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Georgia Attorney General election, 2010

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State Attorney General 2010 elections
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Candidates for State Attorney General, 2010


Polls, 2010 State Attorney General elections

2010 Election information
Primary election dates
Statewide elections, 2010
November 2nd General Election results

National Association of Attorneys General

AttyGenLogo.jpg Attorney General news headlines

The Georgia Attorney General election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democrat Thurbert E. Baker announced in April 2009 that he would enter the race for the state's gubernatorial office.[1] A field of two Democrats, three Republicans and one Libertarian formed to compete for his seat.

Cobb County Chairman Samuel S. Olens (Republican) defeated former Dougherty County district attorney Ken Hodges (Democrat) and Don Smart (Libertarian) to claim Baker's seat.

General Election campaign

Candidates

Republican Party Republican Party - Cobb County Chairman Samuel S. Olens
Democratic Party Democratic Party - Former Dougherty County district attorney Ken Hodges
Libertarian Party Libertarian Party - Savannah attorney Don Smart

General election results

2010 Race for Attorney General - General Election[2]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Republican Party Approveda Samuel S. Olens 52.9%
     Democratic Party Ken Hodges 43.6%
     Libertarian Party Don Smart 3.5%
Total Votes 2,551,722

Debate

September 20th - Emory University

Sponsored by the Fulton County Daily Report, all three candidates in the race for state attorney general - Democrat Ken Hodges, Republican Samuel S. Olens, and Libertarian Don Smart - discussed prevalent issues, such as ethics enforcement and the state's Voting Rights Act, at a debate located at the Emory University School of Law on Monday, September 20th.

Endorsements

Ken Hodges

  • Scott Berry, Sheriff of Oconee County[3]
  • Howard “Bo” Callaway, regarded by some as the “father” of the modern Georgia Republican Party[4][5]
  • Ira Edwards, Sheriff of Clarke County[3]
  • Police Benevolent Association of Georgia[6][7]
  • Pete Skandalakis, a highly regarded Republican District Attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit in west central Georgia[8]

Samuel S. Olens

  • National Federation of Independent Business[9][10]

Finances

According to the Georgia State Ethics Commission, as of October 12, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:

Ken Hodges Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
July 1 - September 30, 2010[12] October 7, 2010 $252,133.39 $530,825.00 $4,655.40 $0.00 $379,094.21 $403,864.18
Samuel S. Olens Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
August 4 - September 30, 2010[13] October 7, 2010 $37,576.49 $355,067.38 $2,868.25 $0.00 $106,481.95 $286,161.92

Polling

See also: Polls, 2010 State Attorney General elections
Date of Poll Pollster Samuel S. Olens (R) Ken Hodges (D) Don Smart (L) Undecided Number polled
September 10-12[14] Survey USA 48% 36% 7% 9% 599
October 21-24[15] Survey USA 50% 37% 7% 7% 601

SurveyUSA's first poll, conducted September 10-12, noted that Olens had garnered the support of 43 percent of voters who identified themselves as independents, compared with 25 percent for Hodges and 21 percent for Smart. That trend continued into their second poll, conducted October 21-24.

July 20, 2010 primaries

See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2010; Georgia Secretary of State election, 2010

Donkey symbol.png Democratic primary

Candidates

Electoral results

2010 Race for Attorney General - Democratic Primary[18]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Democratic Party Approveda Ken Hodges 65.5%
     Democratic Party Rob Teilhet 34.5%
Total Votes 338,312

Endorsements

Ken Hodges

Rob Teilhet

Finances

Candidate reporting deadlines of campaign funds for the 2010 state attorney general cycle are as follows:

  • 6 months ending June 30, 2009 - July 7, 2009
  • 6 months ending December 31, 2009 - January 8, 2010
  • 3 months ending March 31, 2010 - April 7, 2010
  • 3 months ending June 30, 2001 - July 8, 2010
  • 6-day Pre Primary Runoff - August 6, 2010
  • 3 months ending September 30, 2001 - October 7, 2010
  • 25 days ending October 25, 2010 - November 2, 2010
  • 6-day Pre General Runoff - November 29, 2010
  • 68 days ending December 31, 2010 - January 11, 2011

While the Office of the Secretary of State retains copies of older campaign finance reports, Georgian law requires candidates make financial and fundraising disclosures with the State Ethics Commission; current master lists of candidates' fundraising and campaign disclosures are available through the Ethics Commission.[49]

Figures taken from quarterly campaign finance reports are given for the major candidates going into the July 20th primary.

