(The Center Square) – With the expected blessing of party leaders in two counties he serves, state Rep. Bryan Cohn is expected to be on the ballot Nov. 3 trying to keep his District 32 seat in the House of Representatives.
Cohn did not file for reelection and Oxford City Commissioner Curtis McRae outpointed Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott in the March primary. McRae last week said he was withdrawing, citing health issues.
“When Curtis made the difficult decision to step aside, I knew our community needed someone ready to step forward,” Cohn told The Daily Dispatch of Henderson. “While I had not planned to be a candidate this year, my commitment to the people of Granville and Vance counties has never changed.”
In a post to social media, McRae wrote in part, “Recent personal health challenges have made it clear that I need to focus my time and energy on my health and my family. While this was not an easy decision, it is the right one for me at this time.”
Republican Rev. Frank Sossamon of Oxford, defeated by Cohn two years ago, is on the ballot in November.
Cohn’s win over Sossamon flipping a seat in the House was among the last four to be certified by the State Board of Elections in January 2025. Cohn defeated Sossamon by 228 votes of 42,202 cast for the House District 32 seat, and survived a protest.
McRae defeated Elliott 63.7%-36.3%. Sossamon easily defeated Pamela Ayscue 88.4%-11.6%.
District 32 serves all of Granville County and the northern half of Vance County. The southern half is in District 7.
