Ray Cross, right, gets a hug from a supporter and greets another after winning the Dade County sheriff election, along with dozens of supporters gathered at the Dade County Commissioner's Office in Trenton, Ga., on Tuesday night. Cross, a former Dade County sheriff's deputy, beat out Philip Street for the sheriff seat.

Republican candidate Ray Cross wins Dade County sheriff with nearly 55 percent of the votes.

Cross won against former Sheriff Philip Street who lost reelection in 2004 to outgoing Sheriff Patrick Cannon. Cross beat Cannon this summer in the Republican primary runoff elections.