ATLANTA — Former Democratic prosecutor Ken Hodges scored a resounding victory over rival state Rep. Rob Teilhet on Tuesday in the battle for their party’s nomination for the state’s first open attorney general’s race in more than 60 years.
Unofficial returns show Hodges winning 67 percent of the vote with 70 percent of the precincts reporting, giving him an overwhelming win in what was one of the most heated races in Georgia’s election season.
Teilhet generated controversy when he ran an emotional attack ad featuring a grieving mother who claimed Hodges made mistakes in a high-profile case involving the death of her son. Hodges countered that Teilhet was exploiting the victim for political gain.
“I think the voters of this state certainly rejected negative politics and they decided this was about experience, not about politics,” Hodges said after his victory Tuesday. “They thought it was about seeking justice — not about seeking office.”
Hodges will face the winner of a three-way Republican primary in November. Early returns show Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens with 37 percent of the vote in, leading ex-U.S. Attorney Max Wood and state Sen. Preston Smith. The top two vote-getters will go to an Aug. 10 runoff if none gets more than 50 percent of the vote.
The state’s top education post attracted two Republicans and three Democrats who competed for spots in the general election.
The most recognizable name in the race was Democrat Joe Martin, a longtime Atlanta school board member who previously ran for the job. He led former Georgia State University administrator Beth Farokhi and high school teacher Brian Westlake with 55 percent of the vote.
On the Republican side, Bartow County schools administrator John Barge and Irwin County schools administrator Richard Woods competed for the GOP nomination. Barge opened a narrow lead with 51 percent of the vote.
Two names not on the ballot were Kathy Cox, who resigned as superintendent in May for a job in the private sector, and interim Superintendent Brad Bryant, who was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue.In another closely watched race, Secretary of State Brian Kemp earned the Republican nod as he sought to defend his seat for the first time since being appointed by Perdue in January after Karen Handel resigned to run for governor. Kemp, a former state senator, had 60 percent of the vote to lead former Sandy Springs Councilman Doug MacGinnitie.
State Sen. Gail Buckner, who led the crowded Democratic field with 35 percent of the vote, is advancing to an Aug. 10 runoff. State Rep. Georganna Sinkfield of Atlanta clung to second place. Also running were Gary Horlacher, Michael Mills and Angela Moore.
