2014 Georgia gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2014 United States gubernatorial elections.

See also: 2014 Georgia elections

The 2014 Georgia gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Georgia, concurrently with the election to Georgia's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

2014 Georgia gubernatorial election

← 2010 November 4, 2014 2018 →
Turnout	42.25%
Nominee Nathan Deal Jason Carter Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,345,237 1,144,794 Percentage 52.7% 44.9%
County results Precinct results Deal:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Carter:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Hunt:      50–60% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No data
Governor before election Nathan Deal Republican Elected Governor Nathan Deal Republican

Incumbent Republican Governor Nathan Deal was re-elected to serve a second term in office by a margin of 7.8%. He turned back two primary challengers and in the general election, defeated Democratic State Senator Jason Carter and Libertarian nominee businessman and engineer Andrew Hunt, who were unopposed in their respective primaries. As of 2022, this is the last time that Cobb and Gwinnett counties voted for the Republican candidate for governor and the last time that Burke, Chattahoochee, Dooly, Quitman, Twiggs, Washington, and Wilkinson counties voted for the Democratic candidate.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• John Barge, State School Superintendent^[1]
• Nathan Deal, incumbent Governor
• David Pennington, Mayor of Dalton^[2]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nathan Deal	John Barge	David Pennington	Undecided
InsiderAdvantage	May 18, 2014	852	±3.36%	62.1%	5.1%	9.9%	22.9%
SurveyUSA	May 8–12, 2014	634	± 4%	63%	10%	15%	12%
SurveyUSA	April 24–27, 2014	501	± 4.3%	64%	10%	11%	16%
InsiderAdvantage	April 13–15, 2014	804	±3.4%	61%	4%	7%	28%
Landmark/Rosetta	March 23–24, 2014	600	± 4%	58%	8%	7%	27%
SurveyUSA	March 16–18, 2014	508	± 4.2%	65%	7%	11%	17%
Public Policy Polling	August 2–5, 2013	260	± 6.1%	71%	8%	—	21%
				71%	—	11%	19%
20/20 Insight, LLC	May 7–9, 2013	?	± ?	53%	—	18%	29%

Results

 

Results by county:

  Deal

•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

  Pennington

•   50–60%

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nathan Deal (incumbent)	430,170	72.15
	Republican	David Pennington	99,548	16.70
	Republican	John Barge	66,500	11.15
Total votes			596,218	100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jason Carter, state senator and grandson of former U.S. president and former governor Jimmy Carter^[4]

Withdrew

• Connie Stokes, former DeKalb County Commissioner, former state senator and candidate for GA-04 in 2004 and 2010 (running for Lieutenant Governor)^[5]

Declined

• Stacey Abrams, Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives^[6]
• Roy Barnes, former governor and nominee for governor in 2010
• Shirley Franklin, former mayor of Atlanta^[7]
• Scott Holcomb, state representative^[8][9]
• Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta^[10]

Results

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jason Carter	304,243	100
Total votes			304,243	100

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Declared

• Andrew Hunt, businessman and engineer^[11]

