Denise Majette

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Denise Majette
Majette-denise.jpg
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Georgia's 4th district
In office
January 3, 2003 –January 3, 2005

After one term in the U.S. House, Majette decided to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Zell Miller, who had been appointed to the seat in 2000 following the death of Republican Paul Coverdell. Miller's decision not to seek a full term in the Senate had caught the Georgia Democrats by surprise. Majette's announcement that she would seek to replace Miller also caught Democrats by surprise, as she was not on anyone's call list when Democrats began seeking a candidate to replace Miller. Further skepticism among Democrats about the viability of her candidacy surfaced when she announced that "God" had told her to run for the Senate.

Majette finished first in the Democratic primary but was forced into a runoff against millionaire businessman Cliff Oxford, which she won. She received important endorsements from Senators Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, along with many others in Washington who campaigned and raised money for Majette. Her Senate campaign slogan was "I'll be nobody's Senator, but yours." Majette was the first African American and the first woman to be nominated for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.

In the general election, despite her vigorous attacks against her Republican opponent, 6th District Congressman Johnny Isakson, Majette was defeated, losing by 18 points.

A number of factors led to the severe defeat. Majette was badly under financed and had to spend valuable time and money in the runoff. In contrast, Isakson had won the Republican nomination by an unexpectedly large margin. Due to her late entry in the race, she had little time or chance to make up ground on Isakson. A proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution banning same-sex marriages (which Majette opposed) boosted Republican turnout significantly; it not only passed by a wide margin statewide, but carried in every county, even DeKalb. She got little help from the top of the ticket; John Kerry had effectively ceded Georgia to George W. Bush early in the presidential campaign.

McKinney regained her seat in the 2004 election. While McKinney had made no secret that she wanted her old seat back, it is not known whether Majette's decision to run for the Senate was related to a possible rematch against McKinney.

Later career

Soon after leaving the House, Majette entered private law practice in Atlanta. In March 2006, Majette announced her candidacy for state School Superintendent of Georgia. She defeated substitute teacher Carlotta Harrell in the primary, garnering 67% of the vote. In the general election, however, Majette lost to Republican incumbent Kathy Cox by a large margin.

Disbarment

On March 28, 2014, the Georgia Supreme Court disbarred Majette, finding that she overbilled clients and misled the Court about how much she was owed in fees. [5]

Electoral history

Congressional photo of Denise Majette. RepDeniseMajette.jpg
Congressional photo of Denise Majette.
Georgia's 4th congressional district : 2002 results [6]
YearDemocratVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct
2002 Denise L. Majette118,04577% Cynthia Van Auken 35,20223%
Georgia Senator (Class III): 2004 results [6]
YearDemocratVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct3rd PartyPartyVotesPct
2004 Denise L. Majette1,287,69040% Johnny Isakson 1,864,20258%Allen Buckley Libertarian 69,0512%*

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2004, write-ins received 31 votes and Matthew Jamison received 7 votes.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Majette, Denise L. (1955– ) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". www.blackpast.org. December 19, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ Engel, Matthew (August 22, 2002). "Pro-Palestinian congresswoman ousted". The Guardian. London. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Majette, Denise L. (1955– ) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". www.blackpast.org. December 19, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  4. ↑ OnTheIssues.org. "Denise Majette on the Issues". ontheissues.org. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Ex-congresswoman Majette disbarred | the Augusta Chronicle". Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 25, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 4th congressional district
2003–2005		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Georgia
(Class 3)
2004 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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