ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia’s two U.S. senators and their nine fellow Republican U.S. House members are joining those who want a delay in the state’s May 19 primary election.
The 11 officials signed a letter Tuesday to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger urging him to put off the elections.
“We encourage you to use all available flexibility and legal authority to delay the primary until the latest possible date,” the group wrote.
Notably the letter includes the signatures of both U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler and U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, who are competing for the two-year remainder of a Senate term originally won by the now-retired Johnny Isakson. The letter was signed by seven officials who don’t even face elections that day. U.S. Sen. David Perdue and Reps. Drew Ferguson, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk and Rick Allen are unopposed for the Republican nomination, while Reps. Tom Graves and Rob Woodall aren’t seeking reelection.
Raffensperger, also a Republican, says he doesn’t have legal authority to further delay Georgia’s presidential primary and other elections originally set for March 24. Those elections were already pushed back more than the 45 days foreseen in state law, with officials reasoning early voting would resume within 45 days.