The 2016 United States Senate election in Georgia was held November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Georgia, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, 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. The primary election for the Republican and Democratic parties took place on May 24, 2016.

Incumbent Senator Johnny Isakson won re-election to a third term in office by a wide margin. He later resigned from the Senate on December 31, 2019, due to health issues. As of 2024, this remains the last time Republicans have won a Senate election in Georgia, as well as the last time that suburban Gwinnett and Henry counties have voted Republican in a statewide election. It also remains the last time that any statewide candidate has won an election in Georgia by double digits, and the last time that any U.S. Senate candidate in Georgia has won without a runoff.

Republican primary Candidates Declared Mary Kay Bacallao, college professor, former Fayette County Board of Education member and candidate for state superintendent of schools in 2014 Derrick Grayson, MARTA engineer, minister and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 Johnny Isakson, incumbent U.S. senator

Withdrawn Lee Benedict, teacher and state senate candidate in 2007 (running for the Columbia County Commission)

Declined Paul Broun, former U.S. representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1996 and 2014 (running for GA-09) Tom Graves, U.S. representative Kelly Loeffler, owner of the Atlanta Dream and future U.S. senator for this seat Tom Price, U.S. representative Allen West, former U.S. representative from Florida

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnnyIsakson Anothercandidate UndecidedInsiderAdvantageInsiderAdvantage June 11–14, 2015 492 ± 4.4% 50% 26% 24%

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Declared James F. Barksdale, investment firm executive Cheryl Copeland, AT&T manager John Coyne, businessman and perennial candidate

Withdrawn Jim Knox, information technologist and United States Air Force veteran

Declined Stacey Abrams, minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives Thurbert Baker, former attorney general of Georgia and candidate for governor in 2010 Roy Barnes, former governor John Barrow, former U.S. representative Jason Carter, state senator and nominee for governor of Georgia in 2014 Stacey Evans, state representative Shirley Franklin, former mayor of Atlanta Scott Holcomb, state representative and candidate for secretary of state in 2006 Margaret Kaiser, state representative Jim Marshall, former U.S. representative Michelle Nunn, former CEO of Points of Light and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014 Kasim Reed, mayor of Atlanta Michael Sterling, executive director of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, former assistant United States attorney and former adviser to Mayor Kasim Reed Doug Stoner, former state senator Ed Tarver, United States attorney for the Southern District of Georgia and former state senator Regina Thomas, former state senator and candidate for GA-12 in 2008 and 2010 Teresa Tomlinson, mayor of Columbus Raphael Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church and future U.S. Senator for this seat

Results

Libertarian nomination Candidates Declared Allen Buckley, attorney, accountant, nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2008 and nominee for lieutenant governor of Georgia in 2006 Ted Metz, insurance agent, former Cobb County Republican district chairman, and nominee for insurance commissioner in 2014

Allen Buckley won the nomination at the March 5, 2016 nominating convention in Marietta.

General election Debates Dates Location Isakson Barksdale Buckley LinkOctober 21, 2016Atlanta, GeorgiaParticipantParticipantParticipantFull debate

