Georgia State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Georgia State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014, with a runoff election taking place where necessary on July 22, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Georgia State Senate. The Republican Party controls the chamber with 38 seats, which did not change following the election. Similarly, the Democratic Party's control of 18 seats did not change.
Incumbents retiring
A total of seven incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Earl "Buddy" Carter | Senate District 1 | |
| Tim Golden | Senate District 8 | |
| John Crosby | Senate District 13 | |
| Ronnie Chance | Senate District 16 | |
| Cecil Staton | Senate District 18 | |
| Hardie Davis | Senate District 22 | |
| Jason Carter | Senate District 42 |
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Georgia State Senate:
| Georgia State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
| Democratic Party | 18 | 18 | |
| Republican Party | 38 | 38 | |
| Total | 56 | 56 | |
Qualifications
According to the Georgia Constitution, Georgia Senators must be at least 25 years old, American citizens, Georgia citizens for at least two years and a resident of his or her Senatorial District for at least one year immediately preceding election.
Competitiveness
Candidates unopposed by a major party
In 41 of the 56 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of 15 Democrats and 26 Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 15 of the 56 districts up for election. Just one of these seats, District 6, held mildly competitive elections in 2012.
- District 6: Incumbent Hunter Hill (R) defeated challenger Antron D. Johnson (D) in the general election. Hill won in 2012 by a margin of victory of 6 percent.
Primary challenges
A total of 12 incumbents faced primary competition on May 20. Seven incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 37 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The state senators facing primary competition included:
- District 9: Michael A. "Mike" Beaudreau and P.K. Martin defeated incumbent Don Balfour (R) in the Republican primary, setting up a runoff. Martin won the runoff and went on to defeat Timothy Swiney (D) in the general election.
- District 27: Incumbent Jack Murphy and Michael E. Williams (Georgia) defeated John T. "Jack" Schiff and Lauren W. McDonald III in the Republican primary, setting up a runoff. Williams won the runoff and was unopposed in the general election.
- District 33: Michael A. Rhett defeated incumbent Stephen P. "Steve" Thompson (D) in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election. Thompson was first elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1990. Prior to his time in the state senate, he was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
Retiring incumbents
Seven incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 49 (87.5%) ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, two Democrats and five Republicans, can be found above.
List of candidates
District 1
Note: Incumbent Buddy Carter (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- B.L. "Ben" Watson: 11,991

- B.L. "Ben" Watson: 11,991
November 4 General election candidates:
District 2
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- Lester G. Jackson: 8,001
- Incumbent Jackson first assumed office in 2009.
- Lester G. Jackson: 8,001
November 4 General election candidates:
District 3
May 20 GOP primary:
- William T. Ligon, Jr.: 13,255
- Incumbent Ligon first assumed office in 2011.
- William T. Ligon, Jr.: 13,255
November 4 General election candidates:
District 4
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jack S. Hill: 9,666
- Incumbent Jack Hill first assumed office in 1991.
- Jack S. Hill: 9,666
November 4 General election candidates:
District 5
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Curt B. Thompson: 1,667
- Incumbent Thompson first assumed office in 2005.
- Curt B. Thompson: 1,667
November 4 General election candidates:
District 6
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Antron D. Johnson: 3,083

- Antron D. Johnson: 3,083
May 20 GOP primary:
- Hunter B. Hill: 8,276
- Incumbent Hill first assumed office in 2013.
- Hunter B. Hill: 8,276
November 4 General election candidates:
Antron D. Johnson: 18,904
Hunter B. Hill: 29,383 
District 7
May 20 GOP primary:
- Tyler J. Harper: 10,036
- Incumbent Harper first assumed office in 2013.
- Tyler J. Harper: 10,036
November 4 General election candidates:
District 8
Note: Incumbent Tim Golden (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Bikram K. Mohanty: 3,070

- Bikram K. Mohanty: 3,070
May 20 GOP primary:
- C. Ellis Black: 4,084

- John P. Page: 2,460

- Richard David Raines: 1,846
- C. Ellis Black: 4,084
July 22 GOP runoff:
- C. Ellis Black: 3,611

- John P. Page: 3,553
- C. Ellis Black: 3,611
November 4 General election candidates:
Bikram K. Mohanty: 13,441
C. Ellis Black: 21,345 
District 9
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Timothy Andrew Swiney: 2,394