According to the Georgia State Ethics Commission, as of July 23, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:

Ken Hodges Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
April 1 - June 30, 2010[50] July 8, 2010 $305,758.61 $264,376.00 $3,571.49 $0.00 $318,001.22 $252,133.39
January 1 - March 31, 2010[51] April 7, 2010 $271,016.48 $167,522.64 $4,914.66 $0.00 $128,675.15 $305,758.61
July 1 - December 31, 2009[52] January 8, 2010 $120,334.36 $230,973.00 $21,008.16 $0.00 $72,345.24 $271,016.48
April 1 - June 30, 2009[53] July 7, 2009 $0.00 $128,280.00 $3,988.55 $0.00 $7,945.64 $120,334.36
Rob Teilhet Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
April 1 - June 30, 2010[54] July 8, 2010 $207,243.22 $186,293.00 $2,452.52 $0.00 $355,275.95 $38,260.27
January 1 - March 31, 2010[55] June 1, 2010 $251,734.40 $12,950.00 $53.35 $0.00 $57,441.18 $207,243.22
July 1 - December 31, 2009[56] March 30, 2010 $185,301.85 $148,027.00 $1,995.56 $0.00 $81,594.45 $251,734.40
April 1 - June 30, 2009[57] March 25, 2010 $0.00 $209,719.27 $3,961.97 $0.00 $24,417.42 $185,301.85

Gop logo2.jpg Republican primary

Candidates

Electoral results

2010 Race for Attorney General - Republican Primary[61]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Republican Party Approveda Samuel S. Olens 39.9%[62]
     Republican Party Preston Smith 30.6%
     Republican Party Max Wood 29.5%
Total Votes 576,492

Drop outs

  • State Senator Judson Hill rescinded his candidacy in late-April 2009 in order to concentrate on re-election and his position as chairman of the Senate Reapportionment Committee.[63]

Endorsements

Max Wood

Preston Smith

Samuel Olens

Finances

According to the Georgia State Ethics Commission, as of July 13, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:

Samuel S. Olens Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
April 1 - June 30, 2010[86] July 8, 2010 $378,638.46 $201,830.00 $0.00 $0.00 $277,332.20 $303,136.26
January 1 - March 31, 2010[87] April 7, 2010 $305,289.38 $118,018.00 $2,550.00 $0.00 $44,668.92 $378,638.46
July 1 - December 31, 2009[88] January 8, 2010 $175,143.05 $261,607.00 $1,379.38 $0.00 $131,460.67 $305,289.38
April 1 - June 30, 2009[89] July 7, 2009 $0.00 $185,959.00 $550.00 $0.00 $10,815.95 $175,143.05
Preston Williams Smith Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
April 1 - June 30, 2010[90] July 9, 2010 $0.00 $253,774.11 $10,811.15 $0.00 $66,117.77 $187,656.34
Frank Maxwell Wood Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
April 1 - June 30, 2010[91] July 8, 2010 $26,727.16 $40,345.51 $11,584.00 $0.00 $54,989.97 $12,082.70
January 1 - March 31, 2010[92] April 8, 2010 $49,255.83 $22,167.00 $0.00 $0.00 $44,695.67 $26,727.16
July 1 - December 31, 2009[93] January 8, 2010 $0.00 $65,285.00 $750.00 $0.00 $16,029.17 $49,255.83

Polling

See also: Polls, 2010 State Attorney General elections
InsiderAdvantage/RosettaStone Poll - June 17, 2010[94]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Max Wood (R) 18%
Samuel Olens (R) 15%
Preston Smith (R) 7%
Undecided 60%
Total voters 360

