Lydia Powell, a 26-year educator who taught in DeKalb County schools, won the race for Georgia state school superintendent on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Powell defeated Republican incumbent Richard Woods, who had held the office since 2015. She is set to become the first Black woman to lead Georgia's public school system, which includes more than 1.7 million students across more than 180 districts, the Georgia Recorder reported. She is also the first Democrat to win the superintendent's office in more than 30 years. WALB reported Powell had been declared the winner of the race.

With an estimated 28% of votes counted, the Associated Press reported Powell led Woods 59.9% to 40.1%, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. The Georgia Recorder reported Democrats in the superintendent and other downballot races led by 7 percentage points or more late on election night. Official results are posted on the Georgia Secretary of State's website.

The state superintendent oversees the Georgia Department of Education, carries out State Board of Education policies and assists local districts, according to WALB. That includes the DeKalb County School District, which serves families in Dunwoody and Brookhaven.

A DeKalb classroom veteran

Powell taught in DeKalb, Henry, Clayton and Fayette county schools in Georgia, as well as Lee County Schools in Florida, according to her campaign website. WALB reported she has worked roughly 24 to 26 years as a classroom teacher and campus leader. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Sarasota, according to BallotReady.

Her campaign platform called for universal preschool, research-backed literacy instruction and opposition to school vouchers such as SB 233. She also called for easing reliance on high-stakes testing, expanding broadband and advanced coursework in rural areas, and coordinating counselors and resource officers around school safety.

Woods, who first took office in 2015 and won reelection in 2018 and 2022, conceded on social media on election night. The Georgia Recorder reported he wrote: "I wish to congratulate Dr. Powell on her election win and pray for her success as Georgia's next state school superintendent."

Part of a Democratic sweep

Powell's win came as part of a clean sweep for Georgia Democrats across every statewide office on the ballot. Voters reelected U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and elected former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms as governor. Democrats also won open races for attorney general, secretary of state and lieutenant governor, and ousted Republican incumbents for labor commissioner, insurance commissioner and agriculture commissioner.

The Georgia Republican Party issued an unsigned statement after results came in. "We respect the will of Georgia's voters, and we hope those elected will serve all of Georgia," the statement read in part, according to the Georgia Recorder.

Georgia House on the brink

Democrats also appear positioned to take control of the Georgia House of Representatives for the first time since 2004. Preliminary results showed Democrats leading in 93 seats compared with 86 for Republicans, with one seat undecided, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Democrats need 91 for a majority in the 180-member chamber. Those results have not been certified, and several close contests could still change.

The new General Assembly convenes in January.