Southern Primary Results

Georgia and North Carolina were home to highly visible (and expensive) primary campaigns on 20 July.

Georgia
Senate Race: The retirement of Senator Zell Miller opened Georgia's senior senatorial slot to competition in November. Republican Johnny Isakson clinched the nomination. On the Democratic side, US Rep. Denise Majette led the seven contenders but did not receive a majority vote. She will face millionaire Cliff Oxford, who invested more than $1 million of his own money in the contest, in a runoff election in three weeks.

House Race: Democrat Cynthia McKinney, who lost her House seat in 2002, secured the nomination for the 4th District. The 10-year veteran Representative will face Republican Catherine Davis in November; the district tends to vote Democratic so it is likely her constituents will provide her with a come-back.

Supreme Court Justice: State Supreme Court Justice Leah Sears easily defeated challenger Grant Brantley, who was backed by Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) and religious conservatives.

North Carolina
Senate Race: Republican Rep. Richard Burr easily won the party nomination in the three-man field. This sets up a high profile campaign against former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles. The ballot also includes Libertarian Tom Bailey.

House Race: The most expensive House race in the country was in North Carolina's 5th District, which became an open seat when Burr decided to run for US Senate. In the Republican primary, State Sen. Virginia Foxx, the only woman in an eight-candidate field, faces a runoff with Winston-Salem City Council member Vernon Robinson. Democrat Jim Harrell Jr. easily won his party nomination.

In the Republican-leaning 10th District, Rep. Cass Ballenger is retiring. Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman led a field of four Republicans but faces a possible a runoff with State Rep. Patrick McHenry. The Democratic primary was also close John Cole or Anne Fischer, who were locked in a tight race.