Georgia voters will return to the polls on Aug. 10 to cast ballots in at least 20 runoff races in electoral contests where candidates failed to win more than 50 percent of the votes in Tuesday's primary. Given the number of candidates and the number of offices on ballots across the state, the fact that runoffs are necessary is hardly a surprise. What is surprising is which candidates secured spots in the gubernatorial contest and which one did not.
Karen Handel, former Georgia Secretary of State, and former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, who resigned from the House to seek state office, face a runoff for the GOP nomination. A runoff was almost a certainty, given the number of high-profile candidates in the primary. Almost no one, however, would have predicted five months ago that John Oxendine, the state's insurance commissioner, would be locked out of the GOP runoff. He is.
Mr. Oxendine led preference polls for much of the primary season, but finished in fourth place on Tuesday. The fall of Mr. Oxendine, the fund-raising leader in the race, could be tied in part to charges that he accepted more than $120,000 in illegal contributions from insurance companies, but other factors undoubtedly are involved in his abysmal failure to connect with voters. Political scientists and others should relish analyzing his failure.
Mr. Deal, whose campaign grew strong-er as Election Day neared, faced ethical questions as well. The Office of Congressional Ethics reported that Mr. Deal improperly used his office to benefit a personal business. He resigned his seat before facing the disciplinary action the typically follows such reports, but knowledge of the charges was widespread. Still, the controversy surrounding Mr. Deal failed to generate the same antipathy in voters as the problems faced by Mr. Oxendine apparently did.
Mrs. Handel and Mr. Deal likely will continue the slugging match that marked the close of the primary. Mrs. Handel will continue to tout the endorsement of Sarah Palin, the GOP's darling of the moment, and Mr. Deal will counter with an endorsement by Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House. The pair no doubt will continue their personal sniping and their argument about who is the most conservative, but that serves little purpose.
They should explain, instead, the plans and policies they hope will restore the stability and restore the fortunes of a state currently in crisis. Voters need that information to make an informed decision.
The winner of the Handel-Deal runoff will face former Gov. Roy Barnes, who easily won the Democratic primary. Mr. Barnes is a formidable candidate, but should be considered an underdog given the GOP's increasing strength across Georgia.
The runoff for governor is not the only one of interest in the state. Four congressional districts, all Republican, also have runoffs. Included is District 9 in North Georgia, where newly elected Rep. Tom Graves will face Lee Hawkins for the fourth time in the lengthy battle to hold the seat vacated by Mr. Deal. The winner will earn a full term in the U.S. House. There is no Democratic opposition in November.
Other statewide runoffs include the Democratic race for secretary of state and GOP races for attorney general, insurance commissioner and the Public Service Commission. Voters should not ignore those parochial contests. They are an important prelude to the November general election and an integral part of the democratic process.