Senator Zell Miller decided to retire instead of seeking a first full term in office, leaving an open seat.

Representative Johnny Isakson, a Republican, won the open seat, defeated Democratic nominee Denise Majette became both the first African American and the first woman to be nominated for Senate in Georgia.

Following reports that Miller would retire, Democratic leaders unsuccessfully tried to convince outgoing Governor Roy Barnes to run for Senate.

Nominee Defeated in primary Declined to run Positioning himself as a political outsider, businessman Herman Cain spent nearly $1 million of his own money on his Senate campaign.

These include her late start, her valuable time and money spent in the runoff, larger conservative turnout from a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages (which Majette opposed), the popularity of President George W. Bush in Georgia, and her lack of experience (being a one-term congresswoman).