Updated July 17, 2019
Political
Ratings
| Cook Rating | Likely Republican |
| Inside Elections | Lean Republican |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Leans Republican |
Electoral History
2018
| Gov. | Republican:: Kemp | Republican:: 50.22% | Republican:: R+1.39 |
| Democrat:: Abrams | 48.83% |
2016
| Pres. | Republican:: Trump | Republican:: 51.05% | Republican:: R+5.16 |
| Democrat:: Clinton | 45.89% | ||
| Sen. | Republican:: Isakson | Republican:: 54.80% | Republican:: R+13.76 |
| Democrat:: Barksdale | 41.04% |
2014
| Gov | Republican:: Deal | Republican:: 52.75% | Republican:: R+7.86 |
| Democrat:: Carter | 44.89% | ||
| Sen. | Republican:: Perdue | Republican:: 52.89% | Republican:: R+7.82 |
| Democrat:: Nunn | 42.21% |
2012
| Pres. | Republican:: Romney | Republican:: 53.33% | Republican:: R+7.82 |
| Democrat:: Obama | 45.51% |
2010
| Gov. | Republican:: Deal | Republican:: 53% | Republican:: R+10 |
| Democrat:: Barnes | 43% | ||
| Sen. | Republican:: Isakson | Republican:: 58.3% | Republican:: R+19.3 |
| Democrat:: Thurmond | 39% |
(Election Results & Statistics, Georgia Secretary Of State, Accessed 5/1/19)
Important Dates
Presidential Primary
Presidential Primary Voter Registration Deadline: February 24, 2020
Advanced In Person Early Voting Begins: March 2, 2020
Presidential Primary Election: March 24, 2020
Federal Primary
Primary Voter Registration Deadline: April 20, 2020
Candidate Filing Period: March 2 – March 6, 2020
Advanced In Person Early Voting Begins: April 27, 2020
Primary Election: May 19, 2020
Federal Primary Runoff (if needed)
Primary Voter Registration Deadline: June 22, 2020
Primary Runoff Election: July 21, 2020
General Election
Voter Registration Deadline: October 5, 2020
Advanced In Person Early Voting Begins: October 12, 2020
General Election: November 3, 2020
(2020 State Elections & Voter Registration Calendar, Georgia Secretary of State)
Recent Polling
Morning Consult Approval Ratings
| DATE | INCUMBENT | APPROVE | DISAPPROVE | NO OPINION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2019 | Republican:: Perdue (R) | 47% | 25% | 29% |
Candidates
Republicans
Sen. David Perdue (R) – Incumbent
David Perdue is Georgia’s junior U.S. Senator, first elected in November 2014. Perdue serves on the Armed Services and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committees as well as the Budget Committee and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. After graduating from Georgia Tech in 1976, Perdue began working as a management consultant. Perdue has over 40 years of business experience and has served as the CEO of both Reebok and Dollar General.
Derrick Grayson (R)
Campaign Website – Facebook
Derrick Grayson is a perennial candidate and self-styled “Minister of Truth.” Having run unsuccessful bids for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and 2016, Grayson recently created a 2020 Facebook group to run for Senate. He has worked as a senior network engineer at Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority since 2002 and is a Navy veteran.
Democrats
Teresa Tomlinson (D)
Teresa Tomlinson is the former mayor of Columbus, GA, serving from 2011 until 2019. Prior to serving in public office, Tomlinson worked as a litigation attorney at Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison and Norwood, LLP in Atlanta for sixteen years, where she eventually became an equity partner. Tomlinson also served as the Executive Director of Midtown, Inc., a community renewal nonprofit. In April 2019, Tomlinson officially announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate.
Akhenaten Amun (D)
Akhenaten Amun is a teacher at Stockbridge High School who ran for lieutenant governor in 2018. Amun has registered a campaign committee with the FEC but has not filed any paperwork.
Marckeith DeJesus (D)
Marckeith DeJesus is a former candidate for the Georgia State Senate (2017) and House (2016). He has worked as a financial counseling supervisor at Northside Hospital since 2013. DeJesus has registered a campaign committee with the FEC but has not filed any paperwork.
Ted Terry (D)
Ted Terry has served as the mayor of Clarkston, GA , since 2014. In addition to serving as mayor, Terry worked as the state campaign director for the Georgia AFL-CIO (2015-16) and is the Georgia chapter director of the Sierra Club (2016-present). Earlier in his career, Terry worked as a consultant for a wide array of nonprofits, state representatives, state senators, mayors, county commissioners, school board members and a U.S. Congressman. Terry announced his candidacy in July 2019.
- Notable Info: Terry was featured in an episode of the Netflix show, “Queer Eye.”
