Georgia primary election day brings out diverse voters

Primary Election Day was Tuesday in Georgia, and several notable races took place in the Augusta area.

Three Columbia County seats on the Board of Commissioners were challenged by Democrats. According to election records dating to at least 2010, Columbia County commission candidates have been overwhelmingly Republican, often running unopposed by Democrats. On election day, Democrats were running for the chairmanship and the seats in Districts 1 and 4.

An Augusta mayoral race was likely headed to a June 16 runoff. Incumbent Garnett L. Johnson was running against three nonpartisan challengers with their own platforms on how to move the city forward.

The only Augusta Commission race without an incumbent was in District 8, with Brandon Garrett stepping back. Three candidates from the Hephzibah were eyeing the seat.

‘In and out,’ says voter at Columbia County poll

At Abilene Baptist Church on Washington Road in Martinez, Georgia, Columbia County elections poll manager Molly Boyleston said there had been 45 voters between 7 and 9 a.m.

“It’s been steady, similar to other primaries. We know the people here,” said Boyleston, who has been a poll manager for that precinct for 12 years.

Mike Materna of Martinez voted at Abilene Baptist Church on Tuesday morning.

“I was in and out. They were there to help me out; some of the questions were confusing,” he said of the ballot without elaborating.

For this primary, three seats on the Columbia County Board of Commissioners are challenged by Democrats. According to election records dating to at least 2010, Columbia County commission candidates have been overwhelmingly Republican, often running unopposed by Democrats. For this election, Democrats are running for the chairmanship and the seats in Districts 1 and 4.

Immigrant casts first vote as an American

Carol Richards was giddy with excitement when she entered Julian Smith Casino in Augusta, Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon to vote for the first time.

“I just became an American citizen,” she told Cecilia Wright, a poll worker stationed at the front desk. About 20 minutes later, she returned, still excited about her first vote as an American.

How did it feel? “I feel good. I really feel good,” she said. “After 40 years, I got citizenship.”

Richards, 66, was born in Jamaica, grew up in London, and later moved to New York. Her mother lived in Augusta, and she moved here after she died. Her citizenship was official in September 2024.

Carter Center: Braves hats, flowers and peanuts left as tributes

Outside the Carter Center, Braves hats and boiled peanuts are left in honor of President Carter in Atlanta.

Augusta voter has ties to state Supreme Court, Carter administration

Susan Jordan, 82, stopped to talk after voting at Julian Smith Casino in Augusta, Georgia, on Tuesday.

“I could have voted absentee, but I wanted to get the vibe” of voting in person, she said. “It’s a privilege, and everyone should vote.”

Also, she had a special vote to cast: Her daughter-in-law, Jen Jordan, was on the ballot for Georgia Supreme Court. And politics has long been a part of her family. Her brother-in-law, the late Hamilton Jordan, was the chief of staff for President Jimmy Carter in 1979-1980.

Augusta voter seeks lower taxes, more help for homeless

Chad Mallard, 46, of Augusta, Georgia, was voting for just the second time on Tuesday.

He said he used to think that his one vote didn’t matter, but he realized that it was the way to make changes in the community. He said he voted for incumbent Mayor Garnett Johnson and to re-elect Ashley Wright to the Georgia Superior Court.

Mallard, who voted at the Kroc Center, identifies as a Democrat, but “I used to say neither way.” He wants to see some important changes for the community, and politics is the way to do that.

In particular, he wants to see lower property taxes and more help for the growing homeless community.

Augusta wife gets her husband to vote

Ryan and Tiffany Amerhein brought their 3-year-old son Dorian with them to vote at the Kroc Center on Broad Street. Tiffany, 33, said she has always been a regular voter, but her husband wasn’t.

“I was able to educate him,” said she.

Tiffany said she got Ryan, 35, more involved in government issues, especially the Richmond County School Board, since they have a child. They attended a forum where they got to see candidates in person and hear directly from them.