The 2022 Georgia Secretary of State election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the Secretary of State of Georgia . Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger won re-election to a second term. Raffensperger emerged as a major national figure in early January, 2021 when he faced significant pressure from then-President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia . Trump had been taped in a phone call asking Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes," the exact number needed for Trump to carry the state.[ 1] The party primary elections took place on May 24, with runoffs scheduled for June 21.
Raffensperger was elected in 2018 to a first term in a runoff against Democratic former U.S. representative John Barrow , the first time in Georgia history that any statewide executive election went to a second round.
Eliminated in primary [ edit ]
Jody Hice
U.S. Executive Branch officials
U.S. Representatives
Organizations
David Belle Isle
County commissioners
Mayors
Tommy Allegood, Mayor of Acworth [ 13]
Keith Brady, Mayor of Newnan [ 13]
Allen Brown, Mayor of Hinesville [ 13]
Jimmy Burnette, Mayor of Suwanee [ 13]
Danny Dunagan, Mayor of Gainesville [ 13]
Steve Edwards, Mayor of Sugar Hill [ 13]
Steve Fry, Mayor of Williamson [ 13]
Jimmy Gilvin, Mayor of Alpharetta [ 13]
Kevin Gowen, Mayor of Tunnel Hill [ 13]
Alan Hallman, Mayor of Hapeville [ 13]
Douglas Hollberg, Mayor of Griffin [ 13]
Joe Lockwood, Mayor of Milton [ 13]
Steve Miller, Mayor of Holly Springs [ 13]
Robert Price, Mayor of Locust Grove [ 13]
Shirley Sessions, Mayor of Tybee Island [ 13]
Julie Smith, Mayor of Tifton [ 13]
Jim Still, Mayor of Mountain Park [ 13]
Jim Thorton, Mayor of LaGrange [ 13]
Randy Toms, former Mayor of Warner Robins [ 13]
Mike Young, Mayor of McRae-Helena [ 13]
City councilors
2022 Georgia Secretary of State Republican primary election debates
No.
Date
Organizer
P Participant A Absent (invited) I Invited N Not invited
Source
David Belle Isle
Jody Hice
T.J. Hudson
Brad Raffensperger
1
May 2, 2022
Atlanta Press Club,Georgia Public Broadcasting
P
P
P
P
[ 14]
Campaign finance reports as of April 30, 2022
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Brad Raffensperger (R)
$1,683,799
$1,372,857
$310,941
Jody Hice (R)
$2,221,750
$1,781,490
$440,260
David Belle Isle (R)
$479,175
$476,319
$2,855
Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission[ 15]
Graphical summary
Primary results map by county: 30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
Despite opinion polls suggesting a tight race between Brad Raffensperger and Jody Hice as well as Trump's endorsement of Hice, Raffensperger ultimately won the primary election with a 19-point margin over Hice and avoided a potential runoff by winning an outright majority of the vote. This has been attributed to Hice's insufficient name recognition across the state and crossover voting in Georgia's open primary system where some Democratic voters voted in the Republican primary to vote against "Trump-backed extremists" like Hice.[ 16] [ 17]
Raffensperger performed best in the Atlanta metropolitan area , while Hice performed best in Georgia's 10th congressional district , where he served as a U.S. representative; only five counties outside the district are won by Hice. The only county to not be won by either Raffensperger or Hice is Treutlen County , Hudson's home county, which he won with 76.42% of the vote.[ 18]
Eliminated in runoff [ edit ]
Eliminated in initial primary [ edit ]
Manswell Peterson, former college professor[ 24]
Michael Owens
Statewide officials
State senators
Organizations
Bee Nguyen
State senators
State representatives
Stacey Abrams , former state representative from the 89th district (2007–2017), nominee for Governor in 2018 and 2022 and founder of Fair Fight Action (endorsed in runoff) [ 28]
Jasmine Clark , state representative from the 108th district (2019–present)[ 27]
Shelly Hutchinson , state representative from the 107th district (2019–present)[ 27]
Gregg Kennard , state representative from the 102nd district (2019–present)[ 27]
Marvin Lim , state representative from the 99th district (2021–present)[ 27]
Pedro Marin , state representative from the 96th district (2003–present)[ 27]
Dewey McClain , state representative from the 100th district (2013–present)[ 27]
Donna McLeod , state representative from the 105th district (2019–present)[ 27]
Rebecca Mitchell , state representative from the 106th district (2021–present)[ 27]
Beth Moore , state representative from the 95th district (2019–present)[ 27]
Sam Park , state representative from the 101st district (2017–present)[ 27]
Local officials
Organizations
2022 Georgia Secretary of State Democratic primary election debates
No.
