Karen Handel - 2010 Gubernatorial Run

2010 Gubernatorial Run

Handel ran for governor in the 2010 election. She announced in December 2009 that she would resign as secretary of state in order to focus on the gubernatorial race full-time. In the July 20th Republican primary vote, Handel received 34% and former Congressman Nathan Deal received 23%. Since neither candidate received a majority, they faced off in the Republican gubernatorial run off on August 10, 2010. Handel received the endorsement of former Republican 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Handel also received the endorsements of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.

The primary campaign was particularly heated, and Handel's past membership in the gay rights group Log Cabin Republicans became an issue. When Deal used her membership against her, Handel denied that she had ever been a member of the group, which was an important and influential constituency when she was a commissioner. An investigation by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed that she was on the Log Cabin Republican's membership rolls in 2003 and 2004, and that she had signed a questionnaire affirming her support for domestic partnership benefits. Politifact rated her denial a "Pants on Fire" lie. When asked by Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA-TV about her stance on gay rights, she said that she was against marriage and adoption for gays, and that gay people are not legitimate parents.