(The Center Square) – Republican Bill Fincher on Tuesday defeated Democrat Scott Sanders in a runoff election to represent the 23rd District in the Georgia House of Representatives.
The seat was formerly held by Rep. Mandi Ballinger, R-Canton, who died in October. Sanders received a slightly higher percentage of the votes (28.62%) more than he did in the initial race.
Fincher received 27% of the vote in the December race that included four other Republican candidates. He won 71% of the vote in Tuesday’s contest.
The Georgia General Assembly will return next week with some new faces and empty seats after several resignations and special elections.
Rep. Karen Bennett, D-Stone Mountain, resigned Jan. 1. She is facing federal charges related to pandemic unemployment fraud. Augusta Democrat Lynn Heffner resigned her House seat on Monday.
Middle Georgia voters will go to the polls on Jan. 20 to decide who will fill the seat of Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-Macon, who resigned to focus on his campaign for lieutenant governor. The district covers Crawford, Monroe, Peach and portions of Bibb and Houston counties. Six candidates have qualified, five Republicans and one Democrat.
Pediatric dentist Jaha Howard will join the Senate next week, replacing former Sen. Jason Esteves, who resigned to concentrate on his gubernatorial run.
Democrat Eric Gisler, who won the seat formerly held by Rep. Marcus Wiedower, will join the House.
Georgians in the 14th Congressional District will decide who will fill the shoes of Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. The contest has drawn considerable interest, with 21 Republicans, two Democrats, and one unaffiliated candidate vying for the job.
