Trump-backed false elector faces former prosecutor in LG contest
LG candidates talk crime, education
The race for Georgia’s second-highest office turned into an open contest after the Republican incumbent, Geoff Duncan, announced in early 2021 that he would not seek a second term.
The announcement came after Duncan emerged as one of Donald Trump’s most vociferous critics within the GOP as the former President and his campaign fought to overturn Georgia’s election results.
With Duncan now sidelined, one of the Republicans who echoed Trump’s election lies is now a leading candidate to succeed him. But he must fend off a former prosecutor who has run a statewide campaign before.
What does the Lieutenant Governor do?
According to the state constitution, the Georgia Lieutenant Governor is to act as President of the State Senate. He or she is tasked with making committee assignments and choosing committee chairs. They can send legislation to certain committees for consideration and even cast tiebreaking votes. If the governor is incapacitated, the Lieutenant Governor must serve as acting governor.
In many states, the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor are elected together on the same ticket. But in Georgia, the two are elected separately — which means it is possible that the officeholders could be from opposing parties.
The winner is almost certainly going to be presiding over a Republican-controlled Senate in January.
Burt Jones
The Republican nominee is Burt Jones, a staunch Trump ally who has served in the State Senate since 2012.
Jones was one of more than a dozen Republicans who signed documents falsely declaring that they were Georgia’s presidential electors in 2020, even though Trump had lost the state. The Fulton County District Attorney has since been investigating the scheme — though Jones’ case is being referred to another prosecutor.
In a primary election that saw many of his endorsed candidates lose in landslides, Jones’ victory was a rare bright spot for former President Trump. He managed to narrowly win his primary election outright against a powerful Senate Republican leader.
Since then, Jones has tried to distance himself from national politics and has been touting his campaign platform, which includes eliminating the state income tax, increasing the role of parents in their children’s education and being an ally of the state’s law enforcement community.
Charlie Bailey
Jones’ top rival is Democrat Charlie Bailey, a former prosecutor who narrowly lost a bid for Attorney General in 2018. He had planned to seek the AG office again this year but switched to the Lieutenant Governor contest after discussions with state party leaders.
Bailey emerged from a crowded Democratic primary and won a runoff election in a landslide after being endorsed by Stacey Abrams, the party’s nominee for governor. He is the only white male running on the Georgia Democratic statewide ticket this year.
A former assistant prosecutor in the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, the Democrat has highlighted Jones’ involvement in Trump’s election scheme. “I prosecuted felonies. Burt committed felonies,” Bailey said at a party gathering in August. He has even suggested that his rival is “anti-American.”
Among Bailey’s campaign priorities are expanding Medicaid, increasing teacher pay and reducing class sizes. Like his opponent, he has tried to position himself as an ally of Georgia’s law enforcement officers. He says he plans to fight for fairness in the criminal justice system.
Are there third party candidates?
Bailey and Jones will be joined on the ballot by a third candidate. Libertarian Ryan Graham is also running for Lieutenant Governor, and his presence on the ballot could determine whether or not the race goes to overtime.
According to Graham’s website, his priorities include legalizing marijuana, ending the “militarization” of the police and expanding access to the ballot box — both for candidates and voters.
Graham believes that there will be a December runoff in this race.
Learn more about the candidates
You can learn more information about each candidate by visiting their campaign website.
Burt Jones (R): burtjonesforga.com
Charlie Bailey (D): charlieforgeorgia.com
Ryan Graham (L): graham4ga.com
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