August 10, 2010 primary runoff

Election results

2010 Race for Attorney General - Republican Primary Run-Off[95]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Republican Party Approveda Samuel S. Olens 58.9%
     Republican Party Preston Smith 41.1%
Total Votes 508,853

Endorsements

Samuel S. Olens

Finances

According to the Georgia State Ethics Commission, as of August 6, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:

Samuel S. Olens Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
6 Days Before Primary Run-Off[100] August 6, 2010 $303,136.26 $245,661.00 $0.00 $0.00 $511,220.77 $37,576.49
Preston Williams Smith Campaign Finance Reports
Report Date Filed Beginning Balance Contributions In-Kind [11] Other Sources Expenditures Cash on Hand
6 Days Before Primary Run-Off[101] August 6, 2010 $187,656.34 $77,515.00 $13,116.37 $0.00 $215,471.40 $49,699.94

Noteworthy events

Hodges' investigation of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital

During the campaign, Ken Hodges was the defendant in a case regarding an investigation he did as the district attorney of Albany. Hodges worked on a case regarding released financial documents from Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, and said, "he used a grand jury subpoena in 2003 to trace the source of the Phoebe Factoids, and then turned that information over to Phoebe Putney Hospital officials."[102]

The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta, Georgia ruled in March 2010 that Hodges had immunity from retaliatory prosecution from the accountant he determined had released the financial documents.[103]

