Georgia Secretary of State election, 2010
The Georgia Secretary of State election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. Brian Kemp, a former state senator who had already announced his candidacy for the statewide office, was appointed Secretary of State by Republican Governor Sonny Perdue in January 2010 to fill the vacancy left behind by Karen Handel, who resigned to work full time on her gubernatorial campaign.[1][2]
In the primary election on July 20, Kemp defeated Doug MacGinnitie, commissioner of the Sandy Springs City Council, earning the Republican nomination for the general election. Libertarian David Chastain was unopposed in his party's primary. On the Democratic ticket, five candidates competed for the party's nomination: former state senator Gail Buckner, former member of the Georgia House of Representatives Georganna Sinkfield, small business owner Angela Moore, president of the nonprofit PR 1776 Michael Mills, and Gary Horlacher, a partner with the largest certified minority-owner law firm in the country, Adorno & Yoss. Buckner garnered 35.1% of the votes in the Democratic primary, but needed more than 50% to secure her party's nomination. She and Sinkfield (the runner-up, with 22.6% of the vote) went head-to-head in a primary runoff contest on August 10, and Sinkfield won that contest with 61.8%, securing the Democratic nomination.
In November, Kemp was re-elected to his seat for a full term. Chastain claimed 4.2% of the vote, and despite her success in the primary runoff, Sinkfield fell short with 39.4% of the vote.
General election
Results
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party |  Brian Kemp
|
56.4% | |
| Democratic Party | Georganna Sinkfield | 39.4% | |
| Libertarian Party | David Chastain | 4.2% | |
| Total Votes | 2,552,722 | ||
Endorsements
- Can-Do Conservatives of America[4]
- Rome News-Tribune, local newspaper[5]
- Savannah Morning News, local newspaper[6]
Finances
According to the Georgia State Ethics Commission, as of October 26, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Brian Kemp Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| July 1 - September 30, 2010[8] | October 7, 2010 | $288,650.27 | $157,541.00 | $9,537.00 | $0.00 | $357,236.20 | $88,955.07 | |
| Georganna T. Sinkfield Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| August 5 - September 30, 2010[9] | October 7, 2010 | ($33,201.61) | $215,453.40 | $750.00 | $0.00 | $174,701.24 | $7,550.55 | |
Debate
October 17th - Atlanta Press Club
On Sunday, October 17th, the Atlanta Press Club played host to all three candidates in the race for Secretary of State contest.
Click here to view the entire debate
July 20, 2010 primaries
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Former press secretary to then-Gov. Roy Barnes and attorney Gary Horlacher[10]
- Small business owner Michael Mills
- State Senator Gail Buckner[11]
- Angela Moore[12]
- State Representative Georganna Sinkfield[13]
Electoral results
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - Democratic Primary[14] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party | Gail Buckner
|
35.1%[15] | |
| Democratic Party | Georganna Sinkfield | 22.6% | |
| Democratic Party | Angela Moore | 20.4% | |
| Democratic Party | Michael Mills | 15.5% | |
| Democratic Party | Gary Horlacher | 6.4% | |
| Total Votes | 341,395 | ||
Even though Gail Buckner received the most votes, she 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.
