Georgia Judge Andrew Pinson defeats his challenger as two Republicans head into runoffs for an open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

ATLANTA (AP) — An incumbent Georgia state Supreme Court chief justice won an unusually heated election by the standards of the state’s nonpartisan judicial elections, while state voters also advanced a former aide to Donald Trump and a former state Senate majority leader running for office. GOP runoff for open seat in heavily Republican 3rd Congressional District.

Two incumbent Democratic congressional candidates — U.S. Reps. David Scott and Lucy McBath — defeated their primary challengers in metro Atlanta districts that were redrawn by Republicans after redistricting lawsuits.

The parties also chose their candidates for other congressional and state legislative seats and for local offices, including sheriffs, district attorneys, and county commissioners.

The runoff will take place on June 18 in races where candidates did not obtain a majority.

Here’s a look at the key races:

STATE SUPREME COURT

Georgia State Supreme Court Justice Andrew Pinson overcame opposition from former U.S. Rep. John Barrow in the general election for judicial nominees, who are running without party labels.

Pinson, 37, won a six-year term after Gov. Brian Kemp appointed him to the nine-member court in 2022. Barrow, 69, made support for abortion rights central to his campaign . Pinson said discussing certain issues would weaken confidence in his ability to judge fairly, and he cautioned against making judicial campaigns too political.

“Tonight, Georgia voters expressed their desire for a fair and impartial justice system,” Pinson said in a statement.

Kemp and other conservatives stepped in to help Pinson in a race that was soured by the usually sleepy standards of Georgia’s judicial elections. Barrow unsuccessfully sued in federal court, claiming a state judicial agency was violating his free speech rights. The agency warned Barrow that his assertion that Georgians have the right to abortion under the state constitution could violate judicial ethics. Barrow, in a statement after his defeat, said he remained committed to his view that the Georgia Constitution protects the right to abortion.

“The people who have spoken on the issue of abortion rights agree with me, and so the issue remains to be decided, first by the Supreme Court and ultimately by the people,” Barrow said in a communicated.

Justices Michael Boggs, John Ellington and Nels Peterson faced no opposition. Six judges on the Georgia Court of Appeals are also unopposed, while Jeff Davis beat Tabitha Ponder for an open seat on the court.

3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Former Donald Trump aide Brian Jack and former Georgia state Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan advanced to runoff for GOP nomination in 3rd Congressional District of Georgia, south and west of Atlanta.

Jack also worked for former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy. He leveraged the support of Trump and his Washington contacts to raise money during his first election campaign. On the stump, Jack emphasized his close ties to Trump at every opportunity.

“We are excited to share our message and develop our campaign even further over the coming weeks,” Jack said in a statement.

Dugan highlighted Republican legislative accomplishments while he was in office, including cutting taxes, imposing strict restrictions on abortion, reducing the time to request an absentee ballot and limiting ballot drop boxes.

“Mike is all in,” said spokeswoman Jen Talaber Ryan. “His proven track record and deep roots in the community make him the best voice and strongest choice for West Georgians.” »

The seat is open because Republican U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson is stepping down after four terms. The Republican candidate will be the favorite in a heavily Republican district south and west of Atlanta in November, facing Democratic primary winner Maura Keller.

13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Scott defeated six Democratic primary opponents to advance to the general election as he seeks a 12th term in Congress in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District that was significantly reconfigured in a new map.

Challengers attacked Scott, 78, calling him too old and out of touch with reality, but those claims never gained traction with voters. Scott said in March he was seeking another term to improve funding for historically black colleges such as Fort Valley State University and to provide more aid to struggling homeowners.

Among the Scotts main opponents were Marcus Flowers, who raised $17 million to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in another district in 2022, and Karen René, a former East Point City Council member. Scott will face Republican primary winner Jonathan Chavez in November.

6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

McBath defeated two Democratic primary challengers to clinch the nomination in his second new district in two years.

She defeated Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson and state Rep. Mandisha Thomas, who both said they could better represent the new 6th District. Republican lawmakers drew the district, which stretches around the west side of the Atlanta metro area, after a court ordered new maps to address discrimination against black voters.

Republican Jeff Criswell will oppose it in November.

McBath was first elected in 2018 in a district that covered Atlanta’s northern suburbs. After a new map in 2022 added more Republicans to that district, McBath jumped to a district that included parts of Gwinnett and Fulton counties. There, she defeated fellow Democratic incumbent Carolyn Bourdeaux in a primary.

McBath, whose son was shot, has made gun control and reducing gun violence his primary goal. She also says she wants to work on reducing health care disparities in another term.

“On two occasions, extremist Georgia Republicans attempted to bend the rules and force me out of Congress,” McBath said in a statement. “Twice, Georgians stood with me and voted overwhelmingly to send me to Congress. »

2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Two years ago, The Republicans hoped they were fortunate to defeat Democratic incumbent Sanford Bishop Jr., who served 16 terms in southwest Georgia’s 2nd District. But the bishop won this election easily. Now, two more Republicans will run in the runoff hoping to take a chance on a bishop, who was unopposed in the Democratic vote.

Wayne Johnson of Macon and Chuck Hand of Butler advance to the runoff. Johnson was a U.S. Department of Education official under Trump and finished third in the Republican primary two years ago. Hand is a Taylor County Republican Party official and construction superintendent who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for illegally protesting at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. , 2021. He was sentenced to 20 days in federal prison and six months of probation.

Johnson and Hand defeated Michael Nixon of Thomasville, a hospital purchasing executive and Air Force veteran, and Regina “Reggie” Liparoto of Columbus, a longtime conservative activist.

14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Two Democrats from northwest Georgia’s 14th District will compete for the right to challenge the Republican incumbent. Marjorie Taylor Greenewhich has no GOP opposition.

Consultant Clarence Blalock, of Hiram, and retired Army Gen. Shawn Harris, of Cedartown, advance to the runoff. They beat out sales manager Deric Houston, of Dallas, and sales manager Joseph Leigh, of Rossville. Harris has raised by far the most money of the four.

For most candidates, the main issue is their distaste for Greene, a top Trump ally who recently failed in her bid to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson. The winner will have a tough fight in a heavily Republican district. Two years ago, Democrat Marcus Flowers raised more than $16 million to challenge Greene, but still lost heavily.

OTHER RACES

Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, the only other incumbent facing a major challenge, defeated retired banker and longtime Republican activist Lori Marie Pesta and retired airline pilot Mike Pons in the 11th Congressional District northwest of Atlanta. Kate Stamper won the Democratic nomination against Antonio Daza.

Democrats have chosen Darrius Butler to challenge Republican incumbent Austin Scott in south-central Georgia’s 8th District. In northeast Georgia’s 10th District, they chose Lexy Doherty to challenge incumbent Mike Collins. And Democrat Elizabeth Johnson will face Republican incumbent Rick Allen for a third time in the 12th District around Augusta.