Atlanta

LIVE UPDATES: Several key races too close to call

ATLANTA — Voters cast their ballots Tuesday in the highly anticipated midterm elections.

Perhaps the biggest decision they made is who will become Georgia's next governor. The race is so close, it could go to a runoff.

[Click here for real-time election results]

We're continuing to stay in touch with election officials to get the final vote counts -- Stay with Channel 2 Action News 

Minute-by-minute updates:
6:59 a.m.:

Channel 2's DC reporter Jamie Dupree says extra absentee ballots turned GA-6 from a small lead for Rep. Karen Handel R-GA, to an almost 3,000 lead for her Democratic challenger Lucy McBath.

5:53 a.m.:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein tweeted the front page of the newspaper for this morning.

4:35 a.m.:

Channel 2's DC reporter Jamie Dupree said the lead is growing for Democrat Lucy McBath over Republican Karen Handel as more absentees are counted for District 6.

4 a.m.:

Channel 2 Action News This Morning begins with Channel 2's Darryn Moore covering Brian Kemp and Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach covering Stacey Abrams.

2:42 a.m.:

The Kemp campaign has declared victory: “We have the votes … and the next governor of Georgia is going to be Brian Kemp."

2:27 a.m.:

According to The Associated Press, Geoff Duncan wins Georgia Lieutenant Governor and Chris Carr wins Attorney general.

2:26 a.m.:

100% of precincts reporting and Karen Handel leads by 57 votes in Georgia's Sixth District.

2:01 a.m.:

Brian Kemp addresses his supporters at campaign HQ.

ELECTION NIGHT 2018 LIVE COVERAGE

WATCH LIVE: Brian Kemp talks to supporters as the Georgia governor race is still too close to call. (RESULTS - 2wsb.tv/ElectionResults)

Posted by WSB-TV on Tuesday, November 6, 2018
1:43 a.m.:

Stacey Abrams believes the Georgia governor's race is going to a runoff.

1:35 a.m.:

Stacey Abrams addresses her supporters at campaign HQ.

ELECTION COVERAGE 2018

WATCH LIVE: Stacey Abrams talks to supporters as the Georgia governor race is still too close to call. (RESULTS - 2wsb.tv/ElectionResults)

Posted by WSB-TV on Tuesday, November 6, 2018
1:10 a.m.:

Stacey Abrams' campaign manager says Abrams will talk to supporters soon.

12:47 a.m.:

With 94% reporting, Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp leads Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams 51.41%-47.65%. Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Ted Metz has accounted for 0.94% of the votes.

12:43 a.m.:

Channel 2 Action News confirms Gwinnett absentee ballots may not be counted until early Wednesday morning. There are over 20,000 total.

12:16 a.m.:

With 91% reporting, Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp leads Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams 50.99%-48.07%. Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Ted Metz has accounted for 0.94% of the votes.

Wednesday 12:00 a.m.:

As the governor's race is still too close to call, Republican candidate Brian Kemp is expected to address his supporters in Athens.

11:07 p.m.:

Channel 2 investigative reporter Aaron Diamant confirms there could be delays in vote counting that stretch into Wednesday morning.

11:04 p.m.:

Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum concedes to Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis.

10:55 p.m.:

ABC News projects Democrats will take control of the House.

10:17 p.m.:

ABC News projects Republicans will retain control of the Senate.

10:12 p.m.:

ABC News projects Republican incumbent Ted Cruz will win Texas' U.S. Senate race, defeating Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke.

9:47 p.m.:

ABC News projects Democrat Jared Polis will win Colorado's gubernatorial race, making history as the first openly gay man to win a gubernatorial election.

9:20 p.m.:

More than 1 million votes have been reported in the Georgia governor race.

9:10 p.m.:

ABC News projects Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn will defeat former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen in the Tennessee Senate race.

9:07 p.m.:

With 24% reporting, Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp leads Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams 60% to 39%. Libertarian candidate Ted Metz has accounted for 0.65% of the votes.

8:52 p.m.:

With 14% reporting, Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp leads Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams 60% to 39%. The State confirms 27 Georgia counties have completely reported.

8:39 p.m.:

Here's a current look at Georgia's governor race with 7% reporting:

8:10 p.m.:

Three Fulton County polling precincts will remain open past 7 p.m. due to a court order.

The Pittman Park location will be open until 9 p.m. after voters encountered long lines on Election Day because of too few machines.

Booker T. Washington and the Archer Auditorium at Morehouse College will both stay open until 10 p.m.

8:07 p.m.:

ABC News projects Democrat Elizabeth Warren will win U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts.