- Timothy Andrew Swiney: 2,394
May 20 GOP primary:
- Donald K. Balfour: 4,157 - Incumbent Balfour first assumed office in 1993.
- Michael A. "Mike" Beaudreau: 5,548

- P.K. Martin
: 4,810
July 22 GOP runoff:
- Michael A. "Mike" Beaudreau: 7,028
- P.K. Martin: 7,917

November 4 General election candidates:
Timothy Andrew Swiney: 18,155
P.K. Martin: 36,764 
District 10
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Emanuel D. Jones: 13,569
- Incumbent Jones first assumed office in 2005.
- Emanuel D. Jones: 13,569
November 4 General election candidates:
District 11
May 20 GOP primary:
- K. Dean Burke: 7,981
- Incumbent Burke first assumed office in 2013.
- K. Dean Burke: 7,981
November 4 General election candidates:
District 12
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Freddie K. Powell Sims: 11,392
- Incumbent Sims first assumed office in 2009.
- Freddie K. Powell Sims: 11,392
November 4 General election candidates:
District 13
Note: Incumbent John Crosby (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Bryce A. Johnson: 6,597
- G.M. "Greg" Kirk: 6,826

November 4 General election candidates:
District 14
May 20 GOP primary:
- Bruce A. Thompson: 10,289
- Incumbent Thompson first assumed office in 2009.
- Bruce A. Thompson: 10,289
November 4 General election candidates:
District 15
May 20 Democratic primary:
- E. "Ed" Harbison: 10,709
- Incumbent Harbison first assumed office in 1993.
- E. "Ed" Harbison: 10,709
November 4 General election candidates:
District 16
Note: Incumbent Ronnie Chance (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- D.R. "Bob" Barnard: 1,370
- David J. Studdard: 3,463

- Erik A. Manning: 1,966
- Gil B. Williams: 388
- James W. Clifton: 1,252
- M.H. "Marty" Harbin: 4,228

- W.G. "Bill" Johnston: 3,390
July 22 GOP runoff:
- David J. Studdard: 6,065
- M.H. "Marty" Harbin: 8,960

November 4 General election candidates:
District 17
May 20 GOP primary:
- Richard M. Jeffares: 9,676
- Incumbent Jeffares first assumed office in 2011.
- Richard M. Jeffares: 9,676
November 4 General election candidates:
District 18
Note: Incumbent Cecil Staton (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- John F. Kennedy: 9,197

- Spencer T. Price: 7,017
- John F. Kennedy: 9,197
November 4 General election candidates:
District 19
May 20 GOP primary:
- Tommie A. Williams: 10,939
- Incumbent Williams first assumed office in 1999.
- Tommie A. Williams: 10,939
November 4 General election candidates:
District 20
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Sheikh M. "Chad" Rahman: 3,389

- Sheikh M. "Chad" Rahman: 3,389
May 20 GOP primary:
- T. Ross Tolleson: 9,073
- Incumbent Tolleson first assumed office in 2005.
- T. Ross Tolleson: 9,073
November 4 General election candidates:
Sheikh M. "Chad" Rahman: 13,902
T. Ross Tolleson: 32,726 
District 21
May 20 GOP primary:
- Brandon L. Beach: 13,514
- Incumbent Beach first assumed office in 2013.
- Brandon L. Beach: 13,514
November 4 General election candidates:
District 22
Note: Incumbent Hardie Davis (D) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Corey L. Johnson: 7,420

- E.H. "Elmyria" Chivers: 1,931
- Harold V. Jones II: 7,105

- Corey L. Johnson: 7,420
July 22 Democratic runoff:
- Corey L. Johnson: 3,919
- Harold V. Jones II: 6,125

November 4 General election candidates:
District 23
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Diane Brack Evans: 4,876

- Diane Brack Evans: 4,876
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jesse Collins Stone: 8,337
- Incumbent Stone first assumed office in 2011.
- Jesse Collins Stone: 8,337
November 4 General election candidates:
Diane Brack Evans: 17,434
Jesse Collins Stone: 27,374 
District 24
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Brenda J. Jordan: 2,942

