Hatchett returns as state representative for District 155

Matt Hatchett will return to Atlanta next year for his 17th year as state representative for House District 155. 

According to the Secretary of State’s results, Hatchett finished with 11,610 votes against Democratic challenger Joe Powers’ 6,425 for the Nov. 3 election. 

“This was a relief,” Hatchett said after receiving the numbers from the precincts to know that he had won. “It has been humbling. I’m thankful to all of the people who have helped in this whole journey. It is very uplifting when you have so many friends to come on and help defend what I’ve done.” 

Overall, 18,221 of 36,694 registered voters went to the polls for a 50 percent voter turnout in Laurens County. This was the first time since 2012 that Hatchett has faced opposition.

“In my first race, there were five of us running, we kept it positive,” he said. “Things have changed since 16 years. I kept (this campaign) positive. Sixty six percent (of the voters) liked that I kept it positive. I want to thank my wife, my family and my friends for all of the heartache that we’ve had the last couple of months and hanging in there.”

Hatchett has spent the last 26 years serving the public in an elected capacity, with 16 underneath the Gold Dome in Atlanta. Before that, he spent 10 years as a Dublin City Council member. He has been focused on the budget over the last four years.

“I’m going to continue what I’ve been doing and continue working for this district,” Hatchett said. “That’s my job and I take it like it is a job. I work hard at it and I’ll continue to work hard at it and move forward. I want to keep trucking.” 

Hatchett knows he will be back in Atlanta in a few months. At the time of talking about returning to his seat, Hatchett did not know about the other statewide seats.

“We’ll know a lot more by (Wednesday),” he said.

Almost an hour later, Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first African American woman to win a governor’s race by beating Rick Jackson. In Laurens County, Jackson finished with 11,307 while Bottoms received 6,803. 

The trend followed for the rest of the races in Laurens County. Republican Mike Collins received 10,749 votes to Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff, who picked up 7,325. 

Greg Dolezal picked up 11,034 to Josh McLaurin’s 6,927 for lieutenant governor. Tim Fleming received 11,119 to Penny Brown Reynolds’ 6,880 for secretary of state.

Brian Strickland led with 11,133 against Tanya Miller who picked up 6,911 for attorney general. Tyler Harper got 11,330 votes in Laurens County for commissioner of agriculture while Katherine E. Juhan-Arnold received 6,690.

Laurens County gave John King 11,192 votes for commissioner of insurance while Keisha Sean Waites picked up 6,803. Richard Woods led the way for state school superintendent in the county with 11,159 to Lydia Powell who received 6,843.

Barbara Rivera Holmes led Laurens County for labor commissioner with 11,153 to Nikki Porcher’s 6,792. 

Fitz Johnson led the way for Public Service Commission District 3 with 10,964 against Peter Hubbard’s 6,947. Josh Tolbert took PSC District 5 with a total of 11,090 to Shelia Edwards’ 6,893.

Rick Allen, the incumbent in U.S House District 12, received 11,272 votes, while Ceretta Smith picked up 6,778. Overall, Allen won the seat with 136,166 to 127,172.