COVINGTON, Ga. - Qualifying for the 2018 elections continues Thursday, with time winding down for prospective candidates to get their names on the ballot.
As of the end of qualifying Wednesday, Newton County was in line for no contested local races. In fact, no one had qualified for the 2nd District seat on the Board of Commissioners currently held by Democrat Lanier Sims of Covington.
Steven Rhodes of Covington resigned from the Newton County Recreation Commission on Wednesday and said he would run for the District 2 seat.
J.C. Henderson, the longest-serving member of the Board of Commissioners, is the only candidate to qualify for the 4th District seat. He is a Democrat from Covington.
The three incumbents whose seats are up for election on the county Board of Education have qualified to run. They are Republican Trey Bailey of Covington in District 1, Democrat Shakila Henderson-Baker of Oxford in District 3 and Republican Abigail Coggin of Covington in District 5.
The 4th District seat in Congress had no opposition for incumbent Rep. Hank Johnson, a Democrat from Lithonia, as of Wednesday.
Rep. Jody Hice, a Republican from Greensboro representing the 10th District, had two Republican challengers in Bradley Griffin and Joe Hunt. Tabitha A. Johnson-Green, Chalis Montgomery and Richard Dien Winfield are running in the Democratic primary.
The ballot in the governor's race continued to fill with Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans, both former state representatives, qualifying as Democrats.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, former state Sen. Hunter Hill, Secretary of State Brian Kemp and businessman Clay Tippins have qualified to run for governor in the Republican primary.
Gov. Nathan Deal, a Republican, cannot seek a third term.
2018
ELECTIONS
U.S. Representative, District 4
Democrats: Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (i)
U.S. Representative, District 10
Democrats: Tabitha A. Johnson-Green, Chalis Montgomery, Richard Dien Winfield
Republicans: Bradley Griffin, Jody Hice (i), Joe Hunt
Governor
Democrats: Stacey Evans
Republicans: L.S. “Casey” Cagle, Hunter Hill, Brian Kemp, Clay Tippins
The incumbent is Republican Nathan Deal, who cannot seek another term.
Lieutenant Governor
Democrats: Sarah Riggs Amico, Triana Arnold James
Republicans: Geoff Duncan, Rick Jeffares, David Shafer
The incumbent is Republican Casey Cagle, who is running for governor.
Secretary of State
Democrats: John Barrow, Rakeim “RJ” Hadley
Republicans: Buzz Brockway, David Belle Isle, Brad Raffensperger
The incumbent is Republican Brian Kemp, who cannot seek another term.
Attorney General
Democrats: Charlie Bailey
Republicans: Chris Carr (i)
Commissioner of Agriculture
Republicans: Gary Black (i)
Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire
Democrats: Cindy Zeldin
Republicans: Jim Beck, Jay Florence, Tracy Jordan
The incumbent is Republican Ralph T. Hudgens.
State School Superintendent
Democrats: Sid Chapman
Republicans: John Barge, Richard Woods (i)
Commissioner of Labor
Democrats: Richard Keatley, Fred Quinn
Republicans: Mark Butler (i)
Public Service Commissioner, District 3 (Metro Atlanta)
Democrats: Lindy Miller, John Noel
Republicans: Chuck Eaton (i)
Public Service Commissioner, District 5 (Western)
Democrats: Dawn A. Randolph, Doug Stoner
Republicans: Tricia Pridemore (i)
State Senate, District 17
Democrats: Phyllis D. Hatcher
Republicans: Nelva Lee, Brian Strickland (i)
State Senate, District 43
Democrats: Tonya P. Anderson (i), Joel Thibodeaux
State House, District 109
Democrats: Denise Gaines-Edmond, Regina Lewis-Ward
Republicans: J. Blake Prince, Dale Rutledge (i)
State House, District 110
Republicans: Andrew J. “Andy” Welch (i)
State House, District 112
Republicans: Dave Belton (i)
State House, District 113
Democrats: Pam Dickerson (i), Sharon Henderson
Newton County Board of Commissioners, District 2
The incumbent is Democrat Lanier Sims.
Newton County Board of Commissioners, District 4
Democrats: J.C. Henderson (i)
Newton County Board of Education, District 1
Republicans: Trey Bailey (i)
Newton County Board of Education, District 3
Democrats: Shakila Henderson-Baker (i)
Newton County Board of Education, District 5
Republicans: Abigail Coggin (i)
