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Runoffs set in 5 Georgia congressional primaries

Ron Harris
/
AP

Georgia’s next congressional delegation has yet to be determined after Tuesday’s voting, with the Democrats’ Senate primary still too close to call and at least five House races heading to runoffs. Four other House incumbents won their primaries, including Rep. John Lewis, who was nominated for an 18th term in Congress representing Atlanta.

Documentary producer Jon Ossoff was close to winning a majority against six other other Democrats, but with votes still being counted in the Atlanta area, he also could face a runoff, most likely against former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, for the nomination to challenge Republican Sen. David Perdue.

The partial preliminary results remained too close at midday Wednesday for The Associated Press to declare a winner. Counties across Georgia were in the process of assessing what still remains to be counted, but an AP analysis based on absentee ballots requested and returned suggests there could be well over 100,000 votes remaining to be counted in the Atlanta metro area alone.

At least six other congressional races will go to an Aug. 11 runoff, including battles for open seats in suburban Atlanta, northeast Georgia and northwest Georgia and a party challenge of incumbent Democratic Rep. David Scott, who represents suburban Atlanta in Washington.

Voters also got their say in long-delayed presidential primaries, even though President Donald Trump and Joe Biden have wrapped up their parties’ respective nominations. Biden won Georgia’s primary, appearing alongside 11 other Democrats on ballots finalized months ago. Trump was the only choice on the Republican ballot.

Democrats hope to be competitive in both the Perdue race, as well as a November special election to fill the last two years of the term of retired U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson. Sen. Kelly Loeffler currently holds that seat by appointment.