This morning U.S. Rep. Karen Handel conceded to Lucy McBath in the 6th Congressional District election.
Here’s part of the statement Handel issued:
After carefully reviewing all of the election results data, it is clear that I came up a bit short on Tuesday. Congratulations to Representative-Elect Lucy McBath and I send her only good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her.
While Tuesday’s loss is indeed disappointing, there is much for which we can and should be grateful.
We live in a great country. In no other nation in the world could a girl leave home at 17 – finish school on her own and then work her way up – and have the incredible opportunities that I have had.
This country has enabled me to follow my dreams personally and professionally. You gave me the honor of serving as Chairman of the Fulton Commission, as Secretary of State. And, for the last year and a half, you gave me the high honor – the incredible privilege – of serving you as your representative in Congress.
My story underscores just how exceptional this country is. In this great nation, the least among us have opportunities to offer our best. We’re a country that encourages and rewards hard work.
McBath, an East Cobb Democrat, claimed victory on Wednesday. Handel, a Republican from Roswell who touted President Trump’s tax cuts, said in response she wouldn’t make any additional statements then.
The results are still unofficial, but McBath surged ahead of Handel by fewer than 3,000 votes after extremely tight returns all evening on Tuesday. Handel won 55 percent of the vote in East Cobb precincts and barely won her North Fulton home ground. McBath got more than 60 percent of the vote in north and central DeKalb.
The margin was within the realm of a recount, but Handel decided against that. After winning a special election last year in the most expensive race in U.S. House history, Handel will have served 18 months when McBath succeeds her in January.
She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since Newt Gingrich was first elected in 1978. McBath also is one of 37 Democrats to defeat Republican incumbents this year, with the GOP losing House control as a result.
On Thursday afternoon, McBath issued a statement in response to the mass shootings in southern California that killed 12 people at a nightclub. Her son was shot and killed six years ago in an incident that prompted her to become a gun-control advocate:
The tragedy in California is one of far too many. I grieve with the families affected and for every life lost. I pray that Congress will support me in taking action to prevent these tragedies from affecting the lives of so many. I am deeply thankful for all of the first responders.
As a congresswoman, but more importantly as a mother,I pledge to do every thing I can to make our communities safer. The most important title I am ever going to hold is Jordan’s mom – and that is what drives me to keep going. Knowing firsthand the deep pain of losing a loved one to gun violence is what drove me to stand up. Then, after watching the tragedy of Parkland, I knew I had to do more. That is why I am here today.
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In two months, the 6th Congressional District Democratic runoff will summon East Cobb voters to go back to the polls.
If Tuesday’s primary vote is any indication, gun-control advocate Lucy McBath should have an advantage on her home turf.
McBath got 36 percent of the vote across the district, which includes North Fulton and North and Central DeKalb.
She will be going up against businessman Kevin Abel, who got 30 percent of the vote. The winner of the July 24 runoff will face current U.S. Rep. Karen Handel, a Roswell Republican, in the November general election.
Neither McBath nor Abel have run for public office before.
The total vote tallies were close following the four-candidate primary, which included former CBS46 news anchor Bobby Kaple (26 percent of the vote) and Lassiter High School graduate Steven Knight Griffin (7 percent).
In the 49 precincts that are in the East Cobb area, McBath won all but 10 of them. She received 4,220 votes in East Cobb, or 39 percent of the vote. Abel got 3,014 votes, or 28 percent.
Abel also won some of the more crucial precincts in the heart of the community, including near Eastside Elementary School and Dickerson Middle School, two Mt. Bethel polling stations, Timber Ridge and Hightower Trail Middle School.
McBath, a former airline flight attendant, got 37 percent of the vote in North Fulton, to 28 percent for Abel, who lives in Alpharetta and is the founder of Abel Solutions, a technology consulting company.
In DeKalb, the margins were virtually a toss-up, with McBath getting 33 percent and Abel 32 percent.
Lucy Bath won the East Cobb precincts in purple, and Kevin Abel in green. (Georgia Secretary of State Office map)
Before her candidacy, McBath earned national attention for her gun-control advocacy after her son was shot and killed by a motorist at a Florida gas station. She had filed to run for Georgia House District 37, which includes some of the Northeast Cobb area, and switched after the Parkland, Fla., school shootings in February.
Abel, who emigrated from South Africa as a teenager, has run on reforming immigration and healthcare policy, as well as Social Security and climate change issues. He’s been especially critical of President Donald Trump over his decision to end DACA, which would allow the children of undocumented immigrants a route to legal U.S. citizenship.
The 6th Congressional District Democratic runoff will come just about a year after last year’s special election, in which Handel held off Democrat Jon Ossoff in a high-profile race that earned national attention and was rated the most expensive U.S. House race ever.