See also

External links

General Election candidates

Former candidates

Footnotes

  1. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Thurbert Baker to enter 2010 race for governor" 1 April 2009
  2. Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Attorney General General Election Results
  3. 3.0 3.1 Blake Aued's blog, "Local sheriffs back Hodges for AG" 21 Sept. 2010
  4. Albany Herald, "Howard "Bo" Callaway, "Father of Modern Georgia Republican Party," Endorses Hodges for AG" 14 Oct. 2010 (dead link)
  5. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Former GOP congressman endorses Democrat Hodges for attorney general" 14 Oct. 2010
  6. Georgia Politico, "Ken Hodges, candidate for Attorney General, endorsed by Georgia’s Police Officers" 6 Oct. 2010
  7. Albany Herald, "PBAGA Endorses Ken Hodges for State AG" 6 Oct. 2010 (dead link)
  8. Georgia Politico, "Ken Hodges, candidate for Attorney General, endorsed by well known Republican District Attorney Pete Skandalakis" 14 Sept. 2010
  9. Paulding County Republican Examiner, "Georgia’s small business owners endorse Sam Olens for Attorney General" 8 Oct. 2010
  10. The Weekly Online, "Georgia’s Small Business Owners Endorse Sam Olens" 11 Oct. 2010
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 As these are not cash contributions, they are not reflected in the reported ending balance.
  12. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Ken Hodges September 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  13. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Sam Olens September 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  14. Survey USA "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #17061" September 13, 2010
  15. Survey USA "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #17503" 25 Oct. 2010
  16. Peach Pundit, "Rob Teilhet Officially Enters AG Race" 6 April, 2009
  17. SWGA Politics, "Ken Hodges Running for Attorney General" 22 April, 2009
  18. Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Democratic Attorney General Primary Election Results
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Georgia Unfiltered, "Georgia Newspapers Begin Rolling Out Their Endorsements" 12 July, 2010
  20. Georgia Liberal, "DeKalb County’s Thomas E. Brown Endorses Ken Hodges for Attorney General" 1 March, 2010
  21. Georgia Liberal, "CWA Local 3201 Endorses Ken Hodges for Attorney General" 4 March, 2010
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Peanut Politics, "Ken Hodges Statewide Endorsements" 6 July, 2010
  23. The Albany Journal, "Former U.S. Attorney Richard H. Deane Jr. Endorses Ken Hodges for Attorney General" 18 April, 2010
  24. Georgia Politics Unfiltered, "DeKalb County D.A. Endorses Ken Hodges For Attorney General" 17 March, 2010
  25. 25.0 25.1 Georgia Association of Educators - GAE announces 2010 statewide primary endorsements
  26. 26.0 26.1 Georgia Unfiltered, "Hodges Picks Up Endorsement Of Police Union & Fulton County D.A." 8 July, 2010
  27. The Albany Journal, "Top Law Enforcement Officials in Clayton County Endorse Ken Hodges for Attorney General" 15 April, 2010
  28. Georgia Liberal, "Atlanta Civil Rights Icon Lonnie C. King, Jr. Endorses Ken Hodges for Attorney General" 23 April, 2010
  29. Peaches in Regalia, "Attorney General Candidate Ken Hodges (D) Endorsed by Civil Rights Leader" 23 April, 2010
  30. Peanut Politics, "Rundown of Peanut Politics Endorsements" 7 July, 2010
  31. Georgia Liberal, "Mark Taylor Endorses Ken Hodges" 16 July, 2010
  32. The GA Voice, "Atlanta Stonewall Democrats issue endorsements in local, state races" 21 June, 2010
  33. Georgia Equality - 2010 Primary Elections Endorsed Candidates
  34. Ideas & Minds, "Rob Teilhet Earns Support from Powerful County Marshal" 5 May, 2010
  35. Ledger-Enquirer, "Countryman endorses Rob Teilhet for Georgia attorney general" 6 May, 2010
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 Blog for Democracy, "More People supporting Rob Teilhet (press release)" 21 June, 2010
  37. Peanut Politics, "Press Release: Rob Teilhet Earns Big Endorsement from Labor Community" 18 Feb. 2010
  38. 38.0 38.1 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Teilhet nabs Jim Martin endorsement in AG’s race" 6 Jan. 2010
  39. Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Georgia - 2010 Statewide Primary Race Endorsements
  40. Peanut Politics, "Rob Teilhet Earns the endorsement of former House Speaker & Judge George T Smith" 23 June, 2010
  41. 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 Peanut Politics, "Rural Reps Endorse Rob Teilhet for AG" 22 June, 2010
  42. 42.0 42.1 42.2 SWGA Politics, "Rob Teilhet Earns Support from Columbus Area Leaders" 10 May, 2010
  43. SWGA Politics, "Rob Teilhet Earns Support from Powerful Macon Area Leaders" 10 May, 2010
  44. SWGA Politics, "Rob Teilhet Earns Top Support from Athens Leaders" 1 June, 2010
  45. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Rep. Teilhet picks up key endorsement" 4 Aug. 2009
  46. 46.0 46.1 SWGA Politics, "SWGAPolitics.com Endorsements" 1 July, 2010
  47. Teamsters Local 728 "Teamsters Local 728 Endorses Roy Barnes for Governor and Other Pro-Working Family Candidates for July 20th Primary Election" 2 July, 2010
  48. Georgia Liberal, "President of Macon NAACP Endorses Rob Teilhet for Attorney General at “Stop the Violence” Tour" 19 July, 2010
  49. Georgia State Ethics Board, "Campaign Reports Search - 2010 - Governor," accessed July 17, 2010
