Special Edition: 2022 Elections

In partnership with DeKalb County, Emory is proud to have hosted a polling location this year for both the Primary Election and the Midterm Elections. Earlier this year, during the Primary Elections, DeKalb County poll workers processed just over 4,000 ballots. Nearly 15,000 votes were cast at Emory for the Midterm Elections--14,494 early votes were cast, and 388 votes were cast on election day. Emory’s polling location ranked 7th among the 16 locations in DeKalb County for the number of votes that were processed throughout DeKalb County. The photo below was taken on the last day of early voting.

The OGCA team thanks all who supported this important service to our community: the countless volunteers who staffed the front lobby and directed voters; parking and transportation services for designating a parking attendant and providing directional signage for our voters; and building operations for ensuring appropriate staffing, cleaning, and access for the voters of DeKalb County. We also appreciate the Emory Votes Initiative for helping to secure volunteers and raising awareness and enthusiasm across campus. The successful operation of the Emory Polling Location at 1599 Clifton Road would not have been possible without this collective effort. Thank you!

Local Affairs

Emory looks forward to working with new DeKalb County Commissioner Michelle Long Spears (pictured below right, with David Payne and Betty Willis, at the November 3rd dedication of the R. Randall Rollins Building). Running unopposed, Commissioner Spears won in yesterday’s election. Her district includes Emory’s Druid Hills campus. She replaces Jeff Radar, who served as Emory’s representative on the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners for 16 years.

Other DeKalb Commissioners who were re-elected with no opposition were Larry Johnson, D-District 3, and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, D-District 7. In Fulton County, we have two new commissioners. Dana Barrett (D) defeated Lee Morris in District 3; and Bridget Thorne (R) filled the open seat vacated by Liz Hausmann in District 1.

State Affairs

Results (The results are based on current reporting posted on the Secretary of State’s website.)

Governor: Brian Kemp (R) was re-elected and will serve another four years.
Lt. Governor: Burt Jones (R) is new to this position; he previously represented Senate District 25.
Secretary of State: Brad Raffensperger (R) won re-election.
Attorney General: Chris Carr (R) won re-election.
Georgia Senate Breakdown: 33 Republicans/23 Democrats (Previously the split was 34 (R) and 22 (D)).
Georgia House Breakdown: 101 Republicans/79 Democrats (Previously the split was 103 (R) and 77 (D)).

Next Steps

Georgia House and Senate members will return to the Capitol on January 9 for the start of the first session of the 157th Georgia General Assembly. The 2023 Legislative Session will mark the start of a new biennium with several new members joining incumbents in both chambers. Along with new members, each chamber will have new leadership in several positions including Lt. Governor (Senate), Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore, Majority/Minority Leaders and Majority/Minority Whips.

Federal Affairs

Results

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to be controlled by the Republicans; results are still coming in. The 14-member Georgia congressional delegation will have two new representatives: Rich McCormick (GA-06) and Mike Collins (GA-10). All twelve of our incumbents were re-elected, and Republicans flipped one open seat and held the other. In the 118th Congress, the GA House delegation will be comprised of nine Republicans and five Democrats.

The contest for control of the U.S. Senate remains too close to call at the time of this writing. Georgia had one Senator up for reelection – Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA). It appears that this race will go to a runoff against Republican candidate Herschel Walker on December 6th.

National exit polling indicated that the economy/inflation and abortion were top of mind for voters. California, Michigan, and Vermont voters passed ballot measures that effectively make it impossible for state lawmakers to enact abortion bans, while Kentucky rejected limitations on abortion. Also of interest, 56% of voters in Republican-controlled South Dakota supported a constitutional amendment to expand Medicaid.

Next Steps

Congress is set to return to Capitol Hill next week, and Republicans and Democrats will begin the process of organizing themselves for the 118th Congress. On November 15th, House Republicans will vote on all leadership positions. House Democrats are likely to choose party leaders after Thanksgiving. On November 16th, the Senate Republicans will vote on their leadership positions while Senate Democrats will follow in early December. Beyond organizational efforts, Congress must pass a bill to fund the government beyond December 16th and pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Emory OGCA is working to get Emory priorities into this must pass end of year legislation.

1599 Clifton Road, NE, Suite 5.201, Atlanta, GA 30322 | 404-727-4088 | kendra.price@emory.edu