ATLANTA — Former prosecutor Ken Hodges easily defeated state Rep. Rob Teilhet to claim the Democratic Party's nomination for attorney general, while ex-Cobb County Commission chair Sam Olens advanced to a runoff in the GOP race.
Hodges had 65 percent of the vote in unofficial returns with 99 percent of the precincts counted. He will face one of three Republicans running to succeed Democrat Thurbert Baker, who ran unsuccessfully for governor.
Olens lead that contest with 40 percent of the vote, while state Sen. Preston Smith earned a spot in the runoff with 31 percent of the vote. Former U.S. Attorney Max Wood finished third.
Olens and Smith will face one another in the Aug. 10 runoff.
In the bitter Democratic primary, Teilhet ran an emotional attack ad accusing Hodges of making mistakes in a high-profile criminal case. Hodges said his opponent was exploiting the victim's family for political gain.
WSBTV
