Politics

Shafer Concedes GOP Race For Ga. Lieutenant Governor

August 2nd, 2018

Georgia state Sen. David Shafer, right, is shown with state Sens. Josh McKoon and Greg Kirk in 2016. Shafer has conceded the Republican race for lieutenant governor to Geoff Duncan. Duncan will face Democrat Sarah Riggs Amico in the Nov. 6 general election.

Jason Getz / Associated Press file

Georgia state Sen. David Shafer is conceding the Republican race for lieutenant governor to Geoff Duncan.

News outlets report Shafer wrote in an email to supporters Wednesday that he doesn’t plan to seek a recount. According to unofficial election results, Shafer trailed Duncan by less than 1 percentage point — 1,597 votes across the state. While his campaign said he picked up about 100 votes from the counting of provisional ballots over the weekend, he was still far short of overcoming the deficit.

“My heart hurts for all those who worked so hard on my behalf. I am sorry that we were not victorious. But please do not hurt for me …” Shafer wrote. “As I have done every election since I have been old enough to vote, I will be working hard for a Republican victory up and down the ballot.”

Duncan praised Shafer for his decision not to prolong the election.

“By not requesting a recount, David put the interest of the party and the taxpayers of Georgia before himself, and for that I thank him,” Duncan said. “David’s selfless action allows our campaign to immediately focus on winning the general election.”

Duncan served five years in the state House, but campaigned as an outsider focusing on his experience as a businessman and entrepreneur. During the race Duncan accused Shafer of being a career politician who profited personally from his years in office — a charge Shafer called “completely dishonest.”

Duncan now faces Democrat Sarah Riggs Amico, an executive for a transportation company, in the Nov. 6 general election.