Date
Organizer
P Participant A Absent (invited) I Invited N Not invited
Source
Dee Dawkins-Haigler
John Eaves
Floyd Griffin
Bee Nguyen
Michael Owens
1
May 2, 2022
Atlanta Press Club,Georgia Public Broadcasting
P
P
P
P
P
[ 33]
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
Dee Dawkins-Haigler
John Eaves
Floyd Griffin
Bee Nguyen
Michael Owens
Manswell Peterson
Undecided
SurveyUSA
April 22–27, 2022
549 (LV)
± 5.1%
7%
7%
6%
12%
9%
–
60%
Emerson College
April 1–3, 2022
509 (LV)
± 4.3%
13%
14%
4%
7%
5%
0%
57%
Initial primary results map by county: 20–30%
30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
20–30%
30–40%
40–50%
70–80%
Runoff primary results map by county: 50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
>90%
Nguyen/Dawkins-Haigler tie
Libertarian primary [ edit ]
Bee Nguyen (D)
U.S. executive branch officials
State senators
State representatives
Stacey Abrams , former state representative from the 89th district (2007–2017), nominee for Governor in 2018 and 2022 and founder of Fair Fight Action [ 28]
Jasmine Clark , state representative from the 108th district (2019–present)[ 27]
Shelly Hutchinson , state representative from the 107th district (2019–present)[ 27]
Gregg Kennard , state representative from the 102nd district (2019–present)[ 27]
Marvin Lim , state representative from the 99th district (2021–present)[ 27]
Pedro Marin , state representative from the 96th district (2003–present)[ 27]
Dewey McClain , state representative from the 100th district (2013–present)[ 27]
Donna McLeod , state representative from the 105th district (2019–present)[ 27]
Rebecca Mitchell , state representative from the 106th district (2021–present)[ 27]
Beth Moore , state representative from the 95th district (2019–present)[ 27]
Sam Park , state representative from the 101st district (2017–present)[ 27]
Local officials
Organizations
Graphical summary
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
BradRaffensperger (R)
Bee Nguyen (D)
Ted Metz (L)
Other
Undecided
Landmark Communications
November 4–7, 2022
1,214 (LV)
± 2.8%
48%
40%
6%
–
6%
SurveyUSA
September 30 – October 4, 2022
1,076 (LV)
± 3.7%
39%
36%
–
7%
18%
University of Georgia
September 5–16, 2022
861 (LV)
± 3.3%
50%
31%
6%
–
13%
Phillips Academy
August 3–7, 2022
971 (RV)
± 3.1%
50%
34%
–
–
16%
SurveyUSA
July 21–24, 2022
604 (LV)
± 5.3%
40%
33%
–
7%
20%
University of Georgia
July 14–22, 2022
902 (LV)
± 3.3%
46%
32%
7%
–
15%
By congressional district [ edit ]
Raffensperger won 9 of 14 congressional districts.[ 43]
^ a b c Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
^ Amy, Jeff; Superville, Darlene; Brumback, Kate (January 3, 2021). "Trump, on tape, presses Ga. official to 'find' him votes" . Associated Press . Retrieved March 22, 2021 .
^ Murphy, Patricia; Bluestein, Greg; Mitchell, Tia (May 19, 2021). "The Jolt: Brad Raffensperger: 'Yes, I'm running again' " . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved May 19, 2021 .
^ Levine, Sam, He became a hero for halting Trump’s efforts to overturn the election. Will voters now punish him? , The Guardian, May 19, 2022
^ Bluestein, Greg (March 22, 2021). "Hice launches challenge to Raffensperger in race for secretary of state" . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2021 .
^ Bluestein, Greg (April 20, 2021). "Georgia 2022: Probate judge challenges Raffensperger in GOP race" . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved April 20, 2021 .
^ Williams, Dave (March 23, 2021). "Republicans Jody Hice, David Belle Isle announce primary challenges to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger" . Gwinnett Daily Post . Retrieved April 4, 2021 .
^ Haberman, Maggie (March 22, 2021). "Trump Endorses a Loyalist, Jody Hice, for Georgia Secretary of State" . The New York Times . Retrieved March 22, 2021 .
^ Lauren Souther (March 22, 2021). "Hice begins raking in endorsements for SOS" . FYN .
^ Russell Berman (July 12, 2021). "Trump's Revenge Begins in Georgia" . The Atlantic .
^ "Candidates - America First Secretary of State Coalition" . americafirstsos.com . November 26, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2022 .
