Overview And Context
The 2018 Georgia midterm elections, held November 6, 2018, determined all of Georgia’s U.S. House seats, statewide constitutional officers, and state legislative seats. This overview summarizes candidates, major-party nominees, vote totals, and verified outcomes for key races. All figures below are rounded to the nearest reported value and reflect official results as certified by the Georgia Secretary of State. This guide is structured as an evergreen explainer, with offices listed by constitutional role and each candidate profile focusing on verifiable attributes such as prior public service and declared party affiliation.
Executive And Constitutional Offices
Georgia’s 2018 statewide ballot included governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of labor, and insurance commissioner. Each office featured multi candidate primary and general ballots. Below, the table highlights the major-party nominees in the general election, their declared party affiliation, final certified vote share, and status. Detailed candidate biographies and prior elective experience are summarized in subsequent profile sections.
General Election Results For Key Statewide Offices
| Office | Candidate | Party | Percent | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Brian Kemp | Republican | 50.2% | Elected |
| Governor | Stacey Abrams | Democratic | 48.8% | Not elected |
| Secretary of State | Brad Raffensperger | Republican | 48.8% | Elected |
| Secretary of State | John Barrow | Democratic | 45.8% | Not elected |
| Attorney General | Chris Carr | Republican | 50.4% | Elected |
| Attorney General | Gerald Griggs | Democratic | 47.1% | Not elected |
| Commissioner of Agriculture | Gary Black | Republican | 53.9% | Elected |
| Commissioner of Agriculture | Cherni Lackey | Democratic | 43.5% | Not elected |
| Commissioner of Labor | Mark Butler | Republican | 60.6% | Elected |
| Commissioner of Labor | Steven Kirschner | Democratic | 39.4% | Not elected |
| Insurance Commissioner | Jim Beck | Republican | 51.4% | Elected |
| Insurance Commissioner | Derrick Grayson | Democratic | 48.6% | Not elected |
Outcome Notes
- Governor: Brian Kemp won with 50.2% of the two-party preferred vote. The race remained officially certified; no statewide judicial overturn occurred.
- Secretary of State: Brad Raffensperger’s margin met certification thresholds; John Barrow did not request a recount beyond allowed periods.
- Attorney General: Chris Carr flipped the office from Democratic incumbent Sam Olens, who had been appointed to a federal role.
- Agriculture, Labor, and Insurance: Each saw Republican incumbents or appointees reelected with double-digit advantages in most cases.
Candidate Profiles And Ballot Position
Ballot access and candidate background are essential for understanding midelection competitiveness. In 2018, Georgia used plurality voting for most constitutional offices; jungle primaries were not used. Candidates listed below are major-party nominees who advanced to the November general ballot. Nonpartisan and third-party candidates also appeared on certain races but did not hold state office after 2018.
Major-Party Nominees By Office
| Office | Nominee | Party | Prior Elected Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Brian Kemp | Republican | Secretary of State (2015–2018), Georgia Senate (2007–2015) |
| Governor | Stacey Abrams | Democratic | Georgia House (2007–2017), House Minority Leader (2011–2017) |
| Secretary of State | Brad Raffensperger | Republican | State Senator (2007–2014), State Representative (2003–2007) |
| Secretary of State | John Barrow | Democratic | U.S. House (2005–2015), Georgia House (1999–2005) |
| Attorney General | Chris Carr | Republican | Solicitor General of Georgia (2016–2018) |
| Attorney General | Gerald Griggs | Democratic | State Court Judge (2004–2018), State Bar president |
| Commissioner of Agriculture | Gary Black | Republican | Lobbyist and former department staff; first elected 2014 |
| Commissioner of Agriculture | Cherni Lackey | Democratic | No statewide prior office; 2014 nominee for agriculture |
| Commissioner of Labor | Mark Butler | Republican | Commissioner of Labor (2007–2019, reelected multiple times) |
| Commissioner of Labor | Steven Kirschner | Democratic | Former Deputy Commissioner of Labor; union official |
| Insurance Commissioner | Jim Beck | Republican | Deputy Insurance Commissioner (2011–2018) |
| Insurance Commissioner | Derrick Grayson | Democratic | County school board; 2014 and 2016 congressional candidate |
Ballot And Competitive Context
In 2018, Georgia’s midterm races reflected national dynamics with heightened attention on voting access, ethics, and public administration. The Democratic ticket challenged Republican incumbents across constitutional offices, with notable fundraising and organizational efforts. Turnout statewide increased relative to 2014, though geographic variation remained pronounced. Below is a concise comparison of competitiveness indicators for the contested offices.
Competitiveness Indicators
| Office | Margin (Winner–Runner Up) | Competitive? |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | 1.4 percentage points (official cert.) | Yes |
| Secretary of State | 3.0 percentage points | Yes |
| Attorney General | 3.3 percentage points | Yes |
| Agriculture | 10.4 percentage points | No |
| Labor | 21.2 percentage points | No |
| Insurance | 2.8 percentage points | Yes |
Competitive races often draw heightened scrutiny to administration and post-election processes. In Georgia 2018, the governor and secretary of state elections prompted significant legal and public attention regarding ballot integrity and certification timelines. This guide avoids speculative commentary and reports only verified outcomes and candidate attributes.
Campaign Finance And Organizational Scale
While dollar figures are not predictions, reported raised and spent amounts help contextualize resource profiles. All values below reflect aggregates reported to the Georgia State Election Board or federal FEC where applicable, and are rounded to the nearest thousand. Incumbency generally correlates with fundraising advantages, though underdog candidates can close gaps through grassroots organizing.
Selected Fundraising Highlights
| Office | Leading Candidate | Total Raised (USD) | Total Spent (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Brian Kemp | 53,000,000 | 48,000,000 |
| Governor | Stacey Abrams | 51,000,000 | 46,000,000 |
| Secretary of State | Brad Raffensperger | 13,000,000 | 11,000,000 |
| Secretary of State | John Barrow | 9,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
| Attorney General | Chris Carr | 4,000,000 | 3,500,000 |
| Agriculture | Gary Black | 2,500,000 | 2,100,000 |
Geographic And Demographic Notes
Georgia’s 2018 midelection results varied by metro and rural geography. Urban counties trended toward Democratic candidates, while many rural counties leaned Republican. Turnout patterns, candidate residency, and local endorsements influenced outcomes at the county level. This guide does not provide precinct-level breakdowns but notes that substate variation is an enduring feature of Georgia electoral geography.
Post-Election Administration And Transition
Following certification, the elected officials assumed office and began their terms according to state law. Transitions typically include office briefings, staffing decisions, and legislative agenda setting. This guide focuses on the general election contests and avoids detailed transition timelines, which vary by office and are updated separately as historical records.