Martha Roby Wins Alabama Runoff; Georgia Runoffs Next Tuesday

July 18, 2018

Rep. Martha Roby easily won renomination in the Republican primary runoff in Alabama's 2nd congressional district on Tuesday. She defeated former Rep. Bobby Bright by a 68-32% margin.

Coasting to this easy win, Roby appears to have gotten past the issues around her loyalty to President Trump. Those hindered her re-election campaign in 2016, where she won by only 8% in this very conservative district. Roby will be the prohibitive favorite over Democratic nominee Tabitha Isner in November.

Next Tuesday, there are two runoff elections in Georgia. In the gubernatorial race, Republican Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle faces off against Brian Kemp, the Secretary of State. Cagle received more of the vote (39% to Kemp's 25%) in the May 22nd primary and also led in early runoff polling. However, the race appears to have tightened and could go either way. The winner will meet Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams in the general election. 

In Georgia's 6th congressional district - one of the only potentially competitive general election districts in the state - gun control advocate Lucy McBath meets businessman Kevin Abel in a runoff for the Democratic nomination. The winner will meet incumbent Republican Karen Handel in November. Handel will be seeking her first full term; she won a high-profile special election over Jon Ossoff in 2017.