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2006 Election Cycle in Georgia Sets Pace for Pro-Life Movement
Despite national trends that swept across the nation, pro-life voters in Georgia significantly impacted races from the legislature to the Governor’s mansion.
Georgians returned pro-life Governor Sonny Perdue (R-Bonaire) to the Capitol with a 58-38 margin, defeating Planned Parenthood-backed Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor (D-Albany). For the first time in history voters chose a GRTL-endorsed ally, Casey Cagle (R-Chestnut Mountain), as their next Lieutenant Governor. Choose Life tags were also approved by the voters through Constitutional Amendment #3 by a 2-to-1 majority. For three consecutive election cycles, pro-life forces in Georgia have increased the number of elected officials.
The Georgia General Assembly was the ONLY legislature in the nation that increased its number of pro-life endorsed candidates in the House AND Senate. Legislative races indicate that the 2007 session may produce significant potential regarding life issues. Since the Republican takeover of the state senate four years ago, a pro-life majority has produced a number of significant pieces of legislation. An even stronger pro-life caucus is expected following the 2006 election cycle, with GRTL-endorsed candidates holding a majority of the senate seats for the first time ever. In addition, the number of GRTL-endorsed candidates increased from 59 to 65 in the state house.
An even better indicator of the trend in Georgia is found in the head-to-head contests with pro-abortion groups. WIN-List, a political action committee founded to support pro-abortion, Democratic women seeking statewide and legislative positions, fielded candidates in six races facing GRTL-endorsed candidates. Of the six, five races were won by the pro-life candidate (83%). In direct races with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Georgia, GRTL-endorsed candidates were victorious in 11 of 14 races (or 79%).
At the national level, the pro-life movement faced a difficult election night. In the U.S House, it appears that the Democrats gained at least 30 seats as they returned to power with Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi. Representative Pelosi has already confirmed a vote on a controversial stem-cell research bill within the first 100 hours of her new administration. In the senate 49 Republicans and 49 Democrats were elected by their states, but the two independents will give control to the Democrats since they are expected to caucus and vote with the Democrats.
Georgia Right to Life was very active in the Georgia congressional races. Max Burns lost to the pro-abort incumbent, Congressman John Barrow, by less than two percentage points. Regardless of the outcome, pro-life voters gave both candidates a distinct advantage in races that many political analysts believed would be extremely difficult to win.
Candidates endorsed by the Georgia Right to Life Political Action Committee (GRTL PAC) were extremely successful during the 2006 General Election. In summary, 100 of the 119 (83 %) of the general election races involving candidates endorsed by the GRTL PAC were won by a GRTL-endorsed candidate!
OVERVIEW
Georgia Congressional Delegation
9 Endorsed Candidates
(Including 4 Incumbents)
4 wins (Westmoreland-3rd, Linder-7th, and Deal-9th, and Gingrey-11th)
5 losses (Hughes-2nd, Davis 4th, Collins-8th, Burns 12th, and Honeycutt-13th)
9 Total Races
Georgia Statewide (+1)
5 GRTL-Endorsed Candidates
(Including 1 Incumbent)
2 wins-Sonny Perdue and Casey Cagle (1st Republican Lt. Governor in state’s history)
3 losses-(Perry McGuire-Attorney General, Gary Black-Agriculture Commissioner, and Brent Brown-Labor Commissioner)
Georgia State Senate (+1)
17 GRTL-Endorsed Candidates face NO opposition in the Fall
(Automatic wins)
15 GRTL-Endorsed Candidates faced opposition in the Fall
(Including 11 Incumbents)
12 wins-Johnson-1st (opponent declared ineligible week before election), Bulloch-11th, Douglas-17th, Harp-29th, Hamrick-30th, Heath-31st, Hill-32nd, Hudgens-47th, Hawkins-49th, *Schaefer-50th (52.7%), Smith-52nd, Mullis (52nd)
3 losses-Hoppe-6th(Stoner), *Grant-33rd(37.9-Thompson), Hinton-43rd(Henson)
32 Total Races
29 for majority in Senate
Georgia State House (+1)
40 GRTL-Endorsed Candidates face NO opposition in the Fall
(Including 37 Incumbents)
33 GRTL-Endorsed Candidates face opposition in the Fall
(Including 19 Incumbents)
23 wins-Martin-2nd, Forster-3rd, Jenkins-9th (D-51.9%), Crawford/Waldrop-16th, Butler-18th, Byrd-20th (write-in opposition), Jerguson-22nd, Golick-34th, Dollar-45th, Jones-46th, Hembree-67th, Nix-69th, Lakly-72nd, Everson-106th, Knight-126th, *Sellier-136th (68.3%) *Freeman-140th (54.5), Talton-145th, O’Neal-146th, Scott-153rd, Royal-171st, *Maddox 172nd-(53.7%), Keen-179th
8 losses *Quarterman-28th (Jamieson), *Griffin 29th (Powell), Cindye Coates (Johncon), Eric Underwood (Mable “Able” Thomas-55th), Woody Holmes(Beasely-Teague)-65th, Helen Blocker-Adams-120th(Murphy), Johnson 122nd (Howard), Smith-134th (Cheokas), Williams-175th (Carter),
91 for majority in House
119 TOTAL RACES
U.S. Senate
Before- Current-
Republican-55 Republican-49
Democrat-45 Democrat-49
independent-0 independent-2 (both will caucus with the Democrats)
U.S. House
Before- Current-
Republican-232 Republican-201 (-31)
Democrat-202 Democrat-232
independent-1 independent-1
Vacant-1 (Georgia House District 10)
State Senate (no change)
Before- Current-
Republican-34 Republican-34
Democrat-22 Democrat-22
State House (+1)
Before- Current-
Republican-99-100 (104) Republican-105
Democrat-80-79 (75) Democrat-75
independent-1 independent-0
GRTL versus WIN-LIST-GRTL WINS 5 of 6 races!!
6 Races = 5 won by GRTL (83%)
State Senate
Ruth Levy-LOSER
State House
2-Sadie Morgan-LOSER
46-Melanie Eyre-LOSER
55-“Able” Mable Thomas-WON (write-in)
136-Beth Perera-LOSER
140-Lauren Benedict-LOSER
GRTL versus Planned Parenthood
14 Races = 11 won by GRTL (79%)
PP recommended a no vote on Choose Life Amendment #3-LOST
Statewide Office
Governor – Mark Taylor-LOSER
Lieutenant Governor – Jim Martin-LOSER
State Senate
SD 6 - Doug Stoner-WON
SD 32 - RuthE Levy-LOSER
State House
HD 2 - Sadie Morgan-LOSER
HD 22 - Kevin Bailey-LOSER
HD 28 - Jeannette Jamison-WON
HD 34 - Neil Garvin-LOSER
HD 46 - Melanie Eyre-LOSER
HD 72 - Kevin Madden-LOSER
HD 106 - Tony Lentini-LOSER
HD 120 - Quincy Murphy-WON
HD 136 - Beth Perera -LOSER
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