Butch Miller announces bid for Georgia lieutenant governor

The first big Republican name has jumped into the race for Georgia lieutenant governor a little more than a week after Geoff Duncan announced he would not seek a second term.

Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, declared his candidacy Tuesday.

"I'm running for Lt. Governor in 2022 because conservative values and conservative policies are working for Georgians, clearly," said Miller.  "We've got the number one state to do business in.  We've got a great state to raise a family in and the Democrats have taken the U.S. Senate seats.  They've flipped the Senate as a result of taking those Senate seats.  They've taken the White House and under my watch in 2022 that won't happen."

Miller has served in the Georgia Senate since 2010 and has been the President Pro Tempore since 2018.  The President Pro Tempore presides over the chamber when the lieutenant governor, who is also the president of the Senate, is not there.  

When senators voted on SB 202, the election reform bill, this spring, Duncan chose not to be in the chamber to show his disapproval of the measure.  Sen. Miller presided over the vote instead.

"I'm proud of it," said Miller.  "Republicans and Democrats were asking for election reform and we have election reform that builds confidence, gives trust and transparency to our election process."  

Duncan revealed May 17 that he would not run again.

"The national events of the last six months have deeply affected my family in ways I would have never imagined when I first asked for their support to run for Lieutenant Governor in 2017.  Through all of the highs and lows of the last six months they have never left my side and are once again united behind me in my pursuit of a better way forward for our conservative party – a GOP 2.0," Duncan said in a statement.  

Republican Jeanne Seaver of Savannah, Democratic State Rep. Erick Allen of Smyrna and Democratic State Rep. Derrick Jackson of Tyrone have also thrown their hats in the ring for lieutenant governor in 2022.  

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