Challenging Deal in the Republican primary are state schools Superintendent John Barge and Dalton Mayor David Pennington. On the Democratic side, former state Sen. Connie Stokes has also announced her intent to run for governor.
for a second term by forcing a runoff." Andover the weekend, "former state Sen. Connie Stokes became the first Democrat to announce a bid against the sitting governor. And the party tapped a new chairman, DuBose Porter, a former gubernatorial contender, who promises to turn up the heat on Deal."