Sonny Perdue was elected governor in 2002, defeating incumbent Roy Barnes with 51 percent of the vote.

Perdue coasted to four more years by defeating Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor with 58 percent of the vote in 2006. In an election season in which Democrats posted gains around the country, Perdue's strong victory was a rare bright spot for the GOP.

Term limits prevent Perdue from seeking a third term.

Perdue's first election was to an open state Senate seat in 1990.

(Last updated by Shannon McCaffrey on March 23, 2009.)

Saxby Chambliss was elected to the Senate in 2002, defeating former state Rep. Bob Irvin in the Republican primary and then Democrat Max Cleland with 53 percent of the vote.

In 2008, a three-way general election between Chambliss, Democratic challenger Jim Martin and Libertarian candidate Allen Buckley prevented any candidate from getting the necessary 50 percent needed to be elected: Chambliss took 49.8 percent, Martin 46.8 and Buckley 3.4 percent. In a December runoff between Chambliss and Martin, Chambliss easily won re-election with 58 percent of the vote.

Chambliss ran unsuccessfully for the 8th District U.S. House seat in 1992, finishing second in the GOP primary. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1994, defeating Democrat Craig Mathis with 63 percent of the vote.

In 1996, Chambliss defeated Democrat Jim Wiggins with 53 percent of the vote. In 1998, he defeated Democrat Ronald Cain with 62 percent of the vote. He won re-election in 2000 against former Macon Mayor Jim Marshall, a Democrat, garnering 59 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Shannon McCaffrey on March 23, 2009.)

Johnny Isakson was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, defeating Rep. Denise Majette with 58 percent of the vote. In the Republican Senate primary, he fended off challenges from black businessman Herman Cain and fellow Congressman Mac Collins to win without a runoff.

He served in the Georgia House from 1977 to 1990. In 1990, he was the Republican gubernatorial nominee, but lost to former Sen. Zell Miller, 53 percent to 45 percent. He served in the Georgia Senate from 1993 to 1995.

In 1996, Isakson launched a failed campaign for the U.S. Senate, losing the Republican primary runoff to businessman Guy Millner in an election that turned largely on abortion. Millner opposed abortion except in cases of rape or incest or to save the mother's life. Isakson was pro-choice.

Isakson was appointed to the state school board in December 1996, serving until December 1998.

In 2000, he won his first full two-year term to the U.S. House in his race against Democrat Brett DeHart with 75 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2002.

(Last updated by Shannon McCaffrey on March 23, 2009.)