Welcome to the 2023 elections! We kick off this year’s calendar with a special election in Georgia’s 7th state house district. The seat is vacant following the death of Georgia House Speaker David Ralston on November 16, 2022. The 7th District is on the northern border of the state covering all of Fannin and Gilmer Counties, as well as part of Dawson County. Five candidates are running for the vacancy, all of whom are Republicans. Included among the candidates is the late Speaker’s window, Sheree Ralston, who is the executive director of the Fannin County Development Authority. If no candidate receives a 50%+1 majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a January 31 runoff election. We will have tonight’s election results below once polls close at 7 p.m. EST.