Polls are now closed in the state of Georgia, and we're all settling in for a long night.
Fulton and DeKalb counties will be critical to the hopes of statewide candidates -- and late in coming in. Until then, as you continue to refresh the AJC's spiffy map, here are some places to watch:
The 12th Congressional District
The re-election fight for U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Augusta, is a big story in its own right, for the fate of the last white U.S. House Democrat in the Deep South. But it could also be a harbinger for statewide races if Barrow goes down. Watch raw turnout numbers in heavily Democratic Richmond County and heavily Republican Columbia County.
Houston County
Both of the main U.S. Senate hopefuls, Republican David Perdue and Democrat Michelle Nunn, call this Middle Georgia county home, though neither has lived there for years. It went 59 percent for Mitt Romney in 2012. If Republicans keep or exceed that margin, it's a sign that departed "Sam Nunn Democrats" remain GOP voters.
Henry County
This exurban county to Atlanta's South gave 51 percent of its vote to Romney and could be an early bellwether as a swing county.
Chatham County
Home of Savannah, this county went decisively to President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 -- but swung to Republicans in 2010 when black turnout plummeted. Chatham could provide an early sign of whether Democrats can accomplish their goal of making the electorate look more like a presidential year than a midterm.
Hall County
Republicans are counting on wracking up big margins in Gov. Nathan Deal's home county to offset Democratic gains in Fulton and DeKalb counties.
Cobb County
This has long been a Republican stronghold, from Newt Gingrich to Johnny Isakson, but increased minority populations in east Cobb and south Cobb have Democrats thinking they can chip away at the GOP's share in the populous county next door to Atlanta. The benchmark: Mitt Romney's 55 percent in 2012.
About the Author
