YIR: Panitch Remains Only Jewish Legislator in Georgia

Esther Panitch had hoped that she would have Jewish colleagues when the General Assembly reconvenes in January, but election results suggest that the Fulton County Democrat will remain the lone Jewish voice in the state legislature.

Panitch won election to a second term in the state House from District 51, receiving 58 percent of the vote to defeat Republican challenger Derek Keith Gettman.

Five other Jewish candidates — four Democrats and a Republican — lost their bids for House seats.

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Republicans maintained their trifecta under the Gold Dome, holding the governor’s office as well as majorities in the state House and Senate.
In the other state House races with losing Jewish candidates:

District 24: Democrat Randye Dugan won 32 percent of the vote in her effort to unseat Republican incumbent Carter Barrett.

District 45: Democrat Eric Castater received 42 percent of the vote in his bid to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Sharon Cooper.

District 47: Democrat Debra Shigley received 38 percent of the vote in her race against Republican incumbent Rep. Jan Jones, the second-ranking Republican in the House.

District 53: Democrat Susie Greenberg received 48 percent of the vote, losing by fewer than 1,400 votes out of nearly 35,000 cast, in her bid to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Deborah Silcox.

District 86: Republican challenger Barry Zisholtz received 20 percent of the vote in his loss to Democratic incumbent Rep. Imani Barnes.

Republican incumbent Rep. Todd Jones, who does not identify as Jewish though his mother is Jewish, won re-election in District 25, receiving nearly 61 percent of the vote to defeat Democratic challenger Elaine Padgett.