Two current state senators defeated two former state senators in the Georgia runoff for lieutenant governor Tuesday, with Sens. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, and Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs, set to face each other in the November general election.

Dolezal defeated John F. Kennedy of Macon, who resigned from the Senate in December to focus on his campaign for the GOP nomination. McLaurin defeated Nabilah Parkes of Gwinnett County, who resigned from the Senate for the same reason in March.

Dolezal campaigned as an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, noting he was among a handful of senators who called for a special legislative session to investigate Trump’s 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

McLaurin campaigned as a foil of Trump loyalists and as a skilled legislator, saying he could work effectively across party lines while ridiculing his Republican colleagues for their support of the president.

Whoever wins in November will lead the state Senate and fill in for the governor when necessary.

Voters in both parties also chose nominees for secretary of state.

Republicans picked state Rep. Tim Fleming, R-Covington, over Vernon Jones, a former Democratic lawmaker and DeKalb County CEO who switched parties. Fleming won with nearly two-thirds of the vote.

Democrats chose former Fulton County State Court Judge Penny Brown Reynolds over Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett by a similarly wide margin.

The winner of the general election will oversee elections and business registrations and licensing.

Engineer Josh Tolbert defeated businessman Bobby Mehan in the Republican runoff for Public Service Commission District 5, another statewide race. Tolbert campaigned on technical expertise, saying his engineering background would help the five-member commission rein in electricity costs.

In November, Tolbert, of Bremen, will face Democrat Shelia Edwards of Cobb County, who won her party’s primary outright in May.

Democrats also chose nominees for two statewide commissioner posts.

Nikki Porcher defeated Michelle Michi Sanchez for labor commissioner and will challenge Republican incumbent Bárbara Rivera Holmes in the general election.

Democrats also chose Keisha Sean Waites over DeAndre Mathis to challenge Republican John King for insurance commissioner.

The last statewide race on the ballot was close as Fred “Bubba” Longgrear tried to deny incumbent Richard Woods the Republican nomination for state school superintendent.

Woods held a narrow lead in his effort to advance to the general election and defend his seat against Democratic challenger Lydia Powell.

Capitol Beat is a nonprofit news service operated by the Georgia Press Educational Foundation that provides coverage of state government to newspapers throughout Georgia. For more information visit capitol-beat.org.