Endorsements
- Georgia AFL-CIO[16]
- Georgia Association of Educators (GAE)[17][18]
- Georgia Liberal, blog[19]
- Teamsters Local 728[20]
- Al Tillman , President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) Macon-Bibb County chapter
- Atlanta Stonewall Democrats, gay rights political group[21]
- Georgia Association of Educators (GAE)[17]
- Peanut Politics, blog[22]
- Shirley Franklin, former Mayor of Atlanta[23]
- Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA)
- Jim Martin, former United States Senate candidate[23]
- State Representative Stacey Abrams
- State Representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler
- State Representative Pam Stephenson
- State Representative Sharon Beasley-Teague
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:
| Gail M. Buckner Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[24] | July 9, 2010 | $228,371.69 | $22,140.00 | $9,601.00 | $0.00 | $29,968.71 | $220,542.98 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[25] | April 7, 2010 | $219,745.05 | $25,850.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $17,223.36 | $228,371.69 | |
| July 1 - December 31, 2009[26] | January 8, 2010 | $0.00 | $220,275.00 | $19,025.00 | $0.00 | $529.95 | $219,745.05 | |
| Gary George Horlacher Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[27] | July 8, 2010 | $283,364.46 | $6,375.05 | $4,175.55 | $0.00 | $49,148.63 | $240,590.88 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[28] | April 7, 2010 | $266,358.99 | $22,000.00 | $1,949.80 | $0.00 | $4,994.53 | $283,364.46 | |
| July 1 - December 31, 2009[29] | January 8, 2010 | $167,628.95 | $110,850.96 | $1,840.70 | $0.00 | $10,124.72 | $266,358.99 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2009[30] | July 7, 2009 | $0.00 | $169,625.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1,996.20 | $167,628.95 | |
| Michael P. Mills Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[31] | July 7, 2010 | $901.17 | $18,824.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $14,085.89 | $5,639.28 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[32] | June 7, 2010 | $304.99 | $3,319.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2,722.82 | $901.17 | |
| July 1 - December 31, 2009[33] | January 8, 2010 | $0.00 | $13,229.00 | $1,802.24 | $0.00 | $12,924.01 | $304.99 | |
| Angela Moore Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[34] | July 8, 2010 | $43,589.04 | $17,897.50 | $1,428.35 | $0.00 | $10,657.83 | $50,828.71 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[35] | April 7, 2010 | $11,179.69 | $46,590.67 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3,001.63 | $43,589.04 | |
| July 1 - December 31, 2009[36] | January 5, 2010 | $0.00 | $19,165.00 | $998.93 | $0.00 | $7,985.31 | $11,179.69 | |
| Georganna T. Sinkfield Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[37] | July 15, 2010 | $0.00 | $165,332.77 | $2,050.00 | $0.00 | $136,773.86 | $28,558.91 | |
August 10, 2010 primary runoff
Runoff results
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - Democratic Primary Runoff[38] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party | Georganna Sinkfield
|
61.9% | |
| Democratic Party | Gail Buckner | 38.1% | |
| Total Votes | 100,666 | ||
Endorsements
- Angela Moore, former candidate for Secretary of State[39]
- Atlanta Progressive News, local newspaper[40]
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:
| Gail M. Buckner Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| 6 Days Before Primary Run-Off[41] | August 6, 2010 | $220,542.98 | $10,700.00 | $5,260.00 | $0.00 | $21,041.34 | $197,525.30 | |
| Georganna T. Sinkfield Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| 6 Days Before Primary Run-Off[42] | August 6, 2010 | $28,558.91 | $246,494.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $171,480.66 | ($33,201.61) | |
Republican primary
Candidates
- Brian Kemp, former state senator and incumbent secretary of state[43]
- Sandy Springs City Commissioner Doug MacGinnite[44]
Electoral results
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - Republican Primary[45] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party | Brian Kemp
|
59.2% | |
| Republican Party | Doug MacGinnitie | 40.8% | |
| Total Votes | 609,478 | ||
Endorsements
- Georgia Right to Life[46]
- Jackson Herald Today[47]
- Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia[48]
- Sonny Perdue, Governor of Georgia[49]
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:
| Brian Kemp Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[53] | July 8, 2010 | $208,069.21 | $186,284.00 | $17,917.23 | $0.00 | $105,702.94 | $288,650.27 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[54] | April 7, 2010 | $243,102.67 | $24,305.00 | $2,236.60 | $0.00 | $59,338.46 | $208,069.21 | |
