Not sticking to party lines: Split-ticket voters could decide Georgia’s tied governor race – Atlanta News First

Not sticking to party lines: Split-ticket voters could decide Georgia’s tied governor race  Atlanta News First

The tight margin comes as the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office reported a record-shattering 190,000 ballots cast on the first day of early voting, surpassing the previous 2022 midterm day-one record by more than 53,000 votes. ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Straight-party loyalty is fracturing in Georgia just 19 days ahead of the midterm election, with voters increasingly crossing party lines in key statewide races. A new InsiderAdvantage survey of 800 likely voters conducted Oct. 12–13 shows Republican Rick Jackson holding 49% to Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms’ 47% in the race for governor, leaving the contest locked in a statistical tie within the poll’s 3.46% margin of error. Outside the Buckhead Library polling site in Fulton County, voters said they are evaluating candidates individually rather than casting straight-party ballots.

Voter Lynne Halpern said she split her ticket between Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. John Ossoff and Jackson after meeting the Republican nominee in person. “He seemed like a businessman who could get things in order,” Halpern said. “And I just think, I’m usually a Democrat, but I just wanted to make sure I voted for him.” BY THE NUMBERS: Georgia’s daily early voting totals ahead of the November election Other voters expressed reservations about Bottoms’ tenure as Atlanta mayor, but chose her over concerns regarding Jackson’s ties to former President