Ageneral election was held in theU.S. state ofGeorgia on November 2, 2010. All of Georgia's executive officers were up for election as well as aUnited States Senate seat, all of Georgia's thirteen seats in theUnited States House of Representatives and all seats in both houses of theGeorgia General Assembly.Primary elections were held on July 20, 2010. Primary runoffs, necessary if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, were held on August 10, 2010. General runoffs were held on November 30, 2010.
Incumbent governorSonny Perdue (R) was ineligible to seek re-election due to term limits. The Republican primary featured four candidates who received over 15% of the vote in the first round: formerSecretary of StateKaren Handel, former U.S. representativeNathan Deal, formerGeorgia state senatorEric Johnson, and Insurance CommissionerJohn Oxendine.[2] Handel, Deal, and Johnson all resigned their offices during or shortly before the campaign. Because no candidate received a majority of the vote, the race went to a runoff between the top two candidates, Handel and Deal.
Deal won the runoff narrowly, with a margin of about 0.4%, or 2,519 votes out of 579,551 cast.[3] The Democratic nomination was won easily by former governorRoy Barnes without a runoff; his most prominent opponent wasAttorney GeneralThurbert Baker.[4]
In the general election, Deal defeated Barnes, becoming just the third Republican to be elected Governor of Georgia, after Perdue and Reconstruction-era governorRufus Bullock.
Incumbent Secretary of StateBrian Kemp (R), who succeededKaren Handel (R) after she resigned to focus on her gubernatorial bid,[8] sought election to a full term and won the Republican primary on July 20.Georganna Sinkfield defeatedGail Buckner in a runoff for the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent superintendent of educationKathy Cox (R) originally intended to seek re-election, but on May 17 announced that she would resign effective July 1, 2010 in order to take a position as CEO of a newnon-profit, the U.S. Education Delivery Institute in Washington D.C.[11]William Bradley Bryant was appointed by Gov. Perdue to fill the vacancy,[12] but failed to qualify to run in the November election as an independent.[13] Joe Martin andJohn D. Barge won the Democratic and Republican nominations, respectively.
Incumbent commissioner of insuranceJohn Oxendine (R) was retiring from his position to run for Governor of Georgia.Ralph Hudgens defeated Maria Sheffield in a runoff for the Republican nomination, while Mary Squires was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent Commissioner of AgricultureTommy Irvin (D) was retiring in 2010.[16]Gary Black won the Republican nomination, while J.B. Powell was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent Commissioner of LaborMike Thurmond (D) was retiring from his position to run for theUnited States Senate. Darryl Hicks narrowly won the Democratic nomination, according to unofficial results, whileMark Butler easily won the Republican nomination.
In 2010, one seat on theGeorgia Public Service Commission was up for election. Though candidates must come from the districts that they wish to represent on the commission, they are elected statewide.
Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Bobby Baker (R) was retiring in 2010.[19]Tim Echols defeated John Douglas in a runoff for the Republican nomination, while Keith Moffett was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
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