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 19, 2014 - C-SPAN
• Complete video of debate, October 26, 2014 - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[12]	Tossup	November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[13]	Lean R	November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report^[14]	Lean R	November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics^[15]	Tossup	November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nathan Deal (R)	Jason Carter (D)	Andrew Hunt (L)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 1–3, 2014	975	± 3.1%	47%	43%	4%	—	6%
				49%	45%	—	—	6%
	November 2, 2014	1,500	± 2.5%	51%	45%	3%	—	2%
Insider Advantage	November 2, 2014	1,463	± 3%	47%	44%	5%	—	4%
SurveyUSA	October 30 – November 2, 2014	591	± 4.1%	47%	42%	5%	—	5%
YouGov	October 25–31, 2014	1,743	± 3.2%	45%	41%	1%	1%	12%
NBC News/Marist	October 26–30, 2014	603 LV	± 4%	48%	43%	3%	1%	5%
		875 RV	± 3.3%	46%	42%	4%	1%	7%
Landmark Communications^[permanent dead link]	October 29, 2014	1,500	± 2.5%	48%	46%	4%	—	3%
Vox Populi Polling	October 28, 2014	602	± 4%	49%	42%	3%	—	7%
	October 26–28, 2014	436	± 4.7%	48%	42%	5%	—	5%
Rasmussen Reports	October 25–27, 2014	977	± 3%	49%	43%	—	2%	6%
SurveyUSA	October 24–27, 2014	611	± 4%	46%	44%	3%	—	6%
	October 23–24, 2014	771	± ?%	48%	45%	4%	—	3%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	October 16–23, 2014	1,774	± 4%	47%	43%	2%	0%	8%
Atlanta Journal-Constitution	October 16–23, 2014	1,170	± 3.6%	46%	41%	6%	—	7%
Insider Advantage	October 21–22, 2014	704	± 3.7%	44%	44%	5%	—	8%
CNN/ORC International	October 19–22, 2014	565	± 4%	46%	48%	6%	—	—
Landmark Communications	October 20–21, 2014	1,000	± 2.75%	48%	45%	5%	—	2%
SurveyUSA	October 17–20, 2014	606	± 4.1%	45%	43%	4%	—	8%
GaPundit.com	October 13–14, 2014	1,543	± 2.49%	44%	44%	6%	—	5%
SurveyUSA	October 10–13, 2014	563	± 4.2%	46%	46%	4%	—	4%
Landmark Communications	October 7–9, 2014	1,000	± 3.1%	45%	45%	5%	—	5%
SurveyUSA	October 2–6, 2014	566	± 4.2%	46%	44%	4%	—	7%
Public Policy Polling	October 2–5, 2014	895	± 3.3%	46%	41%	4%	—	9%
				50%	45%	—	—	5%
	September 26 – October 5, 2014	500	± 4.4%	44%	36%	9%	—	13%
Rasmussen Reports	September 30 – October 1, 2014	1,000	± 4%	49%	43%	—	2%	6%
Insider Advantage	September 29 – October 1, 2014	947	± 3.2%	44%	43%	4%	—	9%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	September 20 – October 1, 2014	1,851	± 3%	48%	43%	1%	0%	7%
SurveyUSA^[dead link]	September 19–22, 2014	550	± 4.3%	44%	45%	4%	—	7%
Rasmussen Reports	September 15–16, 2014	750	± 4%	45%	44%	—	3%	8%
Insider Advantage	September 10–11, 2014	1,167	± 2.9%	44%	40%	7%	—	9%
	September 9–11, 2014	1,109	± 2.9%	44%	47%	4%	—	5%
Atlanta Journal-Constitution	September 8–11, 2014	884	± 4%	43%	42%	7%	—	8%
SurveyUSA^[dead link]	September 5–8, 2014	558	± 4.2%	45%	44%	4%	—	6%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	August 18 – September 2, 2014	1,900	± 3%	47%	39%	4%	1%	9%
GaPundit.com	August 24–25, 2014	1,578	± 2.47%	44%	42%	7%	—	8%
Landmark Communications	August 20–21, 2014	600	± 4%	40%	44%	—	—	16%
SurveyUSA	August 14–17, 2014	560	± 4.2%	48%	39%	4%	—	8%
InsiderAdvantage	August 12–13, 2014	719	± 3.7%	43%	39%	7%	—	11%
	August 8–10, 2014	788	± 3.48%	45%	45%	—	—	9%
Landmark Communications	July 25, 2014	750	± 3.8%	40%	47%	5%	—	9%
Rasmussen Reports	July 23–24, 2014	750	± 4%	44%	45%	—	3%	8%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	July 5–24, 2014	2,568	± 3.4%	50%	41%	—	1%	8%
Landmark Communications	July 15, 2014	750	± 4	41%	49%	4%	—	6%
	July 11–13, 2014	664	± ?	41%	40%	8%	—	11%
Insider Advantage	June 24–25, 2014	1,349	± 2.7%	47%	40%	—	3%	10%
SurveyUSA	June 3–5, 2014	999	± 3.2%	44%	38%	7%	—	11%
Rasmussen Reports	May 21–22, 2014	750	± 4%	41%	48%	—	3%	7%
Public Policy Polling	May 21–22, 2014	803	± ?%	43%	43%	7%	—	7%
SurveyUSA	May 8–12, 2014	1,380	± 2.7%	43%	37%	7%	—	14%
Atlanta Journal-Constitution	May 5–8, 2014	1,012	± 4%	48%	44%	—	—	8%
Saint Leo	May 5–6, 2014	1,000	± 3%	38%	35%	11%	—	16%
	April 30 – May 5, 2014	2,196	± 2.1%	50%	40%	—	1%	10%
SurveyUSA	April 24–27, 2014	1,567	± 2.5%	41%	37%	9%	—	13%
Public Policy Polling	April 1–3, 2014	628	± 4%	42%	43%	—	—	15%
Landmark/Rosetta Stone	March 30, 2014	575	± 4%	43%	39%	—	—	18%
Insider Advantage	March 13, 2014	486	± 4.3%	38%	41%	—	—	21%
Public Policy Polling	February 19–20, 2014	833	± 4%	45%	42%	—	—	12%
Atlanta Journal-Constitution	January 6–9, 2014	802	± 4%	47%	38%	—	—	15%
Insider Advantage	January 6, 2014	529	± 4.6%	44%	22%	—	—	34%
Anzalone Liszt Grove	October 14–20, 2013	600	± 4%	44%	36%	—	—	20%
Public Policy Polling	October 7–8, 2013	602	± 4.1%	44%	40%	—	—	16%
Public Policy Polling	August 2–5, 2013	520	± 4.3%	48%	33%	—	—	19%
20/20 Insight, LLC	May 7–9, 2013	1,483	± 2.5%	42%	45%	—	—	13%
Public Policy Polling	February 15–18, 2013	602	± 4%	46%	38%	—	—	16%
Public Policy Polling	November 30–December 2, 2012	729	± 3.6%	46%	38%	—	—	17%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nathan Deal (R)	Stacey Abrams (D)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	August 2–5, 2013	520	± 4.3%	47%	34%	19%
20/20 Insight, LLC	May 7–9, 2013	1,483	± 2.5%	45%	39%	17%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nathan Deal (R)	John Barrow (D)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 15–18, 2013	602	± 4%	48%	38%	14%
Public Policy Polling	November 30 – December 2, 2012	729	± 3.6%	44%	40%	16%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nathan Deal (R)	Scott Holcomb (D)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	August 2–5, 2013	520	± 4.3%	48%	28%	24%
20/20 Insight, LLC	May 7–9, 2013	1,483	± 2.5%	41%	41%	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nathan Deal (R)	Kasim Reed (D)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 15–18, 2013	602	± 4%	48%	38%	14%
Public Policy Polling	November 30 – December 2, 2012	729	± 3.6%	47%	40%	13%

