Atlanta’s Mayoral Race
Incumbent Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens cruised to a second four-year term with over 85% of the vote despite facing three challengers: Helmut “Love” Domagalski, Kalema Jackson, and Eddie Meredith. No mayoral candidate has unseated the incumbent since Maynard Jackson was elected Atlanta’s first Black mayor in 1973.
Public Service Commission District 2 and District 3
This statewide race was one many were eagerly watching, as PSC commissioners have received criticism this year for approving six Georgia Power rate hikes over the past two years, resulting in residential customers paying an estimated $516 more annually on their electric bill than they were in 2022.
Republican incumbents Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson were defeated by Democratic challengers Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson.
Hubbard, who won the seat in PSC District 3 — which includes metro Atlanta — told Capital B Atlanta via email that he is “deeply grateful” to Georgia voters for the win.
“Affordability is front and center in voters’ minds, and today they overwhelmingly said they’re tired of subsidizing corporate interests at the expense of their families,” Hubbard said.
“As I serve out my first term on the Public Service Commission, I will work tirelessly to lower utility costs, to bring more clean, reliable energy resources to this state, and to refocus the Commission’s work on the public interest.”
Alicia Johnson, who won District 2, which includes Savannah and most of the state’s Atlantic coastal region, saw the returns come in during a watch party at Hotel Indigo in Savannah.
Johnson told Capital B Atlanta that she attributed tonight’s victory to her campaign’s message about affordability.
“Every Georgian in our state is sitting around their kitchen table wondering why they’re paying power bills that look like car notes,” she said. “People finally understood that their bill was too high and they can vote on that.”
Johnson and Hubbard became just the third and fourth Democrats to win statewide offices in Georgia since 2006, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The writing appeared to be on the wall for Echols and Fitz Johnson before the polls even opened today, as many voters were angry about the incumbents’ recent-year support for Georgia Power rate hikes. On Saturday, Echols told his social media followers that his team estimated he was down “80k-100k” votes.
South Fulton Mayor
In South Fulton, there were nine candidates vying to be the next mayor of America’s Blackest major city. Now a runoff election will decide the victor.
City Council member Carmalitha Gumbs received more than 39% of the vote with 100% of precincts reporting, according to the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections. Former South Fulton City Council member Mark Baker came in a distant second with more than 19% of the vote.
Current mayor khalid “Kobi” kamau, whose time in office has been marred by multiple scandals, received only 4.73% of the vote, finishing sixth. The incumbent, who prefers using all lowercase letters when spelling his first and last names, changed his mind about not seeking reelection in September.
Gumbs was in an upbeat mood on election night as she watched the returns come in with campaign supporters at Sugar Plum Events in South Fulton. She attributed her sizable lead to avoiding mudslinging and running a “classy campaign.”
“We wanted to make sure we kept it above board, which is what the citizens in the city of South Fulton deserve,” Gumbs told Capital B Atlanta late Tuesday night. “Everybody knows that this is a critical election for our city. I’m excited to see so many people have decided to put their faith in me.”
Gumbs also expressed optimism about defeating Baker in their runoff.
“We’re going to continue to work as hard as we have been to make sure that voters go back out, activate our voting base,” she said.
The runoff election is set to take place on Dec. 2.
City Council President
Marci Collier Overstreet didn’t need a runoff to defeat Rohit Malhotra in the race to become the next president of Atlanta City Council. Overstreet received more than 54% of the unofficial vote to Malhotra’s 45.65% with 100% of precincts reporting.
Her margin of victory was much narrower than Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ despite receiving his endorsement and support during her campaign, a fact Overstreet seemingly acknowledged during an election night interview with WABE.
“Atlanta got it right,” Overstreet told reporters Tuesday night. “I would have liked for them to get it right earlier, and most definitely with a larger margin, of course” she added with a laugh. “This just means that we just have to keep being collaborative. I just think we need to keep communicating with one another and working on Atlanta.”
Formerly known as the vice-mayor, the president steps into the mayor’s seat if he or she leaves office unexpectedly, until a new mayor is elected. The council president is responsible for presiding over City Council meetings and breaking any tie votes. He or she also appoints committee chairs at the start of each year. Unlike the mayor, there are no term limits for this role.
District 11
A runoff race will also be needed to decide who will replace Overstreet as the representative of Atlanta City Council District 11, which includes the southwest Atlanta neighborhoods of Campbellton Road, Cascade Road, and Greenbriar. Gentrification and affordability were voters’ main concerns throughout this election cycle.
Government affairs professional Wayne Martin received the largest share of the 9,111 unofficial votes counted Tuesday night, with more than 33% of the vote. Real estate attorney Nate Jester came in second with more than 20% of the vote. Local AME church leader Toni Belin-Ingram placed third with more than 15% of the vote.
Jester expressed “excitement” about making it to the runoff against Martin.
“I am excited at the opportunity to represent the community that raised me,” Jester told Capital B Atlanta. “When we got into this race, folks told me I didn’t have the political connections to win. … I put my faith in the community, and the community showed up for me. My plan is to work really hard. It’s been months. It’s been a grind, but I was in the Marines. I’m used to hard work. I’m used to the grind.”
This story has been updated.
Staff writers Chauncey Alcorn, Madeline Thigpen, and Alyssa Johnson and community engagement editor Ann Hill Bond contributed to this report.
