GA Democratic Senate race headed for runoff

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GA Democratic Senate race headed for runoff

Story Published: Jul 15, 2008 at 9:12 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 16, 2008 at 10:20 AM EST

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia's Democratic race for U.S. Senate is
headed for a runoff.

DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones and former
state lawmaker Jim Martin leapt out to early leads in the five-way
race, but early unofficial returns tonight show that neither is
close to cracking the 50 percent margin needed to claim the
nomination.

With 82 percent of precincts reporting, Jones has just over 40
percent of the vote to Martin's 34.5 percent. They were squaring
off in against three political newcomers for the right to challenge
Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss in November. An August 5th
runoff will be necessary.

In other races, Georgians chose experience over change in Tuesday's election.

Four congressmen held off primary challengers, including U.S.
Representative John Lewis, in Atlanta, who was facing his first
Democratic battle in 16 years.

Democratic U.S. Representaive John Barrow turned back state
Senator Regina Thomas of Savannah in eastern Georgia's 12th
Congressional District. In northeastern Georgia, Republican
incumbent Paul Broun defeated a well-funded rival backed by the
state GOP establishment in the 10th Congressional District.

Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Marshall crushed a Macon teacher
in central Georgia's 8th Congressional District.

Lewis has no Republican challenger so his win Tuesday night
guarantees him a return trip to Washington. Broun and Marshall each
face rivals from opposing parties who are running unopposed.

Barrow will take on the winner of a three-way GOP primary in
eastern Georgia. John Stone, a former congressional aide from
Augusta, was the early leader in that race.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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