Primaries were held on June 9, 2020, coinciding with primaries for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, General Assembly, county and regional prosecutorial offices as well as local non-partisan elections. It was the first time since 1994 that both major parties contested all congressional districts in the state, even though the Democratic nominee for the 14th district had suspended his campaign prior to the general election; it was also the first time since 2012 that Republicans contested all districts, as it was for Democrats for the first time since 2008.
The 1st district comprises the entire coastal area of
Sea Islands and much of the southeastern part of the state. In addition to
Savannah, the district includes the cities of
Brunswick,
Jesup, and
Waycross. The incumbent was Republican
Buddy Carter, who was re-elected with 57.7% of the vote in 2018.
The third district takes in the southwestern exurbs of
Atlanta, including
Coweta County and parts of
Fayette County. The incumbent was Republican
Drew Ferguson, who was re-elected with 65.5% of the vote in 2018.
The 5th district is centered on
Downtown Atlanta. Incumbent Democrat
John Lewis initially ran for re-election to an eighteenth term before he died in office on July 17, 2020. A
special election was held on September 29, 2020, which advanced to a runoff scheduled for December 1. As a result, the seat was vacant before the general election. Democrat
Kwanza Hall was eventually elected in the runoff and served the remainder of Lewis's term.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
John Lewis, incumbent U.S. representative (died in office July 17, 2020)
The 8th district takes in
south-central Georgia, including
Warner Robins and
Valdosta. The incumbent, Republican
Austin Scott, was re-elected with 99.7% of the vote without major-party opposition in 2018, and last faced Democratic opposition in 2016.
The 9th district encompasses northeastern Georgia, including the city of
Gainesville as well as part of
Athens. The incumbent was Republican
Doug Collins, who was re-elected with 79.5% of the vote in 2018. On January 29, 2020, Collins announced he would be running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by appointed U.S. Senator
Kelly Loeffler, and thus would not seek re-election.
The 12th district is centered around
Augusta and takes in the surrounding rural areas. The incumbent was Republican
Rick Allen, who was re-elected with 59.5% of the vote in 2018.
The 14th district encompasses rural northwestern Georgia, including
Rome and
Dalton. The incumbent was Republican
Tom Graves, who was re-elected with 76.5% of the vote in 2018. On December 5, 2019, Graves announced he would not seek re-election.[12]
In the Republican primary, neurologist John Cowan, and noted
conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene, advanced to the runoff election on August 11. After the first round of the election, Politico unearthed videos published by Greene where she expressed racist, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic views, which led to condemnations from
Kevin McCarthy and
Steve Scalise. Greene defeated Cowan in the Republican runoff on August 11, 2020.
Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal suspended his campaign for "personal and family reasons" on September 11, 2020. It later emerged that he opted to move in with relatives in Indiana after being forced to vacate his house under the terms of a pending divorce. Reportedly, his wife divorced him because of death threats they were receiving. He did not have enough money to pay for a place to live while the divorce was pending, and federal campaign finance law does not allow candidates to use campaign funds for housing. As a result, Van Ausdal was forced to move out of Georgia, which made him ineligible for the seat. House candidates are required to at least live in the state they wish to represent.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
John Barge, former Georgia State School Superintendent
Ben Bullock, U.S. Air Force veteran and real estate investor
Primaries were held on June 9, 2020, coinciding with primaries for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, General Assembly, county and regional prosecutorial offices as well as local non-partisan elections. It was the first time since 1994 that both major parties contested all congressional districts in the state, even though the Democratic nominee for the 14th district had suspended his campaign prior to the general election; it was also the first time since 2012 that Republicans contested all districts, as it was for Democrats for the first time since 2008.
The 1st district comprises the entire coastal area of
Sea Islands and much of the southeastern part of the state. In addition to
Savannah, the district includes the cities of
Brunswick,
Jesup, and
Waycross. The incumbent was Republican
Buddy Carter, who was re-elected with 57.7% of the vote in 2018.
The third district takes in the southwestern exurbs of
Atlanta, including
Coweta County and parts of
Fayette County. The incumbent was Republican
Drew Ferguson, who was re-elected with 65.5% of the vote in 2018.
The 5th district is centered on
Downtown Atlanta. Incumbent Democrat
John Lewis initially ran for re-election to an eighteenth term before he died in office on July 17, 2020. A
special election was held on September 29, 2020, which advanced to a runoff scheduled for December 1. As a result, the seat was vacant before the general election. Democrat
Kwanza Hall was eventually elected in the runoff and served the remainder of Lewis's term.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
John Lewis, incumbent U.S. representative (died in office July 17, 2020)
The 8th district takes in
south-central Georgia, including
Warner Robins and
Valdosta. The incumbent, Republican
Austin Scott, was re-elected with 99.7% of the vote without major-party opposition in 2018, and last faced Democratic opposition in 2016.
The 9th district encompasses northeastern Georgia, including the city of
Gainesville as well as part of
Athens. The incumbent was Republican
Doug Collins, who was re-elected with 79.5% of the vote in 2018. On January 29, 2020, Collins announced he would be running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by appointed U.S. Senator
Kelly Loeffler, and thus would not seek re-election.
The 12th district is centered around
Augusta and takes in the surrounding rural areas. The incumbent was Republican
Rick Allen, who was re-elected with 59.5% of the vote in 2018.
The 14th district encompasses rural northwestern Georgia, including
Rome and
Dalton. The incumbent was Republican
Tom Graves, who was re-elected with 76.5% of the vote in 2018. On December 5, 2019, Graves announced he would not seek re-election.[12]
In the Republican primary, neurologist John Cowan, and noted
conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene, advanced to the runoff election on August 11. After the first round of the election, Politico unearthed videos published by Greene where she expressed racist, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic views, which led to condemnations from
Kevin McCarthy and
Steve Scalise. Greene defeated Cowan in the Republican runoff on August 11, 2020.
Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal suspended his campaign for "personal and family reasons" on September 11, 2020. It later emerged that he opted to move in with relatives in Indiana after being forced to vacate his house under the terms of a pending divorce. Reportedly, his wife divorced him because of death threats they were receiving. He did not have enough money to pay for a place to live while the divorce was pending, and federal campaign finance law does not allow candidates to use campaign funds for housing. As a result, Van Ausdal was forced to move out of Georgia, which made him ineligible for the seat. House candidates are required to at least live in the state they wish to represent.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
John Barge, former Georgia State School Superintendent
Ben Bullock, U.S. Air Force veteran and real estate investor