He said Congress “has a clear mandate to end the reckless fiscal ways of Washington, and that process can only begin by putting a plug in the wellspring of federal spending — the Appropriations Committee.”
Nahmias wins in runoff (Nov. 30): Georgia Supreme Court Justice David Nahmias won a full term on the state Supreme Court, defeating Tammy Lynn Adkins. Nahmias, a former federal prosecutor in Atlanta, was appointed to the Supreme Court in August 2009. Adkins is a family attorney in Lawrenceville.
Isakson wins re-election (Nov. 2): Republican Johnny Isakson won re-election to the U.S. Senate, defeating Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, a Democrat.
Marshall ousted, Bishop hangs on (Nov. 2): Republicans ousted one Democratic Congressman from Georgia and took a second to a tight finish. State Rep. Austin Scott, a Republican, defeated U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, a Blue Dog Democrat, in the 8th Congressional District race. In the 2nd Congressional District, Rep. Sanford Bishop, a Democrat, edged Republican Mike Keown.
Deal claims victory in GOP runoff (Aug. 11): Nathan Deal claimed victory after former Secretary of State Karen Handel conceded defeat in a hotly contested GOP gubernatorial runoff. Deal defeated former Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, and Libertarian John Monds during the Nov. 2 election.
Handel, Deal head to runoff (July 21): Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine led a crowded field in the Republican gubernatorial primary, but it was Karen Handel and Nathan Deal who finished in the top two spots and headed for a runoff. Deal, who resigned from Congress in March, lagged behind for much of the primary, but finished strong to win the nomination and eventually the office.