7:53 p.m.:

Almost 100,000 votes in Georgia's governor race are already reported. [Click here for real-time election results]

7:32 p.m.:

The first results have started to trickle in for Georgia. Here's the current look at the Governor's race as of 7:32 p.m.:

[Click here for real-time election results]

7:02 p.m.:

ABC News projects Bernie Sanders will win U.S. Senate race in Vermont.

7:00 p.m.:

Most polls are officially closed across metro area.

6:47 p.m.:

Channel 2 Action News has confirmed that three Gwinnett precincts will stay open late. The Annistown Elementary School precinct will remain open until 9:25 p.m. Anderson-Livsey Elementary will remain open until 7:30 p.m. Harbins Elementary will remain open until 7:14 p.m.

6:30 p.m.:

There's only 30 minutes left to vote at most Georgia polling places.

6:00 p.m.:

There's just one hour left before polls close at most locations across the metro area.

5:18 p.m.:

Channel 2's Dave Huddleston was with Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp casting his ballot Tuesday. Channel 2 Action News was with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams when she cast her vote during the early voting period.

When Kemp first tried to vote, his voter card said "invalid," according to Huddleston. However, the republican gubernatorial candidate was eventually able to vote.

5:12 p.m.:

There's only a couple of hours left before polls close at most locations across the metro area.

4:50 p.m.:

News Chopper 2 captures the long line of voters waiting to cast their ballot outside All Saints Episcopal Church in Buckhead.

3:55 p.m.:

Channel 2's Tom Regan learned volunteers in SW Atlanta passed out pizza and drinks to feed and hydrate the patient voters, who had been waiting for hours.

1:02 p.m.:

Channel 2's Tom Regan learned that five more voting machines have been added to a SW Atlanta precinct where voters complained of hours-long lines because of the location only had 3 machines.

1:02 p.m.: 

Channel 2's Aaron Diamant learned that some of the long lines in Fulton County are due, in part, to 700 voter machines sequestered in a paper ballot lawsuit.

12:06 p.m.:

Channel 2's Berndt Petersen met one woman who is 90 years old and said that a recent heart attack won't stop her from voting.

11:25 a.m.:

Channel 2's Berndt Petersen is in Cumming where cars are jammed in the parking lots at voting locations.

11:19 a.m.: 

Channel 2's Tom Regan reports long lines in SW Atlanta where voters say there were only three voting machines.

10:32 a.m.:

Channel 2's Audrey Washington posted video from a viewer at Annistown Elementary polling location in Gwinnett County where poll workers are telling voters that the voting machines are not working. Washington said that officials said they are working to make fixes.

9:48 a.m.:

Channel 2's Tony Thomas reports voting machine problems at the Suwanee Library involving equipment issues. The issues caused a 2 1/2-hour delay.

9:35 a.m.:

Channel 2's Audrey Washington reports long lines at Anderson school location in Gwinnett County after voters say there were problems with the machines. Officials said now that the machines are fixed but lines still remain.

7:40 a.m.: 

Channel 2 Action News Photographer Erin Frederickson reports long lines at the polling location in East Atlanta but she said that no one is complaining.

What to look out for:

Along with governor and lieutenant governor, 56 state Senate seats and 180 state House seats are up for grabs.

More than 2 million people in Georgia voted early for the midterm election -- that's more than any other midterm election in the history of the state.

The Secretary of State's Office released the numbers Monday, just a day ahead of Election Day.

Through the last day of early voting on Nov. 2, Georgians cast 2,071,830 ballots with 1,886,905 in-person and 184,925 by mail.

The previous early-voting turnout record in a midterm election was 945,507 early votes cast – 838,484 in-person and 107,023 by mail – in the Nov. 4, 2014, general election.

[READ: 4 tips on how to avoid stress before and after Election Day]

ELECTION 2018 COVERAGE:

Earlier Sunday alcohol sales, park funding and property tax relief are up for a vote in some jurisdictions. Also, the controversial Eagle’s Landing cityhood referendum is being watched across the metro area as it could set a new course for communities who may want to break away from existing towns.

Here’s a breakdown of key races and ballot issues in your area:
CLAYTON COUNTY

No contested commission races.

School Board

Clayton County Schools has four school board seats up for election, but only one has competition.

In District 9, which represents schools in central Clayton County around Morrow, Democrat incumbent Benjamin A. Straker Sr. is facing a challenge from Republican Kimberly E. Cowan-Keane.

Unopposed are Democrats Jasmine Bowles in District 1; Victoria Williams in District 4; and Alieka Anderson in District 8.