Teresa Tomlinson (D)
Teresa Tomlinson is the former mayor of Columbus, GA, serving from 2011 until 2019. Prior to serving in public office, Tomlinson worked as a litigation attorney at Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison and Norwood, LLP in Atlanta for sixteen years, where she eventually became an equity partner. Tomlinson also served as the Executive Director of Midtown, Inc., a community renewal nonprofit. In April 2019, Tomlinson officially announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate.
Elaine Whigham Williams (D)
Campaign Website – N/A
Elaine Whigham Williams is an ordained minister who ran a small presidential campaign in 2016. She has worked in the insurance industry since 1998. Williams has registered a campaign committee with the FEC but has not filed any paperwork.
Possible Candidates
Sarah Riggs Amico (D) – Sarah Riggs Amico is the Executive Chairperson of Jack Cooper Holdings Corp., North America’s largest car haul company. Prior to working at Jack Cooper, Amico worked as the Head of Strategic Planning at APA Talent and Literary Agency in Beverly Hills, CA. In 2018, Amico ran an unsuccessful bid to become Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor. In April 2019, Amico announced she would be conducting a statewide tour to determine if she will run for Senate. Several news outlets, including The Atlanta Journal Constitution, have speculated that she will enter the race. In July 2019, Amico
Jason Carter (D) – Jason Carter is the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter. From 2010 to 2015 he served in the Georgia State Senate, and he was the 2014 Democratic Nominee for Governor of Georgia. He is currently a partner at Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP. The Atlanta Journal Constitution listed Carter as a possible candidate but noted that his entrance into the race was doubtful.
Scott Holcomb (D) – Scott Holcomb is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and serves on several committees including Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Defense and Veterans Affairs. Holcomb has practiced law since 1998 and is a founding parter of Holcomb & Ward LLP. In April 2019, The Atlanta Journal Constitution listed Holcomb as a possible candidate but noted that his entrance into the race was doubtful.
Matt Lieberman (D) – Matt Lieberman is the son of former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman and owner of Compass Benefits, a group benefits and insurance company. Lieberman is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School and was the founder of one of the nation’s first homelessness voucher programs in New Haven. In 2000, he was an adviser and surrogate to the Gore-Lieberman campaign. In 2018, he wrote a book called “Lucius,” which focused on race and friendship in the South. In July 2019, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Lieberman was seriously considering a Senate bid, telling friends that he’s “fed up” with Sen. Perdue.
Michelle Nunn (D) – Michelle Nunn is the daughter of former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn and ran for Senate against Perdue in 2014. She currently serves as the President and CEO of CARE USA, an “international-development agency working around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice.” In April 2019, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Nunn’s allies were encouraging her to consider a run.
Jon Ossoff (D) – Jon Ossoff is best known as the Democratic candidate for the 2017 special election in Georgia’s 6th District. Although he lost the election, Ossoff built an impressive fundraising list which he used to help Georgia Democrats in 2018. Prior to running for Congress, Ossoff was a congressional aide and investigative filmmaker. Ossoff has been holding town hall meetings and has also intensified his criticism of Sen. Perdue recently. Following the announcement that Stacey Abrams would not run, Ossoff said he would “take a look” at pursuing the Democratic nomination.
Raphael Warnock (D) – Raphael Warnock is the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, the historic Atlanta church that was once led by Martin Luther King Jr, and a civil rights activist. Warnock also chairs Stacy Abrams’ voter registration organization, the New Georgia Project. In April 2019, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Warnock has not ruled out a bid but state Democratic officials say it’s unlikely.