- Brenda J. Jordan: 2,942
May 20 GOP primary:
- William S. Jackson: 12,239
- Incumbent Jackson first assumed office in 2007.
- William S. Jackson: 12,239
November 4 General election candidates:
Brenda J. Jordan: 15,501
William S. Jackson: 37,836 
District 25
May 20 GOP primary:
- W.B. "Burt" Jones: 12,034
- Incumbent Jones first assumed office in 2013.
- W.B. "Burt" Jones: 12,034
November 4 General election candidates:
District 26
May 20 Democratic primary:
- David E. Lucas, Sr.: 9,689
- Incumbent Lucas first assumed office in 2013. - Miriam L. Paris: 5,820
- David E. Lucas, Sr.: 9,689
November 4 General election candidates:
District 27
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jack S. Murphy: 6,979
- Incumbent Murphy first assumed office in 2007. - Lauren W. McDonald III: 5,255
- Michael E. Williams: 6,503

- Jack S. Murphy: 6,979
Note: John T. "Jack" Schiff did not appear on the official primary returns.
July 22 GOP runoff:
- Jack S. Murphy: 5,521
- Michael E. Williams: 10,800

November 4 General election candidates:
District 28
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Cynthia Conradt Bennett: 1,991

- Cynthia Conradt Bennett: 1,991
May 20 GOP primary:
- Michael R. "Mike" Crane: 9,769
- Incumbent Crane first assumed office in 2011.
- Michael R. "Mike" Crane: 9,769
November 4 General election candidates:
Cynthia Conradt Bennett: 13,497
Michael R. "Mike" Crane: 35,440 
District 29
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Brian P. Roslund: 4,549

- Brian P. Roslund: 4,549
May 20 GOP primary:
- Joshua Robert McKoon: 11,488
- Incumbent McKoon first assumed office in 2011.
- Joshua Robert McKoon: 11,488
November 4 General election candidates:
Brian P. Roslund: 15,668
Joshua Robert McKoon: 30,394 
District 30
May 20 Democratic primary:
- James Harrison Nixon: 1,889

- James Harrison Nixon: 1,889
May 20 GOP primary:
- Michael B. "Mike" Dugan: 6,344
- Incumbent Dugan first assumed office in 2013. - W.A. "Bill" Hembree: 5,269
- Michael B. "Mike" Dugan: 6,344
November 4 General election candidates:
James Harrison Nixon: 11,801
Michael B. "Mike" Dugan: 31,122 
District 31
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Charles L.R. Winter: 1,898

- Charles L.R. Winter: 1,898
May 20 GOP primary:
- William D. "Bill" Heath: 9,622
- Incumbent Heath first assumed office in 2005.
- William D. "Bill" Heath: 9,622
November 4 General election candidates:
Charles L.R. Winter: 10,952
William D. "Bill" Heath: 29,647 
District 32
May 20 GOP primary:
- Judson H. Hill: 14,961
- Incumbent Hill first assumed office in 2005.
- Judson H. Hill: 14,961
November 4 General election candidates:
District 33
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Michael A. Rhett: 2,878

- Stephen P. "Steve" Thompson: 2,729 - Incumbent Thompson first assumed office in 1991.
- Michael A. Rhett: 2,878
November 4 General election candidates:
District 34
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Sherry T. Mallory: 2,084
- Valencia Martin Seay: 6,115
- Incumbent Seay first assumed office in 2003.
November 4 General election candidates:
District 35
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Donzella J. James: 9,047
- Incumbent James first assumed office in 2009.
- Donzella J. James: 9,047
May 20 GOP primary:
- Francisco X.R. Artley: 3,417

- Francisco X.R. Artley: 3,417
November 4 General election candidates:
Donzella J. James: 36,530 
Francisco X.R. Artley: 12,285
District 36
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Angela Stovall: 2,878
- Nancy G. "Nan" Orrock: 6,927
- Incumbent Orrock first assumed office in 2007.
November 4 General election candidates:
District 37
May 20 GOP primary:
- Lindsey A. Tippins: 12,323
- Incumbent Tippins first assumed office in 2011.
- Lindsey A. Tippins: 12,323
November 4 General election candidates:
District 38
May 20 Democratic primary:
- A. Reginald Crossley: 3,172
- Horacena E. Tate: 10,166
- Incumbent Tate first assumed office in 1999.
Note: Wright did not appear on the general election ballot.
November 4 General election candidates:
District 39
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Vincent Fort: 10,915
- Incumbent Fort first assumed office in 1997.
- Vincent Fort: 10,915
May 20 GOP primary:
- Robert W. Tindall: 1,600

- Robert W. Tindall: 1,600
November 4 General election candidates:
Vincent Fort: 38,714 
Robert W. Tindall: 7,642
District 40
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Benedict I. Truman II: 1,122
- Tamara Y. Johnson: 2,466

