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Republican Secretary of State candidate Brad Raffensperger greets supporters during a campaign stop in Augusta, Ga., Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Raffensperger and Democrat John Barrow are vying in a Dec. 4 runoff for Georgia secretary of state. (Michael Holahan/The Augusta Chronicle via AP)

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FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2018 file photo, Republican candidate for Georgia Secretary of State Republican Brad Raffensperger participates in a debate in Atlanta. Raffensperger and Democrat John Barrow are vying in a Dec. 4 runoff for Georgia secretary of state. (Bob Andres/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

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FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 5, 2018 file photo, Democrat Georgia Secretary of State candidate John Barrow speaks during a campaign stop at Daniel Field in Augusta, Ga. Barrow and Republican Brad Raffensperger are vying in a Dec. 4 runoff for Georgia secretary of state. (Michael Holahan/The Augusta Chronicle via AP, File)

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Democrat Secretary of State candidate John Barrow speaks during a campaign stop in Augusta, Ga. Monday, December 3, 2018. Barrow is pitted against Republican Brad Raffensperger in a runoff that will be decided Tuesday. (Michael Holahan/The Augusta Chronicle via AP)

Barrow concedes defeat in Georgia secretary of state race

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 2:19 PM ET May. 09, 2019

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — The losing Democrat in Georgia's runoff election for secretary of state says he wishes his Republican rival "every success" as the state's new elections chief.

Former congressman John Barrow conceded the race in a statement Wednesday. He was defeated in the Tuesday runoff by Republican state Rep. Brad Raffensperger, who'll take over as secretary of state in January.

Barrow had said earlier Wednesday he wasn't ready to concede because there were still outstanding absentee votes to be counted.

The Georgia race gained an unusual amount of attention this fall after as Democrats complained the previous secretary of state, GOP Gov.-elect Brian Kemp, used the office to suppress votes and improve his odds of victory.

Kemp strongly denies those allegations, pointing to big increases in voter registration during his tenure and record turnout in the midterm elections.

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