Republican lieutenant gubernatorial candidate, Butch Miller, conceded the primary race to Trump-endorsed candidate, Burt Jones, on Friday.
“I don’t know what God’s plan is for my future or how I might be of service to Him and my fellow man, but I rely upon Him,” said Miller in a statement sent to supporters.
Miller, who served in the State Senate since 2010, received just over 31 percent, or 346,795 votes, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. Fellow State Senator Burt Jones (R-Jackson) narrowly avoided a runoff with 50.07 percent, or 557,994 votes.
“Obviously, I hoped for a different outcome in the election but the people have spoken, and the votes have now been counted. EARLIER TODAY, I SPOKE WITH AND congratulated the victor, Burt Jones, and wish him well,” said Miller. “I look forward to supporting Burt in the upcoming general election and I am fully committed to his success, the success of the Republican Party, and the success of the State of Georgia. I also salute others in the Republican primary, Ms. Seaver and Mr. McGregor.”
Jones joins Governor Brian Kemp, State Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, State Attorney General Chris Carr, U.S. Senate candidate Hershel Walker, Insurance Commissioner John King, Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, State Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods, and Commissioner of Labor candidate Bruce Thompson as the Republican nominees in state-wide races facing Democrat opponents in November 8th’s general election.
Kemp issued a statement that congratulated Republican winners on Friday.
“With primary season behind us, I want to congratulate my fellow Republican nominees on hard-fought wins in each of their races. I also want to thank their challengers. The spirited debate over the last few months strengthened our party and has prepared us all to shift our full focus to the fight ahead,” said Governor Kemp in a Friday statement.
The governor also stressed the importance of the coming midterm election in the fall, and he criticized President Biden in the process.
“We all know what is on the line this November. As Georgians and Americans witness the chronic failures of Joe Biden and the Democrats in Washington – record inflation, skyrocketing prices at the pump, and a failure to protect the security of our country – we know Georgia Republicans have a different story to tell,” said Kemp.
He added, “In recent years, Republican leaders in the Peach State kept Georgia open for business, created record economic success, passed historic tax cuts, backed our law enforcement, and brought new opportunity to communities in every corner of the state. Together, we took on the woke mob, stood up for Georgia values, secured our elections, and put parents and students first in the classroom.”
Primary runoffs – all of which are for Democratic nominees in state-wide office – will take place June 21.
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Addison Basurto is a reporter at The Georgia Star and The Star News Network. Follow Addy on Twitter and GETTR. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Burt Jones” by Burt Jones. Photo “Butch Miller” by Butch Miller. Background Photo “Georgia State Capitol” by DXR. CC BY-SA 4.0.
