Results in after Democratic Primary runoff for Georgia Public Service Commission

Voters throughout Georgia, including DeKalb County, have voted for Democrat Peter Hubbard to advance in November after the Democratic Primary runoff election for Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) was held July 15.

In a primary election held in June, Keisha Sean Waites, a former Atlanta City Council member, was the top vote-getter in a three-way race for the Democratic nomination in PSC District 3. However, in the July 15 runoff, Hubbard gained 66,084 votes or 58.18 percent of the total ballots cast in the race. Hubbard defeated challenger Waites, who received 47,501 votes or approximately 41.82 percent of the total ballots cast.

In total, only 114,465 of the more than 7 million registered voters cast their ballots in the statewide election with DeKalb County representing one of Georgia’s best turnouts at 24,197 voters, or almost 5 percent of the county’s total registered voters.

“We are grateful to all DeKalb County voters who participated in this runoff election and exercised their right to vote,” said DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections Executive Director Keisha Smith. “Our team worked diligently to ensure a secure and accessible election process, and we commend the poll workers and staff who helped facilitate a smooth election experience.”

District 2 and District 3 elections for the Georgia Public Service Commission seats will be held Nov. 4 between the following candidates:

• Republican Tim Echols will take on Democrat Alicia Johnson for the District 2 seat, which covers Fulton, Clayton, and DeKalb counties.
• Democrat Hubbard will face off against Republican Fitz Johnson for the District 3 seat, which stretches from Atlanta’s eastern and southeastern suburbs to Savannah.

According to PSC’s website, the mission of the commission is to exercise its authority and influence to ensure that consumers receive safe, reliable, and reasonably priced telecommunications, electric, and natural gas services from financially viable and technically competent companies.

“Our PSC plays an important role in our daily lives, and it’s important for voters to remain engaged in each and every election,” said Smith.

In other local election news, DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections members Vasu Abhiraman, Travis Bowden, Gail Lee, Dele Lowman and Karli Swift were sworn in during a precertification meeting held July 17.

For more information and official results, visit www.DeKalbVotes.com or contact DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections at 404-298-4020.