By JEFF AMYJanuary 6, 2021 GMT
ATLANTA (AP) A Republican some Georgians have never heard of was the most popular member of his party on the ballot this week.
Lauren “Bubba” McDonald won more votes than either David Perdue or Sen. Kelly Loeffler in Tuesday’s election to claim a fourth term on the Georgia Public Service commission. McDonald defeated Democrat Daniel Blackman in a runoff after falling short of a majority in the November general election.
Running for the five-member utility regulator in a race that drew much less attention than the two nationally watched U.S. Senate contests, McDonald appeared to have won the ballots of a crucial faction of voters who crossed back over to the party after choosing the Democratic Senate candidates.
GOPâs McDonald wins 4th term on Georgia Public Service Commission
By Associated Press article
ATLANTA - Incumbent Republican Lauren Bubba McDonald has won a fourth term on the Georgia Public Service Commission, turning back a runoff challenge from Democrat Daniel Blackman.
The win means Republicans will keep control of all five seats on the utility regulator, as they decide the ultimate impact on customer bills of Georgia Power Co.’s $25 billion nuclear plant expansion.
McDonald led voting in November but fell short of a majority in a three-way election that included Blackman and libertarian Nathan Wilson. The candidates ran statewide to represent a district that includes Augusta, Gainesville, Rome and areas north to the state line.
ATLANTA (AP) Incumbent Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald has won a fourth term on the Georgia Public Service Commission, turning back a runoff challenge from Democrat Daniel Blackman.
The win means Republicans will keep control of all five seats on the utility regulator, as they decide the ultimate impact on customer bills of Georgia Power Co.’s $25 billion nuclear plant expansion.
McDonald led voting in November but fell short of a majority in a three-way election that included Blackman and libertarian Nathan Wilson. The candidates ran statewide to represent a district that includes Augusta, Gainesville, Rome and areas north to the state line.
The runoff, like the general, has been fought on the questions of whether McDonald is too friendly to Georgia Power Co. and whether he’s doing enough for consumers.
McDonald says he’s struck the right balance between the company and consumers, arguing in a Dec. 15 town hall hosted by the Climate Reality Project that consumers need to pay for what they use instead of trying to shift burdens onto the shareholders of the Southern Co., the Atlanta-based parent of Georgia Power.
“There’s no such thing as free electricity,” McDonald said, repeating one of his favorite phrases. “Somebody is going to pay for it.”