Republicans have held the seat since 1978, when Newt Gingrich was first elected to Congress, and East Cobb turned out strongly in favor of Handel in the runoff.
Last year’s close vote has encouraged Democrats to try again, even after Ossoff declined to run.
In East Cobb, where all state and local office holders are Republicans, Democrats have been especially energized.
There are Democrats running for every one of those offices up for election this year, including Cobb Commission District 3, State Senate District 32, all five State House seats in East Cobb and two Cobb Board of Education seats.
All of those Democrats are also women, with four of the legislative candidates being from minority groups.
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The voting precinct at Eastside Baptist Church. The final hours of primary voting Tuesday were soggy, as a late afternoon rain storm swept through East Cobb. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)
UPDATED, 11:30 P.M.:
Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell has fended off a challenge from Tom Cheek to win the Republican primary in District 3.
Birrell received 5,422 votes, or 58.48 percent, to 3,850 votes for Cheek, or 41.52 percent.
That’s with 98 percent of the vote, as tabulated by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office at 11:09 p.m.
In November, Birrell will face Caroline Holko, a first-time candidate, who easily won the Democratic primary. Holko received 5,643 votes, or 80.69 percent, to 1,350 votes for Jim Smith, or 19.31 percent.
Birrell, first elected in 2010, ran on a platform of opposing tax increases, helping spur redevelopment of the Canton Road corridor and working to establish Mabry Park.
Cheek, a critic of former commission chairman Tim Lee for his handling of the Atlanta Braves stadium deal, campaigned for SPLOST reform, reduced county spending and limiting high-density development.
Holko is a home-schooling mother and liberal political advocate who supports greater transit options in Cobb. She also is opposed to cuts for Cobb libraries and senior services. Smith is a retired Cobb-Marietta water system employee who pushed for greater salary increases for county employees.
Disrict 3 includes some of Northeast Cobb, as well as the Town Center and Kennesaw areas and much of the city of Marietta.
Final results in two contested East Cobb-area legislative races are incomplete as of 11:30 p.m., as is the Democratic primary for the 6th Congressional District race, which may be going to a runoff.
In the Democratic primary for the 6th Congressional District, Lucy McBath has 37 percent of the vote, Kevin Abel 33 percent, Bobby Kaple 24 percent and Steven Knight Griffin 5 percent.
But that’s only the advance voting totals and a few precincts reporting in a district that includes East Cobb, North Fulton and North DeKalb. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Karen Handel, a Republican, in November.
There also are only very early results in House District 44, where State Rep. Don Parsons, a Republican, was being challenged by Homer Crothers in GOP balloting.
Parsons had 2,835 votes, or 79.36 percent, to 742 for Crothers, or 20.74 percent. The winner faces Democrat Chinita Allen in November.
In State House District 37, Marietta activist Mary Frances Williams had 1,938 votes, or 70.27 percent, in the Democratic primary. Trailing were Ragin Edwards with 501 votes, or 18.17 percent, and Bill Bolton with 319 votes, or 11.57 percent.
The winner faces Republican incumbent Sam Teasley in November.
More coverage is coming on Wednesday, once the final results are in, as is a detailed look at the District 3 voting.
In Cobb commission District 1 in north and west Cobb, Republican incumbent Bob Weatherford is headed for a runoff against Kelli Gambrill.
In the governor’s race, former Georgia House Minority leader Stacey Abrams easily won the Democratic nomination over Cobb former State Rep. Stacey Evans, by a 76-24 percent margin.
Abrams becomes the first woman to become a major party nominee for Georgia governor, and the first African-American woman nationwide to win a major party nomination for governor.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp appear headed for a runoff in the Republican primary on July 24.
Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell has pulled away from challenger Tom Cheek in the Republican Party primary for District 3, which includes some of Northeast Cobb.
With 87 percent of precincts reporting, she has received 4,909 votes, or 58.61 percent of the vote. Cheek has 3,466 votes, or 41.39 percent.
Caroline Holko is easily winning the Democratic primary with 4,981 votes, or 80.52 percent, to 1,205 votes for Jim Smith, for 19.48 percent.
UPDATED, 9:56 P.M.
Nearly half the vote has been counted in the Cobb Commission District 3 elections.
With 44 percent of precincts reporting, incumbent JoAnn Birrell’s lead in the GOP primary has shrunk only slightly. She has 3,077 votes, or 58.76 percent, to 2,160 votes for Tom Cheek, or 41.24 percent.
Caroline Holko continues to lead easily in the Democratic primary. She has 3,002 votes, or 79.97 percent, to 752 votes for Jim Smith, or 20.03 percent.
UPDATED, 8:53 P.M.