Fundraising
2019 Q2 Report
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash On Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican:: Perdue (R) | $1,908,177 | $327,485 | $4,862,783 |
| Democrat:: Tomlinson (D) | $550,986 | $197,638 | $353,348 |
2019 Q1 Report
| CANDIDATE | RAISED | CASH ON HAND |
|---|---|---|
| Republican:: Perdue (R) | $1.78M | $3.28M |
2018 Year-End Report
| CANDIDATE | RAISED | CASH ON HAND |
|---|---|---|
| Republican:: Perdue (D) | $546K | $1.7M |
Recent News
July 2019
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Tomlinson’s Fundraising Total Could Give Rival Ga. Democrats An Opening” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/24/19)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Clarkston’s ‘Millennial Mayor’ Enters Senate Race In Georgia” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/10/19)
Macon Telegraph: “Perdue Has $4.9 Million In The Bank As More Georgia Democrats Join 2020 U.S. Senate Race” (Macon Telegraph, 7/13/19)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The Jolt: Son Of Joe Lieberman Contemplates A Run For U.S. Senate In Georgia” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/15/19)
The Hill: “GOP Senator: ‘Outrageous’ To Say Trump’s Tweets About Dem Congresswomen Are Racist” (The Hill, 7/15/19)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Georgia 2020: Amico Files Paperwork To Explore Senate Bid” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/15/19)
June 2019
Flagpole: “Senate Candidate Teresa Tomlinson Says Trump Should Be Impeached” (Flagpole, 6/9/19)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Georgia 2020: Amico Preps Likely Run For US Senate” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/14/19)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “How Georgia Has Become A Training Ground For 2020 Operatives” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/24/19)
May 2019
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer: “Former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson Formally Announces 2020 U.S. Senate Bid” (Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 5/1/19)
The Washington Free Beacon: “Ossoff: ‘I’ll Take A Look’ At Running For Senate In Georgia” (The Washington Free Beacon, 5/6/19)
The Washington Free Beacon: “Georgia Democratic Senate Candidate Opposed To Abortion Law Said In 2010 Life Began At Conception” (The Washington Free Beacon, 5/14/19)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Capitol Recap: Trump-Backed PAC Makes Georgia A Priority” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/17/19)
The Hill: “Former Georgia Candidate ‘Seriously Considering’ 2020 Senate Bid” (The Hill, 5/20/19)
April 2019
Stacey Abrams said that running for president was “probably third on the list” of her potential future bids for office, behind running for the US Senate or seeking a gubernatorial rematch, CNN reports. (CNN, 4/4/19)
CBS-Columbus reported that former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson is moving closer to a possible Democratic run next year for U.S. Senate. Earlier this week, Tomlinson was in Washington D.C. and met with Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto. (CBS-Columbus, 4/4/19)
- Teresa Tomlinson (D-GA), the former mayor of Columbus, filed to create an exploratory committee with the FEC for a possible U.S. Senate run. Despite the creation of the committee, Tomlinson has continued to express support for Stacey Abrams, who is still considering whether to run for Senate. Tomlinson’s new committee allows her to begin fundraising and building a campaign apparatus to be ready to officially run should Abrams pass on the race. (Politico, 4/5/19)
A new poll from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that Stacey Abrams approval ratings had dipped since January. 52% of those surveyed had positive views of her in January. That number dropped to 45% and her unfavorable rating grew from 40% to 45%. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/11/19)
- The same poll showed Sen. David Perdue, with about the same approval rating as he did in January, with 47% of Georgia voters rating him favorably, compared with 45 percent at the beginning of the year. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/11/19)
Stacey Abrams said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has been “relentless but thoughtful” as he’s tried to persuade the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate to run for Senate next year. (The Hill, 4/12/19)
Sen. David Perdue’s (R-GA) campaign was fined $30,000 for FEC violations from his first Senate campaign in 2014. (The Associated Press, 4/19/19)
Stacey Abrams decided against running for the Senate from Georgia in 2020, CNN reports. (CNN, 4/30/19)
- CBS-Columbus: “Abrams Out, Tomlinson All In For 2020 U.S. Senate Bid Against Perdue” (CBS-Columbus, 4/30/19)
A poll released by the DSCC found that 41% of general election voters view Sen. David Perdue favorably, compared to 30% unfavorably, and 29% didn’t know or had no opinion. The poll also showed that Democrats have a slim lead on a generic ballot for Senate, with 42% support for an unnamed Democratic candidate, versus 40% for an unnamed Republican candidate. (Politico, 4/30/19
March 2019
Democrat Stacey Abrams met last Friday with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is trying to recruit her to run for the Senate next year, The Washington Post reports. (The Washington Post, 3/22/19)
February 2019
The Hill: “Democratic Donors Say They Hope Stacey Abrams Runs For Senate” (The Hill, 2/4/19)
Georgia Public Broadcasting reports that former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is “strongly considering” a potential run for Senate in 2020. (Georgia Public Broadcasting, 2/12/19)
January 2019
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Stacy Abrams (D-GA) is giving herself until the end of March to make up her mind about her next political move. (The Atlanta Journal Constitution, 1/9/19)
Politico reports that Democrat Stacey Abrams met with top Democratic leaders in Washington last week and is reportedly mulling a potential Senate campaign next year. (Politico, 1/11/19)
Stacey Abrams has been tapped by the Democrats to deliver their response to the State of the Union address next week, The Washington Post reports. (The Washington Post, 1/29/19)
ABC News: “Who Is Stacey Abrams, The Democrat Who Will Respond To Trump’s State Of The Union?” (ABC News, 1/30/19)
Politico reports that a group of veteran Republican operatives have set up a new super PAC, the Georgia Action Fund, to support Sen. David Perdue’s reelection campaign in 2020. Paul Bennecke, the former executive director of the Republican Governors Association, will manage the PAC. (Politico, 1/30/19)