A general election was held in the U.S. state of Georgia on November 4, 2014. All of Georgia's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, all of Georgia's fourteen seats in the United States House of Representatives and all seats in both houses of the Georgia General Assembly. Primary elections were held on May 20, 2014. Primary runoffs, necessary if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, were held on July 22, 2014.

United States Senate

Incumbent Republican senator Saxby Chambliss chose to retire rather than run for re-election to a third term in office.

Seven Republicans ran for their party's nomination: U.S. Representative Paul Broun, patent attorney Art Gardner, U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey, conservative political activist Derrick E. Grayson, former Secretary of State of Georgia Karen Handel, U.S. Representative Jack Kingston and Georgia Ports Authority board member David Perdue. Perdue and Kingston came first and second, respectively in the primary. As no candidate won a majority, the two proceeded to a runoff. Perdue won the runoff by a narrow margin.

Four Democrats ran for their party's nomination: former state senator Steen Miles, daughter of former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and CEO of Points of Light Michelle Nunn, physician Branko Radulovacki and Reserve Officers' Training Corps instructor Todd Robinson. Nunn easily won the Democratic nomination with almost 75% of the vote.

United States House of Representatives

All of Georgia's fourteen seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

The race in the 12th congressional district is considered by political prognosticators to be the most competitive. In addition, open seat contests in the 1st, 10th, and 11th districts featured competitive Republican primaries for seats held by retiring Republican incumbents. There was also a competitive Democratic primary in the 4th district.

Governor

Incumbent Republican Governor Nathan Deal ran for re-election to a second term as governor.

Deal was challenged in the Republican primary by State Superintendent of Schools John Barge and Dalton Mayor David Pennington. He defeated them all, winning renomination with 72% to 17% for Pennington and 11% for Barge.

State Senator Jason Carter, a grandson of former president and former governor Jimmy Carter, was unopposed for the Democratic Party's nomination.

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Casey Cagle ran for re-election to a third term in office. He was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Connie Stokes, a former DeKalb County Commissioner, former state senator and candidate for Georgia's 4th congressional district in 2004 and 2010 was the Democratic nominee and was unopposed in her primary election.

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CaseyCagle (R) ConnieStokes (D) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 975 ± 3.1% 52% 38% 10%Landmark CommunicationsLandmark Communications November 2, 2014 1,500 ± 2.5% 54% 42% 5%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 30 – November 2, 2014 591 ± 4.1% 54% 38% 9%Landmark CommunicationsLandmark Communications October 29, 2014 1,500 ± 2.5% 53% 42% 5%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 24–27, 2014 611 ± 4% 52% 41% 7%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 17–20, 2014 606 ± 4.1% 48% 40% 12%SurveyUSA October 10–13, 2014 563 ± 4.2% 49% 42% 9%Landmark CommunicationsLandmark Communications October 7–9, 2014 1,000 ± 3.1% 50% 42% 8%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 2–6, 2014 566 ± 4.2% 51% 39% 10%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 2–5, 2014 895 ± 3.3% 48% 37% 16%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 19–22, 2014 550 ± 4.3% 47% 43% 10%Landmark CommunicationsLandmark Communications September 9–11, 2014 1,109 ± 2.9% 50% 41% 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 5–8, 2014 558 ± 4.2% 51% 40% 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA August 14–17, 2014 560 ± 4.2% 53% 36% 12%

Results

Attorney general

Incumbent Republican attorney general Sam Olens ran for re-election to a second term in office. He was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Greg Hecht, a former state representative, former state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2006 was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamOlens (R) GregHecht (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 975 ± 3.1% 51% 37% 12%SurveyUSA October 30 – November 2, 2014 591 ± 4.1% 51% 39% 9%SurveyUSA October 24–27, 2014 611 ± 4% 48% 43% 10%Landmark CommunicationsLandmark Communications October 20–21, 2014 1,000 ± 2.75% 52% 44% 4%SurveyUSA October 10–13, 2014 563 ± 4.2% 46% 43% 11%Landmark Communications October 7–9, 2014 1,000 ± 3.1% 50% 44% 7%SurveyUSA October 2–6, 2014 566 ± 4.2% 46% 39% 15%Public Policy Polling October 2–5, 2014 895 ± 3.3% 45% 36% 19%SurveyUSA September 19–22, 2014 550 ± 4.3% 48% 41% 12%SurveyUSA September 5–8, 2014 558 ± 4.2% 49% 41% 10%SurveyUSA August 14–17, 2014 560 ± 4.2% 49% 36% 15%

Results

Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp ran for re-election to a second term in office. He was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Democratic primary Gerald Beckum, the Mayor of Oglethorpe, and Doreen Carter, president of the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce and a former Lithonia City Councilwoman, ran for the Democratic nomination.

