Two metro Atlanta lawmakers lose re-election bids

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Two Georgia state House incumbents lost to their challengers, another incumbent could face a runoff, and some former lawmakers could be on the way returning to the Georgia Capitol after the party primaries this week.

Republican Lauren Daniel lost a rematch of her 2022 primary to Noelle Kahaian on Tuesday in a district around the Henry County suburb of Locust Grove, while Democrat Teri Anulewicz lost to challenger Gabriel Sanchez in a district around of Smyrna, a suburb of Cobb County. Both districts were significantly changed in a series of court-ordered redistricting last year.

Another result of this redistricting was that Republicans paired Democratic incumbents Becky Evans and Saira Draper in a DeKalb County district. Draper easily defeated Evans in this game, although Evans served longer in the House, in part because the redrawn district included more of Draper’s former territory.

And in far southeast Georgia, Republican Steven Sainz could be headed to a runoff against retired naval officer and airline pilot Glenn Cook in a district that covers Camden County and part of Glynn County.

Sainz said late polls could still put him in the lead, but he assumed there would be a runoff. “We plan to win,” Sainz wrote in a text.

Of course, it is unusual for incumbent presidents to encounter difficulties in legislative primaries. In the Senate, all 11 incumbent candidates who faced primaries won, including six Republicans and five Democrats. In the House, 13 Republican and 13 Democratic incumbents fended off their challengers.

Among the incumbents who won were Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat who defeated former state Sen. Nadine Thomas in a redrawn district covering parts of DeKalb and Clayton counties; Sen. Sally Harrell, an Atlanta Democrat who fended off a challenge from David Lubin in a DeKalb County district; and Sen. Ben Watson, a Republican from Savannah who defeated right-wing GOP challenger Beth Majeroni.

Sanchez ran on a platform guaranteeing housing and health care for all Georgians, describing himself as a democratic socialist. Sanchez said Wednesday that his policy positions are more important than the label, but that identity places him on the left wing of the Democratic caucus, while Anulewicz was in the middle of his party.

“I’ve really seen how government isn’t working for everyday workers in Georgia, and we’re missing voices that are really going to fight for working people,” said Sanchez, who said he also wants to represent Hispanic voters in Georgia. southern Cobb County.

He also actively opposed the creation of a new public safety training center in Atlanta, nicknamed “Cop City” by his detractors.

Anulewicz said she will look for other ways to continue working for Georgians and her community.

“My service to my community has helped make Georgia a more just and humane society, and I will always be proud of that,” Anulewicz said in a statement.

Kahaian may be more right-wing than Daniel, who had focused on children and family issues as the mother of a young son, Zane, whom she often brought to the Capitol. Kahaian first gained attention by working to make it easier for parents to challenge textbooks they deemed inappropriate. She also actively participated in Republican efforts to change voting laws after the 2020 election.

Daniel said she felt Kahaian unfairly tried to run his race on national issues, saying low-turnout party primaries could contribute to a polarized legislature.

“I think it’s a mistake to nationalize a local seat like this, because I don’t think that’s how you serve anyone,” Daniel said.

Kahaian did not respond to a phone call or text message seeking comment Wednesday.

At least two former lawmakers could return to the Capitol’s golden dome. Floyd Griffin, a former state senator and mayor of Milledgeville, won a Democratic primary in House District 149, covering parts of Baldwin, Bibb and Jones counties. He will face Republican incumbent Ken Vance in November in a district that was redrawn to give him a black majority. And Valencia Stovall, a former House member, will run in the Democratic runoff in state Senate District 34, an open majority-Black seat that covers parts of Clayton and Fayette counties.

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