May 20 GOP primary:
- Francis R "Fran" Millar: 8,892
- Incumbent Millar first assumed office in 2011. - Richard D. "Dick" Anderson: 2,611
- Francis R "Fran" Millar: 8,892
November 4 General election candidates:
Tamara Y. Johnson: 18,339
Francis R "Fran" Millar: 30,705 
District 41
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Stephen B. "Steve" Henson: 7,304
- Incumbent Henson first assumed office in 2003.
- Stephen B. "Steve" Henson: 7,304
November 4 General election candidates:
District 42
Note: Incumbent Jason Carter (D) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Elena C. Parent: 5,328

- R. Kyle Williams: 8,535
- Elena C. Parent: 5,328
May 20 GOP primary:
- Gregory E. "Greg" Williams: 3,424

- Gregory E. "Greg" Williams: 3,424
November 4 General election candidates:
Elena C. Parent: 39,791 
Gregory E. "Greg" Williams: 13,680
District 43
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Ronald B. Ramsey, Sr.: 9,206
- Incumbent Ramsey first assumed office in 2007.
- Ronald B. Ramsey, Sr.: 9,206
November 4 General election candidates:
District 44
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Gail P. Davenport: 10,507
- Incumbent Davenport first assumed office in 2011. - Marcus Eugene Davis: 2,378
- Gail P. Davenport: 10,507
November 4 General election candidates:
District 45
May 20 GOP primary:
- Renee S. Unterman: 7,889
- Incumbent Unterman first assumed office in 2003.
- Renee S. Unterman: 7,889
November 4 General election candidates:
District 46
May 20 GOP primary:
- W.S. "Bill" Cowsert: 11,973
- Incumbent Cowsert first assumed office in 2007.
- W.S. "Bill" Cowsert: 11,973
November 4 General election candidates:
District 47
May 20 GOP primary:
- Franklin J. "Frank" Ginn: 9,289
- Incumbent Ginn first assumed office in 2011.
- Franklin J. "Frank" Ginn: 9,289
November 4 General election candidates:
District 48
Note: Richard A. "Rick" Underwood did not appear on the official primary returns.
May 20 GOP primary:
- David J. Shafer: 6,500
- Incumbent Shafer first assumed office in 2002.
- David J. Shafer: 6,500
November 4 General election candidates:
District 49
May 20 GOP primary:
- Cecil T. "Butch" Miller: 11,206
- Incumbent Miller first assumed office in 2010.
- Cecil T. "Butch" Miller: 11,206
November 4 General election candidates:
District 50
May 20 GOP primary:
- John K. Wilkinson: 12,833
- Incumbent Wilkinson first assumed office in 2011.
- John K. Wilkinson: 12,833
November 4 General election candidates:
District 51
May 20 GOP primary:
- Stephen W. "Steve" Gooch: 16,923
- Incumbent Gooch first assumed office in 2011.
- Stephen W. "Steve" Gooch: 16,923
November 4 General election candidates:
District 52
May 20 GOP primary:
- C.E. "Chuck" Hufstetler: 9,137
- Incumbent Hufstetler first assumed office in 2013.
- C.E. "Chuck" Hufstetler: 9,137
November 4 General election candidates:
District 53
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jeff E. Mullis: 7,007
- Incumbent Mullis first assumed office in 2001. - Thomas E. "Tom" Dooley: 3,219
- Jeff E. Mullis: 7,007
November 4 General election candidates:
District 54
May 20 GOP primary:
- Charles J. "Charlie" Bethel: 8,757
- Incumbent Bethel first assumed office in 2011.
- Charles J. "Charlie" Bethel: 8,757
November 4 General election candidates:
District 55
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Gloria S. Butler: 8,899
- Incumbent Butler first assumed office in 1999. - Mark Anthony Williams: 2,468
- Gloria S. Butler: 8,899
November 4 General election candidates:
District 56
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Akhtar Sadiq: 2,500

- Akhtar Sadiq: 2,500
May 20 GOP primary:
- John E. Albers: 9,433
- Incumbent Albers first assumed office in 2011.
- John E. Albers: 9,433
November 4 General election candidates:
Akhtar Sadiq: 15,087
John E. Albers: 34,734 
See also
External links
- Georgia Secretary of State - Official candidate list
- Georgia Secretary of State - Official primary results
- Georgia Secretary of State - Official primary runoff results
- Georgia Secretary of State - Official general election results