In Georgias crowded Democratic Senate primary, former state Rep. Jim Martin and DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones will be headed to an August runoff to decide who will take on Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) in November.
With 83 percent reporting, Jones had 41 percent, or 152,000 votes, while Martin had 34 percent, or 128,000 votes.
The next closest Democrat in the five-way race was former Atlanta TV reporter Dale Cardwell, who had 15 percent, or just 58,000 votes.
Also seeking the Democratic nomination were scientist and businessman Rand Knight and former Congressional aide Josh Lanier.
There could be a racial component to the runoff, as Jones is black and Martin is white. Martin, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006, is the favorite of much of the state’s political establishment.
Regardless of who wins the runoff, Chambliss is favored to win a second term.
