(The Center Square) – A Democrat took most of the votes in a contest to fill a Georgia Senate seat while Republicans split their votes between five candidates.
Because no candidate received 50% plus one of the votes in the contest for Senate District 18, a runoff is scheduled Feb. 17, said the secretary of state’s office.
Former Fort Valley City Councilman Lamario Nicholas Brown received nearly 37% of the vote in the bid to replace former Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-Macon. He resigned to focus on his run for lieutenant governor.
Two Republicans were neck-in-neck for second place. Macon attorney Steven McNeel received 21.29% of votes casts and former Forsyth Mayor Eric Wilson received 20.25%, according to the results. McNeel will face Brown in the runoff.
Other Republican candidates in the race receiving votes were Lauren DAniel (18.83%), Nathan Warnock (1.44%) and Eugene Allison (1.26%).
Senate District 18 includes portions of Bibb and Houston counties and all of Crawford, Monroe, Peach and Upson counties.