The first results from local Cobb races are being reported. In Cobb Commission District 3, incumbent JoAnn Birrell leads Tom Cheek 60 percent-40 percent in the Republican primary.
Birrell has 761 votes to 496 for Cheek in advance voting totals.
On the Democratic side, Caroline Holko leads James Smith 80-20 percent, or 686 to 168 votes.
UPDATED, 7:36 P.M.
Some advance and absentee voting results are rolling in for statewide offices. Casey Cagle and Brian Kemp are the early leaders in the Republican primary for governor, while Stacey Abrams is leading Stacey Evans on the Democratic side.
ORIGINAL REPORT, POSTED AT 7:01 P.M.:
East Cobb voters went to the polls today to choose party nominees for a variety of offices, including Cobb Commission District 3, the 6th Congressional District, several legislative races and as well as governor and other statewide offices.
The most closely watched race in East Cobb is District 3 on the Cobb Commission, where Republican incumbent JoAnn Birrell is being challenged by Tom Cheek in the GOP primary. The winner will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Jim Smith and Caroline Holko.
A Democratic runoff for the 6th Congressional District seat is possible, with Kevin Abel, Steven Knight Griffin, Bobby Kaple and Lucy McBath vying to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Karen Handel in November.
State Rep. Sharon Cooper, a Republican, was being challenged in the primary by Kevin James, but he was disqualified on Friday.
Voters also chose from a number of non-partisan candidates for various state and local judgeships.
A Republican runoff in the governor’s race is likely, with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp leading in some late polls. On the Democratic side, former state House minority leader Stacey Abrams of Atlanta was leading former State Rep. Stacey Evans of Cobb.
Other races included lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state labor, insurance, agriculture and public service commissioners, as well as state school superintendent.
Democrats were also voting on straw poll questions on gun bump stock sales, Medicaid expansion, transit funding and an independent redistricting commission.
Turnout was projected to be less than 20 percent across Cobb County.
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Students, teachers, staff and parents at the official opening for the new Walton High School building in July. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)
East Cobb News launched in July, but most of the most notable stories in the community took place during those last six months of 2017.
With just a few days left before the start of a new year, here’s a more-or-less chronological compilation of the stories, events and people who were the biggest newsmakers in East Cobb in 2017.
Handel elected in nationally-watched Congressional race
When Karen Handel defeated Jon Ossoff in a June runoff to win the 6th Congressional District special election, she got a strong turnout in East Cobb that aided her victory. Among her biggest supporters were East Cobb commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Bob Ott, at whose August town hall meeting Handel spoke shortly after taking office to succeed Tom Price. Story.
New classroom building opens at Walton High School
The new $48 million Walton High School classroom and administration building was officially opened in late July, right before the start of a new school year, as work on a new gymnasium and fine arts building was set to get underway. Story and Photos.
In his first year in office, Cobb Commission chairman Mike Boyce was defeated in his proposal to raise the property tax millage rate to fulfill the 2008 parks bond referendum. Story. A couple months later, he and his colleagues hammered out a fiscal year 2018 budget by using contingency funding to close a $20 million deficit. Story.
Wheeler High School becomes STEAM-certified
Shortly after the school year began, Wheeler High School was notified that it was the first high school in Georgia to earn STEAM certification. Story.
Lower Roswell Road crash kills two
Two young men escaping hurricane weather in Florida were killed in September when their car crashed into a brick wall at the entrance to the Gold Branch Unit of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area on Lower Roswell Road. One of the victims was a Wheeler graduate. Story.
Dream season for Walton football team
With a first-time head coach and a losing record a year ago, the Walton Raiders weren’t expected to be a contending team in 2017. But they were one of the biggest surprises in all of Cobb and Georgia high school football with an 11-1 season that ended in the state playoffs. Story.
East Cobb water main replacement completed
After nearly two years of traffic delays on Lower Roswell Road, the $47 million East Cobb Water Main replacement project was completed in the fall and into the early winter, replacing the 54-inch, 6-mile pipes laid down 50 years ago. Story.
Funding for Mabry Park construction approved
After years of delays, Mabry Park is set to become a reality in 2019, as Cobb commissioners voted to spend $2.85 million to build the new facility on Wesley Chapel Road. Story.
A library opens, another eyed for closure
In December, the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center opened to replace the East Marietta Library. Story. However, the occasion was preceded by commissioner JoAnn Birrell’s suggestion to close the East Cobb Library, which drew heated opposition. Story.
A Winter Wonderland in East Cobb
In early December, an unexpectedly heavy winter storm dumped nearly a foot of snow in north Georgia, and most of East Cobb got several inches. Coverage. For one East Cobb family, however, the storm left them without power and heat for nearly four days. Story.
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