Sally’s Runoff Recommendations
2026 Run-Off Recommendations
2026 Run-Off Recommendations
Don’t let the runoff elections slip past your busy summer schedule! This Saturday, June 6th, kicks off early voting and election day is June 16th -- your last day to vote. Since this is a runoff, there is only one week of early voting.
If you’re like me, some of your first picks did not win, or they are in a runoff because they didn’t make the over 50% threshold. In that case, you have more decisions to make before you head to the polls. This “Senate Snapshot” is here to help you!
I believe my colleague Josh McLaurin is the best suited candidate for the position of Lt. Governor. In the Senate, he demonstrated remarkable rhetorical skills that convinced Republicans to abandon party-line votes in favor of policy that supported human justice. Since the Senate will likely remain Republican, for a Democratic Lt. Governor to have any voice at all we need the kind of negotiating skills Josh McLaurin possesses.
So here are my recommendations:
1) Josh McLaurin for Lt. Governor,
2) Dana Barrett for Secretary of State, and
3) DeAndre Mathis for Insurance Commissioner.
The Labor Commissioner race is a tough call. Nikki Porcher has been recommended by several of my State Senate Colleagues, but I believe Michelle “Michi” Sanchez is also a very good candidate.
If you happen to live in DeKalb Board of Education, District 4, I recommend Sonja Payne Szubski.
For your sample ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page”.
Here’s a Bit of History
Prior to 1945, Georgia did not elect a Lt. Governor. Instead, members of the State Senate elected their own President (sure wish we still did that), who then became Governor in the unlikely event that the Governor died while in office, or was removed. Georgia’s constitution was amended in 1945 to create the Office of the Lt. Governor, who would lead the State Senate in addition to serving as a back-up for the Governor. But in Georgia, these positions are not linked as running-mates as they are federally. When I served in the Georgia House in 2002, we actually elected a Republican Governor and a Democratic Lt. Governor!
Looking Ahead
The day after the Runoff Election, the Georgia General Assembly will gavel-in on Wednesday, June 17th for a Special Session called by the Governor. Sadly, redistricting is once again on the agenda following the US Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision. Also on the agenda is dealing with Georgia’s law regarding the use of QR codes to count ballots, since this was never resolved during the regular legislative session. In addition, the Governor recently added a few more agenda items to “fix” sloppy legislation that passed during the regular session. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks. For now, go vote!
NCSL Policy Meeting
Last week I joined five other states at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) for a policy meeting on Maternal and Child Health. As part of the Georgia team, I helped create a state plan for addressing Georgia’s high rate of maternal mortality.