Many experts believe Georgia's 9th Congressional District will be split into two districts if the state adds another representative after this year's census. Until then, whoever wins the seat will have a 110-mile wide and socioeconomically diverse district to represent.
"It's three different districts, the way I think about it," said Bill Stephens, a candidate in Tuesday's 9th District special election.
Six Republicans, a Democrat and an independent will be on the ballot Tuesday to replace former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, who is running for governor.
Several candidates share the same outlook as Mr. Stephens, a former state Senate majority leader.
Forsyth and Hall counties on the southeastern edge of the district are two of the state's richest counties, with the Atlanta suburbs expanding in the northern reaches of Lake Lanier.
The northern and central areas of the district, including Blairsville, Ellijay and Blue Ridge, are more reliant on tourism and have plenty of retirees moving in. The northwest corner is more focused on manufacturing and the Chattanooga suburbs.
Most candidates have said they spent campaign money based on population, which would mean most of the dollars flowed east into Forsyth and Hall counties.
But despite the three-hour drive from Cumming and Gainesville to Trenton, candidates say they've done their best to appeal to voters across the district and will do their best to represent those varied interests if elected.
Mr. Stephens said he's tried to come to Northwest Georgia twice a week, estimating he's been to the region about 40 times during the campaign.
Mike Freeman, a retired Episcopal minister and the field's only Democrat, said he has visited Walker and Catoosa counties more than anywhere else, despite the drive from his home in Oakwood.
"There's no place in the district that's really easy to get to," he said.
He said he expects to do well in Democratic-leaning Union County, but admits he's probably least known in the northwest corner.
On the flip side is Steve Tarvin, who runs a textile printing operation in Chickamauga.
He said the district's interests are different, including poultry, textiles, homebuilding and tourism. The people, however, are similar and hold similar values, he said.
While each candidate expects to do well in his home area, Mr. Tarvin expects wide support. He said he'd be happy to get 10 percent of the vote in Gainesville, and said that's a realistic goal.
He estimated he's been to the eastern site of the district four times a week.
"I think I'm over there more than they are over here," said Mr. Tarvin.
Other candidates are less concerned with what the map looks like.
"Folks aren't as concerned about geography as they are with your ability to offer solutions," said Tom Graves, a former state representative from Gordon County. He said his campaign has been active in all parts of the region, including several visits each week to Walker, Whitfield and Catoosa counties.
Independent Eugene Moon said he expects most of his support to come from "middle-class America," which he said makes up most of the district. He said he had noticed that Northwest Georgians as a whole seem to be "more politically engaged" than those in the east.
Pickens County neurosurgeon Bert Loftman said his message of small government should resonate across the district.
Dr. Chris Cates, a Blairsville cardiologist, said he has put stents in people all over the district. He has worked in weekly clinics in Hiawassee, Blairsville and Dahlonega for the last 21 years.
He criticized other candidates for not getting over to the western counties more often.
"I've been over here more times than I've slept in my own bed," he said in an interview in Dalton.
Dr. Lee Hawkins drew criticism from several candidates for missing three forum discussions, including one in Ringgold and one in Dalton. The Gainesville dentist said he had other events on his calendar and said he made his way to the western side of the district a couple of times per month.
He said he doesn't take too much stock in the district's regional differences.
"The interests are not as diverse as they appear at first," Dr. Hawkins said. "In reality, folks are folks."
The economy, job creation and health care keep coming up no matter where he is campaigning, he explained.
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