State Sen. Nan Orrock marched in the rain at the Atlanta Pride parade. (Photo by Bo Shell)
MORE INFO Gay political group endorsements for state legislative races Georgia Equality Incumbents: Sen. Ed Harbison (D-Columbus) Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale) Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) Sen. Horacena Tate (D-Atlanta) Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) Rep. Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta) Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta) Rep. Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta) Rep. Virgil Fludd (D-Tyrone) Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Atlanta) Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) Rep. Ernest “Coach” Williams (D-Avondale) Rep. Howard Mosby (D-Atlanta) Rep. Pam Stephenson (D-Lithonia) Rep. Pedro “Pete” Marin (D-Duluth) Rep. Dee Dawkins Haigler (D-Lithonia) Challengers: Senate District 2 Kevin Clark (D-Savannah) House District 55 Rashad Taylor (D-Atlanta) House District 61 Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) House District 65 Sandra Hardy (D-Fairburn) House District 91 Rita Robinzine (D-Ellenwood) House District 95 George Wilson (D-Stone Mountain) Atlanta Stonewall Democrats Incumbents: Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta) Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Atlanta) Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D-Lithonia) Rep. Pedro “Pete” Marin (D-Duluth) Challengers: Senate District 47 Tim Riley (D-Athens) House District 2 Sadie Morgan (D-Rossville) House District 35 Earl Giddens (D-Mableton) House District Jason Adams (D-Kennesaw) House District 55 Joel Alvarado (D-Atlanta) House District 61 Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) House District 65 Lewanna Heard (D-East Point) House District Allan Burns (D-Lilburn) Georgia Log Cabin Republicans Incumbents: Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta) Rep. Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta)
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Jul 11, 2008  |  By: MATT SCHAFER  | COMMENTS |   |  

The largest percentage of competitive elections for seats in the state legislature will likely be decided by a small fraction of Georgia voters on July 15.

As the second primary approaches, candidates, incumbents and organizations expect low turnout in the party primary.

“We’re actually very concerned about voter turnout,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, the state’s largest gay political group. “Normally the turnout for the primaries in July is very low anyway, it’s been an average of 22 percent, and with the presidential primaries earlier this year many people think they already voted.”

Because the Georgia General Assembly follows an unofficial policy of creating “safe” districts for incumbents that are either predominately Democratic or Republican, most of the contested races happen during the summer primaries.

“In fact I believe that 82 percent of the races for both the House and the Senate will be determined in the primaries this week, and that’s because there is no opposition candidate in that race in the fall,” Graham said.

As a result, most of Georgia Equality’s endorsements went to Democrats who do not face a Republican in the fall. The gay Atlanta Stonewall Democrats endorsed a number of gay-friendly Democrats facing other Democrats.

“We’re not so concerned about an election in the fall against a Republican, but who is the best Democrat on our issues,” said Jason Cecil, Stonewall treasurer.


RACES TO WATCH

State Senate:

• District 17: Former state Sen. Mike Crotts (R-Covington) seeks to defeat Sen. John Douglas (R-Social Circle) and retake his old post in the Senate. Cro­­tts was the primary sponsor of the 2004 constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Georgia.

• District 36: Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) has held the majority African-American district since 2006 and now faces challenges from two African-American men. Orrock, who helped lead the fight to defeat the marriage amendment in 2004, is facing one man who would have voted for it.

“If a marriage amendment would come up here in Georgia I would vote to protect it,” Eric Underwood said. “We do have something in place that would protect marriage as between a man and a woman, but we should also have something for gays and lesbians. I believe in equality.”

Challenger Andre James did not respond to interview requests. Georgia Equality and Atlanta Stonewall endorsed Orrock.

State House:

• District 59: Both Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta) and challenger Chris Vaughn made appearances at Atlanta Pride as they contest the district that stretches from south of Piedmont Park to Lakewood. Georgia Equality and the Stonewall Democrats endorsed Kaiser. Vaughn said he has supported a number of gay events, and said he would be a more active supporter of gay issues than Kaiser.

• District 65: Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague (D-Red Oak), who crossed caucus lines to vote for the 2004 state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, faces four challengers. Georgia Equality endorsed Sandra Hardy of Fairburn, while Atlanta Stonewall Democrats supports Lewanna Heard of East Point. The Democratic primary also includes conservative pastor Wood Holmes of Fairburn. There is no Republican in the race.

• District 93: Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D-Lithonia) was the first candidate endorsed by Georgia Equality when she won a special election to replace disgraced Rep. Ron Sailor. Georgia Equality believes Dawkins-Haigler will be a strong ally for gay rights if she can beat five challengers in the Democratic Primary. On the July 15 ballot, she faces Malik Douglas, Colet Odenigbo, KaTesha Sagers, Dr. Jim Sendelbach and Traci Waites. Atlanta Stonewall has also endorsed Dawkins-Haigler.