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnnyIsakson (R) JimBarksdale (D) AllenBuckley (L) Other UndecidedSurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey November 1–7, 2016 2,419 ± 4.6% 47% 41% 8% — 4%WSB-TV/LandmarkWSB-TV/Landmark November 6, 2016 1,200 ± 2.8% 52% 41% 4% — 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 31–November 6, 2016 2,348 ± 4.6% 47% 41% 8% — 4%CBS News/YouGovCBS News/YouGov November 3–5, 2016 995 ± 4.6% 48% 41% — 6% 5%WSB-TV/LandmarkWSB-TV/Landmark November 2–3, 2016 1,000 ± 3.1% 50% 40% 5% — 6%FOX 5 Atlanta/Opinion SavvyFOX 5 Atlanta/Opinion Savvy November 2–3, 2016 538 ± 4.2% 50% 39% 8% — 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 28–November 3, 2016 2,872 ± 4.6% 47% 42% 8% — 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 27–November 2, 2016 2,722 ± 4.6% 47% 42% 7% — 4%NBC/WSJ/MaristNBC/WSJ/Marist October 30–November 1, 2016 707 LV ± 3.7% 48% 37% 7% 3% 5% 937 RV ± 3.2% 46% 36% 8% 4% 7%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 26–November 1, 2016 2,678 ± 4.6% 48% 41% 6% — 5%Emerson CollegeEmerson College October 29–31, 2016 650 ± 3.8% 48% 40% — 5% 7%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 25–31, 2016 2,665 ± 4.6% 50% 41% 5% — 4%WXIA-TV Atlanta/SurveyUSAWXIA-TV Atlanta/SurveyUSA October 25–27, 2016 594 ± 4.1% 50% 38% 5% — 8%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University October 20–26, 2016 707 ± 3.7% 54% 40% — — 6%FOX 5 Atlanta/Opinion SavvyFOX 5 Atlanta/Opinion Savvy October 20, 2016 570 ± 4.1% 51% 42% 3% — 4%Google Consumer SurveysGoogle Consumer Surveys October 18–20, 2016 439 ± 4.2% 58% 36% — — 6%Atlanta Journal ConstitutionAtlanta Journal Constitution October 17–20, 2016 839 ± 4.3% 47% 32% 11% — 7%The Times-Picayune/LucidThe Times-Picayune/Lucid October 17–18, 2016 807 ± 3.0% 49% 39% — — 13%Washington Post/SurveyMonkeyWashington Post/SurveyMonkey October 8–16, 2016 886 ± 0.5% 50% 46% — — 4%WSB-TV/LandmarkWSB-TV/Landmark October 11–12, 2016 1,400 ± 2.7% 50% 37% 5% — 8%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) September 20–22, 2016 600 ± 4.0% 41% 28% 4% — 27%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University September 13–21, 2016 638 ± 3.9% 55% 34% — — 10%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University September 15–18, 2016 401 ± 4.9% 50% 34% 5% — 10%FOX 5 Atlanta/Opinion SavvyFOX 5 Atlanta/Opinion Savvy September 14, 2016 568 ± 4.1% 47% 34% 6% — 13%Emerson CollegeEmerson College September 9–13, 2016 600 ± 3.6% 48% 32% — — 10%NBC/WSJ/MaristNBC/WSJ/Marist September 6–8, 2016 649 ± 3.8% 53% 38% — — 9%JMC Analytics (R)JMC Analytics (R) August 6–7, 2016 615 ± 4.0% 39% 30% 4% — 27%Atlanta Journal ConstitutionAtlanta Journal Constitution August 1–4, 2016 847 ± 4.0% 44% 38% 6% — 12% 48% 42% — — 10%WSB-TV/LandmarkWSB-TV/Landmark July 31, 2016 787 ± 4.0% 46% 41% 5% — 8%WXIA-TV Atlanta/SurveyUSAWXIA-TV Atlanta/SurveyUSA July 29–31, 2016 570 ± 4.2% 48% 39% 5% — 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 27–30, 2016 724 ± 3.6% 47% 35% — — 18%

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 2, 2016 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2016 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2016 Daily Kos November 8, 2016 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2016

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Chatham (largest municipality: Savannah) Douglas (largest town: Douglasville)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Quitman (largest city: Georgetown) Twiggs (largest city: Jeffersonville) Terrell (largest city: Dawson) Randolph (largest city: Cuthbert)

By congressional district Isakson won ten of 14 congressional districts. District Isakson Barksdale Representative 60% 36%Buddy Carter 47% 50%Sanford Bishop67%29%Lynn WestmorelandDrew Ferguson 26% 70%Hank Johnson 20% 76%John Lewis 58% 37%Tom Price 56% 39%Rob Woodall 66% 31%Austin Scott 78% 18%Doug Collins 64% 32%Jody Hice 64% 30%Barry Loudermilk 60% 37%Rick W. Allen 30% 66%David Scott 74% 21%Tom Graves

References

External links Official campaign websites Johnny Isakson (R) for Senate Jim Barksdale (D) for Senate Allen Buckley (L) for Senate