Gary Ward Black (born August 20, 1958)[1] is an American farmer and politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. A Republican, he previously served as Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia from 2011 to 2023, having been first elected in 2010. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Georgia in 2022.
Gary Black | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Black at George Washington University, 2017 | |
| Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia | |
| In office January 10, 2011 – January 12, 2023 | |
| Governor | Nathan Deal Brian Kemp |
| Preceded by | Tommy Irvin |
| Succeeded by | Tyler Harper |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gary Ward Black August 20, 1958 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lydia Beavers |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Georgia (BS) |
Agricultural career
editBlack received a Bachelor of Science in agricultural education from the University of Georgia.[2] He spent 40 years in the farm business[3] and is a cattle farmer in Jackson County,[4] specifically in Commerce.[5] Until his 2010 campaign for agriculture commissioner, Black's primary job was president and lobbyist for the Georgia Agribusiness Council,[5] a position to which he was elected in 1989 and held for 21 years.[6] He had previously held positions at the Georgia Farm Bureau.[6]
Political career
editAgriculture Commissioner of Georgia
editBlack was the Republican nominee for agriculture commissioner in 2006,[2] but was defeated by Democrat Tommy Irvin, a 37-year incumbent.[4] In 2004 and 2008, he had positions on the Bush-Cheney and McCain-Palin campaigns.[2]
In 2010, Irvin decided not to seek election to an eleventh term as agriculture commissioner, and Black was elected to the open seat.[7] Black was twice reelected agriculture commissioner by large margins.[3] Upon taking office, Black ordered the removal of a part of a 1956 mural by George Beattie from the lobby of the Georgia Department of Agriculture building; the removed murals included idealized images of plantation slaves in Georgia harvesting sugarcane, picking cotton, and using a cotton gin. Black said at the time that he shared others' views that the images were distasteful, and that he wanted to depict a better picture of agriculture in the state.[8]
After Hurricane Michael hit South Georgia, Black was a leading voice pushing for federal relief.[3] Black opposed Obama-era EPA environmental protection regulations, such as proposed rules on pesticides[9] and the Clean Water Rule (also called the Waters of the United States rule), which Black called "wretched" (the rule was ultimately revoked by the Trump administration).[10][11][12]
Black is a supporter of Donald Trump.[3] In 2016, Black endorsed then-candidate Trump, who appointed Black to his agriculture policy advisory council.[13] At the time, Black criticized federal power, especially agricultural regulations.[13]
After Trump was defeated in his 2020 bid for re-election, Black supported Republican efforts to restrict voting rights in Georgia.[3]
U.S. Senate campaign
editIn June 2021, Black announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in 2022 to challenge incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock.[3][14] In announcing his Senate run, Black said he intended to rely on his name recognition from prior statewide elections, strong base of rural support, and staunch Trump support.[3] He praised Trump for "all the good things he's done the past four years"[3] and dodged questions about whether he accepted that Joe Biden was legitimately elected president.[3][15] Many of Black's largest campaign contributors were from Georgia agribusiness.[14] About one-third of Georgia's sheriffs, mostly from less populous rural counties, endorsed Black for Senate.[16] During his campaign, Black took conservative stances[3] and opposed the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.[17] Donald Trump endorsed another candidate, Herschel Walker, in the Republican primary.[18]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gary Black | 425,001 | 76.0 | |
| Republican | Darwin Carter | 134,022 | 24.0 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gary Black | 1,426,746 | 56.05 | |
| Democratic | J.B. Powell | 1,027,373 | 40.36 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Cherry | 91,447 | 3.6 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gary Black (incumbent) | 1,462,039 | 58.26 | |
| Democratic | Christopher Irvin | 1,047,339 | 41.74 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gary Black (incumbent) | 2,040,097 | 53.08 | |
| Democratic | Fred Swann | 1,803,383 | 46.92 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Herschel Walker | 803,560 | 68.18 | |
| Republican | Gary Black | 157,370 | 13.35 | |
| Republican | Latham Saddler | 104,471 | 8.86 | |
| Republican | Josh Clark | 46,693 | 3.96 | |
| Republican | Kelvin King | 37,930 | 3.22 | |
| Republican | Jonathan McColumn | 28,601 | 2.43 | |
| Total votes | 1,178,625 | 100.0 | ||
Personal life
editHe is married to Lydia Black and they have two children.[22][23]
References
edit- ^ @GaryBlackForGA (August 9, 2021). "On August 20th, I'll turn 63. About a decade younger than David Perdue and President Trump, and went to UGA with He…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c Georgia Agriculture Commissioner candidates Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, August Chronicle (October 30, 2010).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bluestein, Greg. "Republican Gary Black enters Senate race against Raphael Warnock". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Brewer Turley, Black determined to unseat ag commissioner Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Thomasville Times-Enterprise (October 31, 2006).
- ^ a b Walter C. Jones, Georgia agriculture commissioner candidates want to strengthen farm economy Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Florida Times-Union (September 27, 2010).
- ^ a b Kay Harris, Black running for Ag Commissioner Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Valdosta Daily Times (September 1, 2010).
- ^ Lauren Foreman & Greg Bluestein, Longtime farms chief Tommy Irvin dies Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (September 15, 2017).
- ^ Ga. office to remove paintings of slaves Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press (December 30, 2010).
- ^ Proposed new EPA pesticide rules are toxic, say Georgia agriculture leaders Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Valdosta Today (September 5, 2014).
- ^ Jill Nolin, South Ga. judge blocks Obama-era policy to curtail water pollution Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Georgia Recorder (August 25, 2019).
- ^ U.S. Senators release video to overturn controversial water rule Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, WALB (2015).
- ^ Tamar Hallerman, In Georgia, water rollback divides on property rights vs. environment Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (December 11, 2018).
- ^ a b Aaron Gould Sheinin, Gary Black: Only Donald Trump will stop feds' overreach Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (August 19, 2016).
- ^ a b Jeff Amy, Warnock raises $7.2M in quest to keep Senate seat in 2022 Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press (July 15, 2021).
- ^ James Arkin, State GOP official jumps into Georgia Senate race against Warnock Archived June 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Politico (June 4, 2021).
- ^ Greg Bluestein, One-third of Georgia's sheriffs back Gary Black’s Senate bid Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (August 9, 2021).
- ^ 'No and no.' Why Georgia GOP Senate contenders oppose infrastructure, budget plans Archived August 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (August 12, 2021).
- ^ Allison, Natalie (November 1, 2021). "Poll shows Herschel Walker far ahead in Georgia Senate primary". POLITICO. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "GA – Election Results". Georgia Secretary of State. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ "November 6, 2018 General Election". GA - Election Night Reporting. Georgia Secretary of State. November 10, 2018. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ "General Primary/Special Election - Official & Complete Results". GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE. May 24, 2022. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ "Gary Black for Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia 2010". Votegaryblack.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
- ^ "11/2/2010 - Commissioner Of Agriculture". Sos.georgia.gov. Archived from the original on April 9, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2011.