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Why Georgia’s Public Service Commissioner race matters

While the governor’s race is high-profile, we can also win big on elections further down the ballot. Each official elected shapes our government and our lives, and we have the chance to push for progress with each tick on our ballots.

Notably, it’s time for Chuck Eaton to face the music.

This November, we have the chance to vote him out of the Public Service Commission, and the odds of unseating this incumbent look promising.

In the Republican primary last week, 470,873 Republicans voted for Chuck Eaton for another six-year term. In the Democratic primary, 476,425 voters cast their votes, electing Democrat Lindy Miller. That’s a 5,552-vote margin – in favor of the Democrat. Miller, Eaton and Libertarian Ryan Graham will face off for commissioner of District 3 in the Nov. 6 race.

As the AJC article explains, because of the high number Republican officials and incumbents in government right now, Republican voters are less likely to cast their vote for each open position as they get further down the ballot.

While this is good news, we can’t get comfortable. We have to get out and vote, or this advantage won’t matter at all.

We can see that Eaton is in trouble. Not only are progressive voters more motivated, Eaton is toting some damaging political baggage.

Eaton, along with the four other white, male Republican commissioners, voted to continue the construction of two nuclear reactors at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle at the end of last year. The project is years behind schedule and billions over budget.

Eaton has voted to stick ratepayers with the bill for Georgia Power’s failure over and over again, and it’s time we hold him accountable.

Eaton isn’t the only commissioner up for re-election. Republican Tricia Pridemore, who was hand-picked by Gov. Deal after Stan Wise stepped down, won her own primary and will be facing off with Democrat Dawn Randolph and Libertarian John Turpish in November.

As progressive voters, this is our chance to elect officials that will work in our best interest, not in the best interest of big energy corporations and their lobbyists.

Find your polling place, and make sure you’re ready for Nov. 6.

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