Georgia’s race for Lieutenant Governor to impact state Senate power structure

By Chelsea Madden
The Telegraph

The lieutenant governor is the second-highest executive position in Georgia and is a four-year term, with no term limits. The position is on the Nov. 3 election ballot. Burt Jones holds the position, but he is not running for lieutenant governor. Instead, he ran for governor but lost the Republican primary to Rick Jackson in a runoff. 

The lieutenant governor supports the state by: 

• Serving on state boards and commissions
• Maintaining order in the Senate chambers with debates 
• Casting tie-breaking votes when the Senate is split 
• Acting as the governor if the governor is not able to serve 
• Managing bill movements and influencing how legislation flows. 

While the lieutenant governor does lead the Senate chamber for the state, the position is significantly impacted by the Republican majority in the Senate. That resulted in Democratic candidates debating who would be best at crossing the aisle during the primaries.

Nonetheless, the power afforded to the position is a significant one, assuming the chamber’s Republican majority does not attempt to alter the guardrails around the position, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution alluded to in August.

Here’s who is running for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia: 

Democratic candidate Josh McLaurin

State Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Sandy Springs) is serving his fourth term in the legislature. He graduated from the University of Georgia and is a Yale-educated attorney. McLaurin represents the 14th Senate District, which includes Sandy Springs, Roswell, John’s Creek and Alpharetta. He secured $1 million in the state budget to help support veterans’ post-traumatic stress. 

“I’m not here to do culture war,” McLaurin posted on Facebook in August. “I’m here to focus on what matters. That’s what voters want.”

McLaurin’s main platforms: 

• Reinvest in working families 
• Stand with workers and strengthen labor
• Increase affordable housing
• Make healthcare more accessible 
• Stand for democracy and fundamental rights.

Healthcare emerged as a priority for McLaurin as he sought the Democratic nomination this year. He also focused on repealing Georgia’s six-week abortion ban and trying to put limits on corporate ownership of housing.

To accomplish these goals, McLaurin said, bipartisan work will be crucial. He has touted his ability to work across the aisle.

McLaurin defeated Nabilah Parkes and Richard N. Wright in the Democratic primary  this year. McLaurin netted 41.4% of the vote in the first election, then received 54.9% of the vote against Parkes in the subsequent runoff.

Republican candidate Greg Dolezal 

State Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) represents District 27, which covers most of Forsyth County. He worked for over a decade in ministry and has worked as tour manager for Christian singer Chris Tomlin. Dolezal helped launch the Passion Conferences in Atlanta for Christian college students to gather, sing and worship. He chairs the Georgia Senate Transportation Committee. 

“We need a true conservative with backbone that will push back against the radical left and save America,” Dolezal says on his website.

Dolezal’s main platforms: 

• Immigration policy/secure borders
• Lower taxes and invest in infrastructure for long-term growth
• Home ownership and property taxes
• Access to quality education for children and parental choice in education
• Pro-life policies to defend life.

Dolezal’s campaign hinges on his allegiance to President Donald Trump. His campaign website says, “Others folded, but Greg Dolezal never flinched,” in regards to other GOP politicians’ loyalty to Trump. 

As a result, Dolezal has advocated for many items in the legislature aligning with Trump’s key issues, including more thorough immigration policy and election integrity.

Dolezal beat a field of seven candidates for the Republican nomination, first advancing to the runoff with 23.1% of the vote in May before defeating John F. Kennedy of the Middle Georgia area in the runoff. Kennedy outpolled Dolezal in the initial election but lost in the runoff.