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GeraldBeckum DoreenCarter UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA May 8–12, 2014 549 ± 4.2% 20% 48% 32%SurveyUSASurveyUSA April 24–27, 2014 435 ± 4.8% 23% 48% 29%SurveyUSASurveyUSA March 16–18, 2014 443 ± 4.8% 22% 45% 33%

Results

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BrianKemp (R) DoreenCarter (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 975 ± 3.1% 50% 41% 10%SurveyUSA October 30 – November 2, 2014 591 ± 4.1% 52% 40% 8%Landmark Communications October 29, 2014 1,500 ± 2.5% 51% 42.8% 6.2%SurveyUSA October 24–27, 2014 611 ± 4% 51% 40% 9%SurveyUSA October 17–20, 2014 606 ± 4.1% 47% 40% 13%SurveyUSA October 10–13, 2014 563 ± 4.2% 48% 41% 11%Landmark Communications October 7–9, 2014 1,000 ± 3.1% 50% 44% 7%SurveyUSA October 2–6, 2014 566 ± 4.2% 49% 39% 13%Public Policy Polling October 2–5, 2014 895 ± 3.3% 48% 39% 13%SurveyUSA September 19–22, 2014 550 ± 4.3% 46% 44% 10%SurveyUSA September 5–8, 2014 558 ± 4.2% 52% 39% 9%SurveyUSA August 14–17, 2014 560 ± 4.2% 53% 36% 11%

Results

Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black ran for re-election to a second term in office. He was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Christopher Irvin, a contractor, nominee for the State House of Representatives in 2010 and grandson of former Commissioner Tommy Irvin, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GaryBlack (R) ChristopherIrvin (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 975 ± 3.1% 47% 41% 12%SurveyUSA October 17–20, 2014 606 ± 4.1% 49% 40% 11%Landmark Communications October 7–9, 2014 1,000 ± 3.1% 48% 43% 9%Public Policy Polling October 2–5, 2014 895 ± 3.3% 45% 36% 19%

Results

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire Ralph Hudgens ran for re-election to a second term in office. He was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Ted Metz qualified as the Libertarian nominee.

Democratic primary Insurance associate and former state representative Keith Heard and retired insurance professional Liz Johnson ran for the Democratic nomination.

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror KeithHeard LizJohnson UndecidedSurveyUSA May 8–12, 2014 549 ± 4.2% 26% 43% 31%SurveyUSA April 24–27, 2014 435 ± 4.8% 28% 48% 25%SurveyUSA March 16–18, 2014 443 ± 4.8% 29% 45% 26%

Results

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RalphHudgens (R) LizJohnson (D) TedMetz (L) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 975 ± 3.1% 46% 37% 6% 11%Landmark Communications October 20–21, 2014 1,000 ± 2.75% 46% 41% 9% 4%GaPundit.com October 13–14, 2014 1,543 ± 2.49% 46% 37% 9% 8%Public Policy Polling October 2–5, 2014 895 ± 3.3% 41% 34% 10% 15%

Results

Commissioner of Labor

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler ran for re-election to a second term in office. He was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Attorney and former state representative Robbin Shipp is the Democratic nominee. She was unopposed in the primary election.

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MarkButler (R) RobbinShipp (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 975 ± 3.1% 47% 39% 14%Public Policy Polling October 2–5, 2014 895 ± 3.3% 45% 36% 19%

Results

State Superintendent of Schools

Incumbent Republican State Superintendent of Schools John Barge did not run for re-election to a second term in office. He instead ran for governor.

Republican primary Candidates Declared Mary Kay Bacallao, Fayette County Board of Education member Ashley D. Bell, former Hall County Commissioner Mike Buck, Chief of Staff to John Barge and former administrator of the Rome City School District Sharyl Dawes, teacher and former chairman of the Gwinnett County Republican Allen Bowles Fort, superintendent of the Quitman County School District Nancy Jester, actuarial accountant and former DeKalb County School Board member Fitz Johnson, businessman Kira Willis, teacher and Libertarian nominee for superintendent in 2010 Richard Woods, Republican candidate for superintendent in 2010

Withdrew Matt Schultz, Bartow County School Board member (endorsed Johnson)

Declined John Barge, incumbent State Superintendent of Schools (ran for Governor)

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Mary KayBacallo AshleyBell MikeBuck SharylDawes AllenFort NancyJester FitzJohnson KiraWillis RichardWoods UndecidedSurveyUSA May 8–12, 2014 634 ± 4% 5% 13% 9% 5% 7% 5% 5% 5% 8% 38%SurveyUSA April 24–27, 2014 501 ± 4.5% 4% 10% 7% 4% 7% 7% 5% 3% 9% 43%SurveyUSA March 16–18, 2014 508 ± 4.2% 2% 10% 8% 3% 8% 7% 5% 3% 9% 45%

Results

Runoff

Buck and Woods advanced to the runoff, which Woods won by 199,453 votes to 198,740. As his 713-vote margin of victory was less than 1%, a recount was considered likely. Buck duly requested one on July 29 Georgia GOP race for school superintendent headed for a recount and two days later, Woods was confirmed as the winner after Buck only narrowed the margin by 13 votes. Buck loses recount in Georgia GOP schools race

Democratic primary Candidates Declared Tarnisha Dent, teacher Denise Freeman, consultant and advocate Jurita Forehand Mays, teacher Alisha Thomas Morgan, state representative and non-profit director Rita Robinzine, teacher and candidate for the State House of Representatives in 2008 Valarie Wilson, former president of the Georgia School Boards Association and former City Schools of Decatur Board member

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TarnishaDent DeniseFreeman Jurita ForehandMays Alisha ThomasMorgan RitaRobinzine ValarieWilson UndecidedSurveyUSA May 8–12, 2014 549 ± 4.2% 10% 13% 6% 20% 3% 17% 30%SurveyUSA April 24–27, 2014 435 ± 4.8% 10% 13% 5% 19% 5% 16% 30%SurveyUSA March 16–18, 2014 443 ± 4.8% 9% 16% 11% 12% 5% 17% 29%

Results

Runoff Wilson and Morgan advanced to a runoff, which Wilson won.

General election Polling