| July 1 - December 31, 2009[55] | January 8, 2010 | $255,660.15 | $106,839.00 | $10,533.10 | $0.00 | $119,396.48 | $243,102.67 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2009[56] | July 6, 2009 | $0.00 | $267,170.00 | $4,064.04 | $0.00 | $11,509.85 | $255,660.15 | |
| Douglas J. MacGinnitie Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [7] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[57] | July 8, 2010 | $692,285.83 | $158,431.45 | $10,616.56 | $0.00 | $475,602.05 | $375,115.23 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[58] | April 7, 2010 | $704,592.38 | $88,505.63 | $6,291.50 | $0.00 | $100,812.18 | $692,285.83 | |
| July 1 - December 31, 2009[59] | January 8, 2010 | $223,674.13 | $551,596.34 | $3,425.00 | $0.00 | $70,678.09 | $704,592.38 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2009[60] | July 7, 2009 | $0.00 | $257,127.76 | $3,744.65 | $0.00 | $33,453.63 | $223,674.13 | |
Noteworthy events
Intimidation accusation
Supporters of Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp accused Sandy Springs City Commissioner Doug MacGinnite, his challenger for the Republican nomination in the race for the statewide position, of using pictures taken of them and their children at a Kemp fundraiser to intimidate them. While the MacGinnite campaign acknowledged that they sent an unpaid volunteer to take photographs at the event in question on Wednesday, June 2, 2010, in Sandy Springs, the camp said, however, that the amateur photographer was there to "document times when Kemp is raising money during working hours instead of dealing with state issues."[61] State Representative Joe Wilkinson, who was present at the event, said that the fundraiser did not begin until after working hours, but that the photographer was "taking photos of people arriving for the event, even when Kemp was not present."[61]
Voting hypocrisy accusation
In late-June 2010, Douglas MacGinnitie launched a television advertisement rebuking incumbent Secretary of State Brian Kemp's credentials as a political conservative. The former Sandy Springs city councilman accused Kemp of defecting from the Republican Party three times and voting for Democrats: in 1996, 1998, and 2000, respectively.[62][63] Since 1992, Kemp voted a total of thirty-three times; of these, eight were in Republican primary contests. Kemp's campaign consultant, Joel McElhannon, said that his client voted in Democratic races in order to have a say in local politics. Clarke County, where Kemp's hometown of Athens resides, is heavily Democratic and it was not unusual for conservatives to run as Democrats in order to be elected to public office.
Twice MacGinnitie participated in Democratic primaries - in the 1988 general primary runoff and then in the 1992 presidential primary. His campaign spokesman insists, however, that the candidate was using the ""Rush Limbaugh playbook" -- voting for the weakest Democrat to boost Republican chances for victory."[64]
Voting record accusation
At a Cobb County GOP breakfast in early June 2010, incumbent Secretary of State Brian Kemp accused his Republican primary opponent, Doug MacGinnitie, of having not voted "in a Republican primary for almost 20 years until 2008."[64][65] Voting records showed that from 1988 t0 2010 MacGinnitie had voter a total of twenty-three times in the state; six of these were in Republican primary contests. In response, Kemp's campaign spokesman said that in almost of those instances, they were for presidential elections; when it came to state Republican primaries, MacGinnitie was largely absent until 2008.
See also
External links
- List of candidates qualified for Georgia's July 20 Secretary of State primary
- Green Paper's list of candidates for Georgia Secretary of State, 2010
General Election candidates
- Kemp for Secretary of State Campaign website
- Georganna Sinkfield for Georgia Secretary of State Campaign website
- David Chastain for Secretary of State Campaign website
Former candidates
- Douglas MacGinnitie for Secretary of State Campaign website
- Angela Moore for Secretary of State 2010 Campaign website
- Gary Horlacher for Georgia Secretary of State 2010 Campaign website
- Michael Mills for Georgia Secretary of State 2010 Campaign website
- Gail Buckner for Georgia Secretary of State Campaign website
Footnotes
- ↑ Athens Banner-Herald, "Brian Kemp appointed Georgia secretary of state" 4 Jan. 2010
- ↑ Red State, "Karen Handel Aims to Win the GOP Gubernatorial Nomination in Georgia" 22 Dec. 2009
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑ Can-Do Conservatives of America - Endorsements
- ↑ Rome News-Tribune, "Keep Kemp in state" 25 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Savannah Morning News, "Two more picks: Squires, Kemp" 26 Oct. 2010
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 As these are not cash contributions, they are not reflected in the reported ending balance.
