In what has become a cycle of career politicians seeking office after repeated losses, democrats Erick Allen and Jaha Howard are once again competing in a race that has failed to energize voters. With turnout in the primary election below 4%, one political insider predicts that the upcoming special election runoff could see even lower participation—potentially dropping below 3%.
With so few voters showing up, every ballot cast will be critical for the two Democrat candidates who hope to become an elected official again replacing failed Congressional Candidate, Jerica Richardson.
In the most recent round, former State Representative Erick Allen received 1,669 votes (45.4%), while former school board member Jaha Howard secured 1,568 votes (42.7%). Because neither candidate reached the necessary 50% plus one vote, yet another round of voting has been triggered.
For voters struggling to keep track of Allen and Howard’s repeated election bids, their long history of losses speaks for itself. Below is a breakdown of their contested elections:
Election History of Erick Allen
| Election Year | Race | Result |
| Nov 2014 | GA State House vs. Rich Golick | Loss (39.9%) |
| Nov 2016 | GA State House vs. Rich Golick | Loss (46.4%) |
| May 2018 | GA State House vs. Sandra Bullock (later withdrew) | Loss (41.9%) |
| Nov 2018 | GA State House (replacement candidate) | Win (54.7%) |
| Nov 2020 | GA State House District 40 | Win (58.4%) |
| May 2022 | Lieutenant Governor (Democratic Primary) | Loss (9.2%, 5th place) |
| May 2024 | Cobb County Commissioner (Democratic Primary) | Loss (23.1%, 3rd place) |
| March 2025 | Cobb County Commissioner Runoff | Pending |
Win/Loss Record: 2 Wins, 5 Losses
Election History of Jaha Howard
| Election Year | Race | Result |
| March 2016 | GA State Senate vs. Hunter Hill | Loss (48.1%) |
| Nov 2017 | Special Election vs. Jen Jordan | Loss (22.5%, 2nd place) |
| Dec 2017 | Runoff Election vs. Jen Jordan | Loss (36.1%) |
| May 2018 | Cobb County School Board (Democratic Primary) | Win (No GOP opponent) |
| March 2022 | GA State Superintendent (Democratic Primary) | Loss (15%) |
| May 2024 | Cobb County Commissioner (Democratic Primary) | Win (24.9%) |
| June 2024 | Cobb County Commissioner (Runoff) | Win (1,738 votes to 641) |
| March 2025 | Cobb County Commissioner Runoff | Pending |
Win/Loss Record: 3 Wins, 4 Losses
A Mess Created by Democrat Leadership
Voters should remember that this endless cycle of elections could have been avoided if the Democrat-controlled Board of Elections had followed the law, according the rulings of two Superior Court Judges.
Instead, Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and her allies attempted to override the ‘will’ of Georgia General Assembly with an illegal “home rule” map, leading to chaos and uncertainty for District 2 residents. Ignoring the Georgia state law has resulted in multiple unnecessary elections, wasting taxpayer dollars and delaying true representation for Cobb County.
The next election between Erick Allen and Jaha Howard is scheduled for March 11, 2025. The winner will then have to face the Republican nominee, giving voters a real choice and a chance to elect a leader who will bring stability and accountability to the Cobb County Commission.
Cobb County recently adopted the state’s Commission District Map to be used for all county purposes.
