Primaries end with Post Two Commissioner close finish

Primary season came to an end Tuesday, June 16, as Gilmer found out who would be the next Post Two County Commissioner and who would be in the general election.

Democrats have run no candidates for Gilmer’s Post Two Commissioner post, so the Republican primary determined the election winner.

Early election estimates revealed that a total of 5,534 people voted out of Gilmer’s 24,316 eligible voters.

This number is about 24 percent.

Col. Gary Engel won the Post Commissioner Two race, receiving 2,832 votes. This win was a narrow victory, with just 378 votes more than his opponent, Danny Hall.

Engel will hold his seat for the next four years.

While Republican State Senate candidate Philip Milam won in Gilmer County, his opponent Will Wade won the Republican primary for State Senate District 51. He will face Democrat Gary St. Lawrence in the general election.

In state races, the margins for victory are often far larger than the entire population of Gilmer County.

Rick Jackson won the Republican primary for governor, beating Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.

The race between Jones and Jackson was the most expensive Republican primary in Georgia history, with Jackson spending a total of more than $100 million on his campaign.

Jones had endorsements from both President Donald Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. Jackson will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the governor race.

U.S. House Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) won the Republican primary for U.S. Senator, beating Derek Dooley.

Collins also had an endorsement from Trump. Dooley was endorsed by Kemp.

Collins will face incumbent Sen. John Ossoff (D-Ga.) in the general election.

This year’s Senate race in Georgia is especially important for America’s national politics.

According to Ballotpedia, Georgia’s Senate election is a battleground state because it’s highly contested and strategically vital for control of the Senate.

Right now, the U.S. Senate is controlled by the Republican Party. But if Democrats gain four seats, they will get control of it.

Of the Senate seats currently up for election, 20 currently belong to Republicans and 13 belong to Democrats.

In the race for Georgia lieutenant governor, Greg Dolezal won the Republican primary. He will face Democratic primary winner state Sen. Josh McLaurin.

Tim Fleming won the Republican Secretary of State primary. He will face primary winner Democrat Penny Brown Reynolds in November.

Josh Tolbert won the Republican primary for Public Service Commissioner for District Five. He will face a race against Democrat Sheila Edwards and Libertarian Thomas Blooming in November.

Keisha Sean Waites won the Democratic primary for Commissioner of Insurance. She will face incumbent Republican John King.

Richard Woods won the Republican primary race for State School Superintendent. In the general election, he will face Democratic primary winner Lydia Powel.