Georgia Supreme Court Election

[GAinDC]

Anybody else following this race? John Barrah' is back, baby!

HOSCHTON, Ga. (AP) — May’s election for the Georgia Supreme Court is playing out as races for the state’s highest court have for decades: sitting justices running uncontested.

But there is an exception, and it’s driven by the issue that has roiled politics across the country for the past two years: abortion.

Justice Andrew Pinson is the only one of four incumbents seeking election to draw a challenge, and it’s a formidable one. Former U.S. Rep. John Barrow, a Democrat, hopes to harness a voter backlash to abortion restrictions to unseat Pinson in what could be a model for future Georgia court contests in a state that has become a partisan battleground.

The May 21 general election for a six-year term is nonpartisan, and a Barrow victory wouldn’t change the conservative leanings of the court. Eight of the nine justices, including Pinson, were appointed by Republican governors. The other won his seat unopposed after being appointed to a state appellate court by a Democratic governor.

https://apnews.com/article/georgia-supreme-court-abortion-2024-election-9c6a5a89117daca1e0260cec6538fecf

Yall think this race could be sleeper upset for Barrow?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

John Barrow was a pro-life Democrat in Congress. Weird.

[GAinDC]

John Barrow was a pro-life Democrat in Congress. Weird.

He received a 100% from NARAL during his last term in Congress.

[Progressive Pessimist]

I'm surprised it took this long to get a thread on it.

It could be a sleeper race given how special elections have gone. If Barrow does succeed (still a big if) I wonder if that will change peoples' perceptions about Georgia for the presidential race. It would be a pretty big deal.

[Oryxslayer]

With no 'headline' races like senate or presidential primaries, this should be a low-turnout affair. Congressional primaries, which might drive turnout in a specific setting, Only really affect the GOP in GA-03 and the Dems maybe in GA-13. Turnout therefore is likely to determine the race more than anything else, and in what way will be interesting to see.

[Schiff for Senate]

I'm surprised Barrow is still relevant, tbh. It's been a decade since he left Congress and six years since his failed campaign for row office, and iirc he's been out of the public eye since then.

[GAinDC]

I think it’ll be an interesting race. Dems are trying to make it a proxy referendum on abortion rights, so I think the results will tell us how well that message resonates in a southern state.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I've gotten a couple of mailers from Pinson, nothing from Barrow.

[skbl17]

No mailers or texts at my place (north Cobb) from either candidate yet, but I have seen Pinson ads on TV. On my way to vote, I saw a bunch of signs for local candidates, but nothing for the Supreme Court races.

Edit: As I get home from running errands, I see a Barrow ad on TV lol

[GAinDC]

No mailers or texts at my place (north Cobb) from either candidate yet, but I have seen Pinson ads on TV. On my way to vote, I saw a bunch of signs for local candidates, but nothing for the Supreme Court races.

Edit: As I get home from running errands, I see a Barrow ad on TV lol

Any new updates from Georgians about the state of this race?

[wbrocks67]

Is there no early voting for this?

[GAinDC]

Is there no early voting for this?

I think early voting opened up a couple weeks ago and ended last weekend

This race seems to be gaining traction among the resist lib crowd, so I'm expecting a competitive race

[wbrocks67]

Is there no early voting for this?

I think early voting opened up a couple weeks ago and ended last weekend

This race seems to be gaining traction among the resist lib crowd, so I'm expecting a competitive race

Oh, I'm shocked no one has done any updates. I saw GeorgiaVotes is back - is this data for the SC race? (are there other things on the ballot on 5/21 or just this race?)

https://georgiavotes.com/

[Spectator]

Is there no early voting for this?

I think early voting opened up a couple weeks ago and ended last weekend

This race seems to be gaining traction among the resist lib crowd, so I'm expecting a competitive race

Oh, I'm shocked no one has done any updates. I saw GeorgiaVotes is back - is this data for the SC race? (are there other things on the ballot on 5/21 or just this race?)

https://georgiavotes.com/

Local and state offices, I’ve been hearing ads for county commission, State Representative and Dostrict Attorney.

[Arizona Iced Tea]

Is there no early voting for this?

I think early voting opened up a couple weeks ago and ended last weekend

This race seems to be gaining traction among the resist lib crowd, so I'm expecting a competitive race

Oh, I'm shocked no one has done any updates. I saw GeorgiaVotes is back - is this data for the SC race? (are there other things on the ballot on 5/21 or just this race?)

https://georgiavotes.com/

I mean it's a non partisan race and the last time a GA supreme court incumbent lost was in the 1800s I believe. Not to mention Barrow is running a pro abortion campaign but was one of the most pro life Dems when he served in Congress.

[GeorgiaModerate]

The election is really flying under the radar here in Forsyth County because none of the local races are interesting.  I expect this is going to be very low turnout.

[wbrocks67]

Not a great comparison, but the final day of early voting cumulative for Georgia in 2022 was 57-29 white/black, and it's 62-29 right now. Not horrible for Ds but that white share being 5% higher isn't great either.

[GAinDC]

Not a great comparison, but the final day of early voting cumulative for Georgia in 2022 was 57-29 white/black, and it's 62-29 right now. Not horrible for Ds but that white share being 5% higher isn't great either.

This kind of race is likely to bring out a large number of white, suburban women, who seem to be the most fired up about the abortion issue. So, in this case, the white vote may be more Dem leaning than a general electorate

[GAinDC]

The election is really flying under the radar here in Forsyth County because none of the local races are interesting.  I expect this is going to be very low turnout.

Low turnout probably helps Barrow if it become a referendum on abortion rights

[wbrocks67]

The election is really flying under the radar here in Forsyth County because none of the local races are interesting.  I expect this is going to be very low turnout.

Low turnout probably helps Barrow if it become a referendum on abortion rights

Yeah I would agree with this. The fact that it's not being nationalized is likely to work in Barrow's favor theoretically

[GAinDC]

The election is really flying under the radar here in Forsyth County because none of the local races are interesting.  I expect this is going to be very low turnout.

Low turnout probably helps Barrow if it become a referendum on abortion rights

Yeah I would agree with this. The fact that it's not being nationalized is likely to work in Barrow's favor theoretically

Either way, I'm excited to see the results

I hope Barrow can win but it would be a major upset since sitting justices are almost never defeated.

However, that's because they are usually quiet, low-turnout, non-partisan affairs where incumbency and name ID are all that matters.

Barrow is succeeding in making this election a referendum on abortion. The Republicans are responding for making a bigger play for this seat.

So, we'll see

[Spectator]

The election is really flying under the radar here in Forsyth County because none of the local races are interesting.  I expect this is going to be very low turnout.

Yeah, I have yet to hear any ads about it. All i get are my local ones and I don’t care about who can be the Trumpiest person in a State House primary.

[CityofSinners]

I doubt Barrow can win but the margin will very interesting. Are suburban woman pissed off enough to swing the election in such a low turnout affair?
How weak will Barrow be among black voters?

Barrow winning would be a similar earthquake as the 2010 recall of Iowa judges over allowing gay marriage.