ATLANTA — There were not a lot of surprises in Georgia’s U.S. Senate race Tuesday. Republican incumbent Johnny Isakson crushed his two primary challengers.
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Isakson said he's confident looking ahead to November.
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Isakson was perhaps so confident he would win that he wasn't even in Georgia campaigning ahead of the election Tuesday. Instead, he spent the day working in Washington.
“This election is the most important election in the history of our country, not because I’m up for re-election, (but) because voters will choose a new president for the first time in eight years,” Isakson said.
Isakson will face Democrat Jim Barksdale who has so far self-funded his campaign. Barksdale had no public events Tuesday. The Atlanta businessman voted early on Friday in south Fulton County.
Barksdale is a political newcomer. He loaned his campaign more than $1 million and is running ads calling himself “the guy in the hat.”
Libertarian Allen Buckley is also in this race.
He ran and lost in 2004 and 2008, but did force a runoff between then-incumbent Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.
This year, the Senate election could depend a lot on turnout in the presidential election.
RESULTS: Georgia 2016 Primary Election Results
"This election is the most important election in the history of our country, not because I'm up for re-election, because voters will choose a new president for the first time in 8 years," Isakson said.
Isakson will face Democrat Jim Barksdale who has so far self-funded his campaign. He had no public events Tuesday. The Atlanta businessman votes early on Friday in south Fulton County.
Barksdale is a political newcomer. He loaned his campaign more than $1 million and is running ads as "the guy in the hat."
Libertarian Allen Buckley is also in this race.
He ran and lost in 2004 and 2008, but did force a run-off between then-incumbent Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.
This year, the Senate election could depend a lot on turnout in the presidential election.
DeKalb CEO Race
Former DeKalb County School Superintendent Michael Thurmond will likely be on the Democratic ticket to fill the seat of suspended DeKalb County CEO Burrel Ellis.
Thurmond said this is a great opportunity in a critical moment for DeKalb County. He's says it's a must to rebuild confidence and trust in the government here.
While serving as school superintendent, Thurmond helped turn the district around when accreditation was in trouble. He's also the former labor commissioner.
He spent time Tuesday night talking with Channel 2's Carl Willis about the importance of a government that's honest and transparent, especially after recent indictments and scandals involving past DeKalb CEOs.
Thurmond rallied after the results started coming in Tuesday evening, showing him well ahead of fellow Democratic candidate Connie Stokes, who is a former state senator and county commissioner.
Thurmond said there is still plenty of work to do, but he's already focusing on the job and what needs to be done.
"I'm humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement. At the same time, it's a great responsibility. If I'm elected, I will be elected to do a job. We want to move in another direction. We will move in another direction. We've been through some tough times, but the tough times last just for a night and joy always comes in the morning," Thurmond said.
Willis also spoke with Jack Lovelace over the phone Tuesday. He's a former businessman and the Republican candidate for DeKalb County CEO.
Although DeKalb County traditionally leans heavily Democratic, Lovelace hopes voters will consider his candidacy.
Other Races
In DeKalb County, early numbers show incumbent Sheriff Jeff Man leading the Democratic candidates. He's up against four other candidates. The top two are Geraldine Champion and Kyle Jones.
Only one person ran on the Republican ticket. Harold Dennis will move on to the November election.
In the DeKalb County district attorney race, incumbent District Attorney Robert James has been defeated by Shirley Boston.
A contentious race for sheriff took place in Forsyth County. Duane Piper is the incumbent, but so far he is losing the Republican ticket to Ron Freeman.
Both candidates engaged in allegations against the other. Freeman says Piper didn't do anything about a deputy who showed up for work drunk.
Piper showed Channel 2 Action News county documents saying Freeman is accused of failing to disciple a subordinate who had an inappropriate relationship.
In Cobb County, the race for commission chairman is heading to a runoff.
It was a tight race as Mike Boyce received 49 percent of the vote. Current chairman, Tim Lee, trailed behind him with 40 percent.
Some have criticized Lee for how Cobb County landed the new Braves ballpark and how public money will be paying for part of it.
Democrats running for Fulton County sheriff will likely head to a runoff.
Early numbers show incumbent Ted Jackson leading Richard Lankford and three other candidates -- but no one has the majority. Whoever wins the runoff race could face Republican Ben Cowart in November. Early numbers show Cowart with a large lead over Shurron Green.
Early results on the Fulton County education special purpose local option sales tax, or E-SPLOST, show it passing, overwhelmingly.
People we talked to supported the 1-cent sales tax to fund construction and renovation projects.
"In general, when these kinds of issues come up, I usually vote for them because I think our schools are underfunded," said voter Brian Guilbault.
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, 79 percent voted for the E-SPLOST, while 21 percent opposed it.
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said the tax could provide as much as $546 million over five years.