Marriage in the governor’s mansion: Husband-wife duo sets sights on Ga.’s highest offices

Rare husband-wife duo stump for Ga.’s top offices

ATLANTA — After running her husband’s political campaigns for 26 years, Carol Porter won’t be in charge of helping him get elected this year.

She has her own race to run.

The 51-year-old mother of four is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, and her husband, DuBose, hopes to get that party’s nod for governor next month. Although they’re on the same ticket, that’s about the only place the campaigning couple has been seen together in recent weeks as they crisscross the state.

“We’re running two completely separate campaigns,” Carol Porter said. “He’s doing his way, and I’m doing my way.”

The Porters raised eyebrows in February when Carol Porter announced she would run for office for the first time. If they survive the primary and win the general election in November, they’d be the first husband-wife team to serve in Georgia’s top two posts. Observers say that even across the U.S., such a combination is rare — if not unprecedented.

DuBose Porter, currently the state House minority leader, was first elected in 1982. Two years later, he married Carol, who has been the chief volunteer on his re-election campaigns ever since.

“I’ve produced the commercials, written scripts, researched the topics,” Carol Porter said. “I was everything but the treasurer.”

She admits it has been hard to watch others handle her husband’s gubernatorial campaign over the past few months, but said she was urged to run. The buzz about her possible bid began early this year, after people took notice when she filled in for her husband at a small business forum.

With her sons all grown up and running the couple’s newspaper publishing business, she said the timing seemed right — and that she was tired of sitting on the sidelines.

“The people’s voices are not being heard,” Carol Porter said. “We’re at a time where the incumbents have messed up to such a degree that people are fed up with them. And I’m fed up, too.”

She said she has focused on fundraising to get her name out, while DuBose Porter’s campaign has been a more grassroots effort because his name is more familiar. DuBose Porter is one of seven Democrats vying for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Less than two months after her announcement, Porter has raised more than $80,000 and had nearly $78,000 in cash on hand, according to the latest campaign filing with the State Ethics Commission. Her opponent, Trish McCracken, did not file a campaign report. She declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press.

As of the same reporting period, which ended March 31, Republican incumbent Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle had a total of more than $928,000 with more than $765,000 in cash on hand. He does not face a primary opponent.

The Porters have divvied up their children to help them campaign. Eldest sons Stephen, 25, and Guyton, 21, are on the stump with Mom. Asa and Inman, the couple’s 20-year-old twins, hit the trail with Dad.

“I’m enjoying getting to ride in the car with them,” Carol Porter said. “It’s been great because they definitely will tell me the truth. They will say, ‘Mama, that didn’t sound right.’”

Stephen Porter, who graduated from the University of Georgia two years ago with a major in management and a minor in political science, is his mom’s researcher, taskmaster and strategist — that is, when his dad’s campaign isn’t trying to pull him away.

“The strategy folks do kind of fight over us a little bit,” Stephen Porter said.

Of course, he is proud of his mother, whom he called “probably the most passionate candidate I’ve ever seen.”

“She’ll work 24-7 for what she believes in,” he said.

Which leaves little time for her marriage. When asked when she last saw her husband, Carol Porter thought for a few moments — “Tuesday, maybe?” — and then laughed.

“I don’t see him very much at all,” she said. “We’re going in two different directions. We have two different schedulers. I don’t know when I saw him last. But he was for me doing this.”

DuBose Porter said he is inspired by her candidacy and wants to take their commitment to each other to the people of Georgia. Still, he admits that he misses his wife on his campaign.

“I miss seeing her and talking to her and bouncing off ideas on a more regular basis,” he said. “Now, I have to make a list of the things I want to talk about.”

Online:

www.carolporterforgeorgia.com

caseycagle.com/