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Brian Kemp October 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Georganna Sinkfield October 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Fresh Loaf, "Gary Horlacher to run for Secretary of State" 28 April, 2009
- ↑ SWGA Politics, "Gary Horlacher Has Some Competition for Democratic Nomination for Secretary of State" 27 Aug. 2009
- ↑ Georgia Federation of Democratic Women GRAPEVINE "Angela Moore announces for SOS" 15 Dec. 2009 (dead link)
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Qualifying suprises — and Roy Barnes hits TV today" 30 April, 2010
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Primary Election Results
- ↑ Even though Gail Buckner received the most votes, she 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.
- ↑ Georgia AFL-CIO - 2010 Endorsements
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Georgia Association of Educators - GAE announces 2010 statewide primary endorsements
- ↑ Blog for Democracy, "GAE Releases Endorsements" 15 June, 2010
- ↑ Georgia Liberal, "Secretary of State Endorsement" 1 June, 2010
- ↑ 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
- ↑ The GA Voice, "Atlanta Stonewall Democrats issue endorsements in local, state races" 21 June, 2010
- ↑ Peanut Politics, "Rundown of Peanut Politics Endorsements" 7 July, 2010
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Public Broadcasting Atlanta, "Sinkfield Picks Up Martin, Franklin Endorsements in Sec. of State Race" 6 June, 2010
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Gail Buckner July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Gail Buckner April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Gail Buckner December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Gary Horlacher July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Gary Horlacher April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Gary Horlacher December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Gary Horlacher July 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Michael Mills July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Michael Mills April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Michael Mills December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Angela Moore July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Angela Moore April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Angela Moore December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Georganna Sinkfield July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Primary Runoff Election Results
- ↑ Georgia Liberal, "Moore Endorses Gail Buckner for S.O.S." 7 Aug. 2010
- ↑ Atlanta Progressive News, "APN 2010 Endorsements Pt. 3: Gail Buckner for Secretary of State" 31 July, 2010
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Gail Buckner 6 Days Before Primary Runoff Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Georganna Sinkfield 6 Days Before Primary Runoff Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kemp jumps into secretary of state race, shows backing" 4 March, 2009
- ↑ Peach Pundit, "Doug MacGinnitie Enters the SoS Race" 5 March, 2009
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Primary Election Results
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 Gwinnett Daily Post, "POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Georgia Right to Life endorses state candidates" 16 June, 2010
- ↑ Jackson Herald Today, "EDITORIAL: Kemp for Secretary of State" 23 June, 2010
- ↑ Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia, "Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia Announces Endorsement of Brian Kemp for Georgia Secretary of State" 9 July, 2010
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Your morning jolt: Brian Kemp runs with governor’s endorsement; tea party leaders say no to GOP split" 6 Jan. 2010
- ↑ Peach Pundit, "MacGinnitie Endorsed By Cobb 912 Project" 22 Feb. 2010
- ↑ SWGA Politics, "Press Release: Cobb 912 Project Endorses Doug MacGinnitie for Secretary of State" 23 Feb. 2010
- ↑ SWGA Politics, "SWGAPolitics.com Endorsements" 1 July, 2010
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Brian Kemp July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Brian Kemp April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Brian Kemp December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Brian Kemp July 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Douglas MacGinnitie July 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Douglas MacGinnitie April 2010 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Douglas MacGinnitie December 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ Georgia State Ethics Commission - Douglas MacGinnitie July 2009 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report Summary
- ↑ 61.0 61.1 The Florida Times-Union, "Kemp’s supporters say opponent using intimidation tactics" 9 June, 2010
- ↑ YouTube, "Brian Kemp's Record" 23 June, 2010
- ↑ PolitiFact Georgia, "When you were casting your vote for Republicans, Brian Kemp was voting for Democrats" 23 June, 2010
- ↑ 64.0 64.1 PolitiFact Georgia, "Says his GOP challenger, Doug MacGinnitie, "hadn’t voted in a Republican primary for almost 20 years until 2008" 5 July, 2010
- ↑ YouTube, "Kemp Sets Record Straight About Doug's Hypocrisy" 9 June, 2010
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