If you’re keeping up with the 2024 political season, you would be accurate in saying, the first half is over, the halftime show is about to start, and the second half is shaping up to be a wild west rodeo. Locally, the results of the May 21, 2024, general election primaries revealed few surprises. For the District 12 Congressional race, Rick Allen won the Republican slot and Elizabeth Johnson captured the Democrat nomination. For State Senate, District 23, Senator Max Burns will face Democrat Shayna Boston in the November general election. For District 158, Representative Butch Parrish will carry the Republican banner against Democrat Madeline Ryan Smith. The remainder of the local County races were without opposition or had already been decided. These included the offices of Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, Coroner, Solicitor General, District Attorney, Clerk of Court, Probate Court Judge, and State Court Judge. There was only one local, contested, non-partisan race in this round of elections. In that race for Emanuel County Board of Education, District 7, the victory went to Del Brown with 335 votes over Cathi Frederiksen with 71 votes. The race for County Commission District 3 will be decided with a run-off election on June 18. Newcomers Chandra Hooks and John “Johnny” Moore will square off in a final competition for that post. In other State races of local interest, Andrew Pinson defeated John Barrow for a Supreme Court Judgeship and Jeff Davis was the winner in the race for a seat on the Georgia Court of Appeals over Tabitha Ponder.
That brings the 2024 political game up to date with the traditional third quarter” race to the finish line” of the Presidential election set to begin the day after Labor Day. Current plans for Presidential Debates are scheduled for the end of June and early September.