COBB COUNTY

Cobb voters in District 3 will elect a representative to the Board of Commissioners. Republican incumbent JoAnn Birrell faces Democrat Caroline Holko and write-in independent Joseph Pond.

County Commission District 1 voters will also vote on Keli Gambrill, who is running unopposed after winning the Republican primary.

Cobb residents, including those of the cities, will also have a chance to vote on a referendum that would allow alcohol sales starting at 11 a.m.

School board

Cobb County’s demographics continue to change from suburban and Republican to a county that is more diverse where Democrats can mount legitimate challenges. Voters put a lone Democrat, David Morgan, on the school board in 2008. This year, when Republican Susan Thayer decided not to run, no one from her party stepped up to take her place, and her seat will go to Democrat Jaha Howard in District 2. Two other Democrats will challenge Republican incumbents this year.

There are two competitive seats.

Post 4, which is mid-north Cobb County has Democrat challenger Cynthia Parr challenging incumbent Republican David Chastain.

In Post 6, which is East Cobb County, Republican incumbent Scott Sweeney is facing a challenge from Democrat Charisse Davis.

DEKALB COUNTY

Three county commissioners and two Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor candidates are on the ballot, but the only opposition is from write-in candidates.

Voters in unincorporated DeKalb and 10 of its cities – Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Stone Mountain and Tucker – will also decide whether to allow alcohol sales to begin at 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Brookhaven residents are being asked to authorize the City Council to borrow $40 million to upgrade the city’s parks. The money will be paid back using property tax revenue, and a millage increase is expected.

School board:

No races on the ballot.

FULTON COUNTY

County commission races on the ballot are uncontested, but Fulton voters will have a number of ballot measures to decide on, depending on where they live.

A measure that would cap taxable property values in Atlanta will go to a statewide vote.
There are several property tax relief measures specific to cities in North Fulton, including in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park and Roswell. They would allow residents to choose the lowest-value year of 2016, 2017 or 2018 as their base year for 2019 property values. After an adjustment for inflation, affected homeowners would be taxed on value increases of no more than 3 percent each year.

Residents in Alpharetta, Atlanta, College Park, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs, South Fulton and Union City will decide whether to allow earlier Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants beginning at 11 a.m.

Voters countywide will consider a measure that would undo a state constitutional amendment that keeps the county’s last unincorporated area — around Fulton Industrial Boulevard — from joining a city.

School board:

No races on the ballot.

GWINNETT COUNTY

Two Gwinnett County commission seats are up for grabs – and both races have the potential to make history.

In Commission District 2 – which covers a diverse swath of Lilburn, Norcross and Peachtree Corners — Democrat Ben Ku is challenging two-term incumbent Republican Lynette Howard. Ku would become Gwinnett’s first Asian-American commissioner, as well as its first openly gay one.

In Commission District 4 – which primarily covers the Lawrenceville and Buford areas – Democrat Marlene Fosque is challenging another two-term incumbent in Republican John Heard. Fosque would become Gwinnett’s first black commissioner.

Should either challenger win, they would become the commission’s first Democrats on the five-member board in more than three decades.

Gwinnett residents will also vote on the so-called brunch bill, which would allow alcoholic drink sales starting at 11 a.m. on Sundays.

School board

Gwinnett County, one of the most diverse counties in Georgia, has not elected a school board member of color in anyone’s memory. This election could change that. Two seats, both open after Republican incumbents decided to not run again, are up for election.

In District 2, which comprises north-central Gwinnett, Republican Steve Knudsen is running against Democrat Wandy Taylor.

In south Gwinnett County’s District 4, Democrat candidate Everton Blair is running against Republican candidate Chuck Studebaker.

HENRY COUNTY

The big contest on the ballot is the cityhood referendum vote for Eagle’s Landing.

The well-heeled community wants to secede from Stockbridge. To do so, Eagle’s Landing advocates will ask voters to approve a plan to take half of Stockbridge – including half of its businesses – by de-annexing a portion of the town and creating a new city of Eagle’s Landing Opponents have been unable to stop the vote in the courts and say it could cripple Stockbridge financially.

The six-member Henry Board of Commission, which currently is split evenly between black and white leaders, will be majority minority in the new year. That’s because District 4 Commissioner Blake Prince, who is white, left the post to run unsuccessfully for the state house. Vying for his seat are Democrat Vivian Thomas and Republican Pete Peterson, both of whom are black.

Incumbent District 3 Commissioner Gary Barnum, who is white, is also trying to retain his seat in a race against Democrat V. Ranae Crutches, who is black.

School board

: No races on the ballot.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution contributed to this report.

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