Chairman Eaves Edges Pitts; Beskin, McCloskey Runoff Bound

Tuesday’s primary saw U.S. Rep. Bob Barr and former state Sen. Barry Loudermilk advance to a July 22 runoff to succeed Phil Gingrey as 11th District Congressman.

Loudermilk, of Cartersville, garnered 36.51 percent of the vote in the six-person Republican primary with Barr, of Smyrna, winning 25.80 percent of the vote. They were followed by Tricia Pridemore at 17.06 percent and Ed Lindsey at 14.83 percent.

With no Democratic candidates, the winner of the runoff will take the seat. The district stretches from Buckhead northwest through Cobb County and into Bartow and Cherokee counties.

Gingrey finished a distant fourth in his bid to gain entry into a Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Saxby Chambliss. See more from that race here. And see here for results of all Fulton races. 

In the race to fill the Georgia House District 54 post vacated by Lindsey, Beth Beskin barely missed winning the Republican primary, and instead will face John McCloskey in the July runoff.

Beskin garnered 49.9 percent of the vote and was followed by McCloskey (30.3 percent), Loretta Lepore (14.7 percent) and Angelic Moore (5.1 percent). The winner will face Democrat Bob Gibeling and independent Bill Bozarth in the November general election to determine who will represent the district that includes most of Buckhead and historic Brookhaven.

In a pair of contested state Senate races, Democratic incumbent Nan Orrock of District 36 garnered 70.8 percent of the vote, while Democratic incumbent Horacena Tate of District 38 scored 76.2 percent of the vote, as both won re-election.

Results of all state Senate and state House races can be found here.

In the Fulton County Board of Commissioners District 3 race, Lee Morris won the four-person Republican primary with 57.2 percent of the vote. Incumbent Tom Lowe is retiring in District 3, which includes all of Buckhead and part of Sandy Springs.

In the at-large District 7 race, incumbent John Eaves barely retained his chairman’s seat against Robb Pitts by winning 50.4 percent. Eaves will face Republican Earl Cooper in the November general election.

"The outcome was a very close one perfectly illustrating that every vote counts,” said Eaves in a statement. “I would like to thank my financial supporters who believe in my leadership and commitment and my campaign team for the hours they spent working on my behalf. I would also like to thank Commissioner Pitts for his many decades of service to the people of Atlanta and Fulton County.  Now, I look forward to the race in November and hope to have your support to remain as your Board of Commission Chairman for the next four years.”