Georgia
Four of today’s contests take place in the Peach State. First, in Georgia’s 11th State Senate District, the seat is vacant following the resignation of Republican Dean Burke to become the chief medical officer at the Georgia Department of Community Health. The district covers seven counties in the southwest corner of the state. Three candidates are running to fill the vacancy, a Republican, a Democrat, and a Libertarian. The Republican is former state Rep. Sam Watson, who resigned his seat in the 172nd State House District to run. Democrat Mary Weaver-Anderson is the first Democrat to run in the district since 2006. If no candidate achieves a 50%+1 majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a Feb. 28 runoff.
In Georgia’s 119th State House District, the seat is vacant after Republican Danny Ramsey stepped aside before taking office following an arrest for stealing prescription drugs from residents of a retirement home that he managed. The district sits just west of Athens covering parts of Burrow and Jackson Counties. There are six Republicans and one Democrat running to fill the vacancy. This race is also subject to a Feb. 28 runoff if no candidate receives a majority of the vote.
As we mentioned above, former Rep. Sam Watson resigned his seat in State House District 172 to run in the state senate special election. That triggered a special election for his old seat as well. Republican Colquitt County Administrator Charles Cannon was the only candidate to file to run for the district which covers three counties in the southwest of the state.
Finally, we return to State House District 7 for a runoff from the Jan. 3 special election there. The seat is vacant following the death of Georgia House Speaker David Ralston in mid-November. 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. Sheree Ralston, who is the executive director of the Fannin County Development Authority, and the widow of the late Speaker, advanced to today’s runoff along with local banker Johnny Chastain.
Polls close in Georgia at 7 p.m. EST. We will have the election results below once they do.
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the seat in State Senate District 27 is vacant after John Gordner resigned to become counsel to state Senate president pro team Kim Ward. The district lies just southwest of Wilkes-Barre covering the western border of Luzerne County as well as Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, and Snyder Counties. There are two candidates vying for the vacancy. Republican state Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver faces Democrat Patricia Lawton. Polls close at 8 p.m. EST. We will have the election results below once they do.
Mississippi
In Mississippi, we return to State House District 23 for a runoff from the Jan 10 special election there. The seat is vacant after Governor Tate Reeves appointed former Rep. Jim Beckett Executive Director for the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff. Two candidates advanced from the three-candidate field on Jan 10 in this northern Mississippi district. Since special elections in Mississippi are nonpartisan, no candidate is running under a party label. We will have tonight’s election results below once polls close at 7 p.m. CST.