^ Walters, Ian. "The American Conservative Union (ACU) today announced its endorsement of Jody Hice for Secretary of State in Georgia" . American Conservative Union . Retrieved June 26, 2022 .
^ "GOA Endorses Jody Hice of Secretary of State in the Peach State" . Gun Owners of America . December 1, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Yeomans, Curt (August 12, 2021). "Mayors of Suwanee, Sugar Hill reportedly backing David Belle Isle's bid to unseat Secretary of State Bard Raffensperger" . www.gwinnettdailypost.com . Gwinnett Daily Post . Retrieved January 6, 2022 .
^ "Georgia Secretary of State Republican Debate | C-SPAN.org" . C-SPAN . Retrieved May 3, 2022 .
^ "Search for Candidates/Campaign Committees" . Georgia Campaign Finance Commission .
^ Waldron, Travis (May 25, 2022). "Brad Raffensperger, Who Blocked Trump From Stealing Georgia, Wins GOP Sec. Of State Race" . HuffPost . Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022 .
^ Peoples, Steve; Kessler, Aaron (May 31, 2022). "Some Democrats voting in GOP contests to block Trump picks" . Associated Press . Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022 .
^ "General Primary/Special Election - Official & Complete Results" . GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE. May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022 .
^ "General Primary/Special Election - Official & Complete Results" . GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE. May 24, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^ Fausset, Richard (May 4, 2021). "Bee Nguyen, Georgia Democrat, Enters Race for Secretary of State" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022 .
^ "Who is running for office in the Athens elections + what races are on the ballot in 2022" .
^ "Former Fulton County Chairman John Eaves announces campaign for Georgia Secretary of State" . Fox 5 Atlanta . June 2, 2021.
^ a b Bluestein, Greg (September 22, 2021). "Democrat Owens launches bid to be Georgia's top election official" . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021 .
^ Fletcher, Carlton (April 3, 2021). "Albany's Manswell Peterson kicks off Georgia secretary of state campaign" . The Albany Herald . Retrieved April 4, 2021 .
^ a b Johnson, Larry (January 20, 2022). "Michael Owens Lines Up Endorsements For Secretary Of State Race" . www.cobbcountycourier.com/ . Cobb County Courier . Retrieved May 1, 2022 .
^ "In endorsement news" . www.ajc.com . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . April 1, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Yeomans, Curt (December 9, 2021). "Seventeen elected officials endorse state Rep. Bee Nguyen's secretary of state bid" . www.gwinnettdailypost.com . Gwinnett Daily Post . Retrieved January 6, 2022 .
^ a b "Stacey Abrams releases endorsements in Georgia Democratic runoffs" . FOX 5 Atlanta . June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022 .
^ a b "EMILY's List Endorses Two Candidates for Statewide Office in Georgia" . EMILY's List . December 9, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2022 .
^ a b "End Citizens United backs Jordan, Nguyen for Georgia offices" . www.ajc.com . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . December 16, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022 .
^ a b "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Georgia State Representative Bee Nguyen for Secretary of State" . www.prochoiceamerica.org . December 7, 2021.
^ a b "People For Proudly Announces Its Endorsement of Bee Nguyen, Candidate for Georgia Secretary of State" (Press release). Washington, DC: People For the American Way . May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021 .
^ Fowler, Stephen (May 3, 2022). "Democrats offer vision for elections in secretary of state primary debate" . Georgia Public Broadcasting . Retrieved May 3, 2022 .
^ "General Primary/Special Election - Official & Complete Results" . GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE. May 24, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^ "General Primary/Special Election Runoff - Official & Complete Results" . June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022 .
^ Melton, Elizabeth (January 17, 2022). "Press Release: Libertarian Party of Georgia Makes History at 2022 Convention with Full Slate of Statewide Candidates" . Retrieved February 24, 2022 .
^ "Secretary of State and Attorney General: What to Watch for Next Week in Key Statewide Contests" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022 .
^ Solomon, Zack (November 7, 2022). "Elections Daily Secretary of State Ratings" . Elections Daily . Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ Montellaro, Zach. "Kinzinger endorses Dems in major governor, secretary of state races" . POLITICO . Retrieved October 11, 2022 .
^ "Obama urges Georgians to turn out for Democrats" . October 31, 2022.
^ "2022 Endorsements - Georgia Equality PAC" . georgiaequalitypac.org . Georgia Equality .
^ "Secretary of State - November 8, 2022 General Election" . Georgia Secretary of State . November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022 .
^ @DrewSav (March 24, 2023). "Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger easily won reelection last year and had the best performance of any statewide Republican in the Peach State" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
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