Hypothetical runoff polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nathan Deal (R)	Jason Carter (D)	Other	Undecided
NBC News/Marist	October 26–30, 2014	603 LV	± 4%	50%	46%	<1%	4%
		875 RV	± 3.3%	48%	45%	1%	6%

Results

2014 Georgia gubernatorial election^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Nathan Deal (incumbent)	1,345,237	52.74%	-0.28%
	Democratic	Jason Carter	1,144,794	44.88%	+1.91%
	Libertarian	Andrew Hunt	60,185	2.36%	-1.65%
	Write-in		432	0.02%	+0.02%
Total votes			2,550,648	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Douglas (largest town: Douglasville)
• Henry (largest city: Stockbridge)
• Newton (largest town: Covington)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Baker (largest city: Newton)
• Brooks (largest city: Quitman)
• Clinch (Largest city: Homerville)
• Early (largest city: Blakely)
• McIntosh (largest municipality: Darien)
• Mitchell (largest municipality: Camilla)
• Peach (largest municipality: Fort Valley)
• Webster (largest town: Preston)

References

1. Cassidy, Christina A. (August 31, 2013). "Ga. schools superintendent to run for governor". Marietta Daily Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
2. Bluestein, Greg (July 9, 2013). "Dalton's mayor to challenge Deal in GOP primary". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
3. "UNOFFICIAL RESULTS General Primary/General Nonpartisan/Special Election May 20, 2014". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
4. Christina A. Cassidy (November 7, 2013). "Jason Carter, Jimmy Carter's Grandson, To Run For Georgia Governor". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
5. Cassidy, Christina A. (November 7, 2013). "Jimmy Carter's Grandson to Run for Ga. Governor". ABC News. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
6. "Your Daily Jolt: John Barge kicks off gubernatorial run today". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
7. Hula, Ed (August 14, 2013). "Shirley Franklin Speculation-Could She Run for Office?". Peach Pundit. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
8. Mimms, Sarah (May 1, 2013). . National Journal. Archived from the original on May 3, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
9. Holcomb, Scott (November 7, 2013). "I just donated – you should too..." Twitter. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
10. . CBS Atlanta. August 26, 2013. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
11. . Libertarian Party. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
12. "2014 Governor Race Ratings for November 3, 2014". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
13. "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
14. "2014 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
15. "2014 Elections Map - 2014 Governors Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
16. "GA – Election Results". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved July 28, 2015.

External links

• Georgia gubernatorial election, 2014 at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites (Archived)