Split Decision for Jewish Democrats in Runoff

Democratic voters rendered their judgment on a pair of Jewish candidates in the June 16 runoff elections.

Though results are unofficial until certified, Kevin Abel appeared to have secured the Democratic nomination in state Senate District 14.

Abel received 51 percent of the vote — a 147 vote lead, out of 8,487 cast — against Nathalie Kanani.

His opponent in the Nov. 3 general election will be Republican Michael Dvorscak.

In a statement to the AJT, Abel said: “As of 11:30 p.m. [June 16] it appears that I have enough of a lead to prevail and be certified as the Democratic nominee for state Senate District 14. I want to congratulate my opponent, Nathalie Kanani, on running a well-fought and incredibly close race. Tomorrow is a new day: As Democrats, we need to stop the Republican redistricting efforts, this special legislative session that would gut the Voting Rights Act and further restrict minority representation in our government. And then it will be on to the general election cycle where I will look forward to a healthy debate with the Republican nominee for this state Senate seat.”

Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett lost her bid for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state, receiving just 37 percent of the vote against Penny Brown Reynolds.

Additionally, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff now knows that his Republican re-election opponent will be U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who received 55.5 percent of the vote to defeat former football coach Derek Dooley in the GOP runoff.

Dooley had the long-term backing of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Collins was endorsed by Republican President Donald Trump two days before the runoff.

Ossoff is the only Democratic U.S. senator running for re-election in a state that Trump won in 2024. Retaining his seat is critical to the party’s hopes of regaining a majority in the Senate.

The Jewish Democrat issued a statement through his campaign: “Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate Mike Collins is a notorious bigot, antisemite, and extremist currently under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars. Collins, who is only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman, voted to double health insurance premiums for more than a million Georgians, for the Iran War, and for the Trump tariffs.”

Collins posted on the social media platform X: “Georgia, I’m honored to be your Republican nominee for the United States Senate. Now it’s time to get to work, defeat Jon Ossoff, and take this seat back for the people of this state. Hammer Down!”

Trump for his part, posted about the race at 2.50 a.m. June 17, on his Truth Social platform: “So happy for highly respected Congressman Mike Collins. He will win his Senate Race in Georgia against a pathetic failed Democrat Senator, Os(jerk)off, who is a joke in D.C. Nobody even knows who he is!!! I’ll be doing Big TRUMP Rallies for Mike in Georgia! President DJT”