  50. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Ken Hodges June 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  51. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Ken Hodges March 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  52. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Ken Hodges December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  53. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Ken Hodges June 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  54. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Rob Teilhet June 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  55. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Rob Teilhet March 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  56. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Rob Teilhet December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  57. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Rob Teilhet June 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  58. Fresh Loaf, "WSB: Sam Olens to run for attorney general" 21 April, 2009
  59. Macon Telegraph, "Wood to run for Ga. attorney general" 4 Aug. 2009
  60. Rome News-Tribune, "Preston Smith to seek attorney general seat, could rock other races" 26 April, 2010
  61. Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Republican Attorney General Primary Election Results
  62. Even though Sam Olens received the most votes, he failed to receive over fifty percent of those votes required by Georgia state law. A runoff election between the top two vote recipients, therefore, was required to decide who went on to the general election.
  63. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Judson Hill says he won’t join GOP race for attorney general" 28 April, 2009
  64. Can-Do Conservatives of America, "PRESS RELEASE: Disabled Group Endorses Max Wood For AG" 8 April, 2010
  65. Paulding County Republican Examiner, "Disabled rights group endorses Max Wood for Attorney General" 8 April, 2010
  66. SWGA Politics, "Press Release: Max Wood Gets Big Endorsement" 16 Feb. 2010
  67. Peach Pundit, "Mac Collins Endorses Max Wood" 16 Feb. 2010
  68. Politifi, "Max Wood receives Pro-Life endorsement by Georgia Right to Life" 7 June, 2010
  69. Paulding County Republican Examiner, "Max Wood receives Pro-Life endorsement by Georgia Right to Life" 7 June, 2010
  70. The Oconee Leader, "Endorsement: Max Wood for Georgia Attorney General" 16 July, 2010
  71. Red State, "Nice Guys Finishing" 9 July, 2010
  72. Georgia Carry, "GCO Endorsement Lists For House & Senate" 12 July, 2010
  73. 73.0 73.1 Talk Gwinnett, "Preston Smith Receives Endorsements from NRA, GeorgiaCarry" 12 July, 2010
  74. The Marietta Daily Journal, "Poll: Wood ahead in AG race" 30 June, 2010
  75. Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia, "Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia Announces Endorsement of Preston Smith for Attorney General of Georgia" 11 July, 2010
  76. Georgia Report, "Political Notes: Sierra Club makes primary endorsements" 8 July, 2010
  77. 77.0 77.1 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Endorsement fever: Roy Barnes tightens his grip, and Sam Olens shows GOP depth" 15 July, 2010
  78. 78.0 78.1 78.2 78.3 78.4 78.5 Peach Pundit, "Olens Announces New Endorsements" 20 May, 2010
  79. 79.0 79.1 Paulding County Republican Examiner, "Sam Olens receives endorsement of Georgia 9.12 Project and former U.S. Senator Mack Mattingly" 29 June, 2010
  80. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Mitt Romney taps Sam Olens for AG; Tom Price loans Karen Handel a strategist" 12 May, 2010
  81. Paulding County Republican Examiner, "Sam Olens receives Governor Mitt Romney’s endorsement" 12 May, 2010
  82. Atlanta Jewish News, "The 9.12 Project Action Network Endorses Sam Olens for Attorney General" 29 June, 2010 (dead link)
  83. Paulding County Republican Examiner, "Candidate for Attorney General, Sam Olens endorsements continue" 20 May, 2010
  84. Political Vine, "Former US Attorney Endorses Sam Olens for Georgia’s Next Attorney General" 5 Aug. 2009
  85. Georgia Hwy 120 Politics, "Sam Olens Receives Endorsement of Joe Whitley" 6 Aug. 2009
  86. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Sam Olens July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  87. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Sam Olens April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  88. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Sam Olens December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  89. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Sam Olens July 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  90. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Preston Smith July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  91. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Max Wood July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  92. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Max Wood April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  93. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Max Wood December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  94. Peach Pundit, "Wood and Olens On Top In AG Race" 25 June, 2010
  95. Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Republican Attorney General Primary Election Results
  96. 96.0 96.1 Savannah Politics, "Sam Olens Receives Endorsement of Rep. Burke Day" 7 Aug. 2010
  97. 97.0 97.1 97.2 Peach Pundit, "Sam Olens Announces New Endorsements For Attorney General Runoff" 23 July, 2010
  98. 98.0 98.1 98.2 Paulding County Republican Examiner, "Sam Olens for Attorney General receives more endorsements" 23 July, 2010
  99. Paulding County Republican Examiner, "Georgia Christian Coalition gives Sam Olens an A+ in race for Attorney General" 3 Aug. 2010
  100. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Sam Olens 6 Days Before Primary Run-Off Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  101. Georgia State Ethics Commission - Preston Smith 6 Days Before Primary Run-Off Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
  102. WALB News 10 "Attorney says D. A. violated Georgia law" 27 April, 2006
  103. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "11th Circuit rules that Ken Hodges can’t be sued over Phoebe Putney case" 11 March, 2010