When Nathan Deal, a Republican, resigned his 9th District congressional seat in March to concentrate full time on his race for Georgia governor, there was no shortage of individuals who hoped to replace him in Washington. The special election scheduled May 11, however, has become a mostly intramural competition.
The district is strongly Republican and, as one would expect, GOP stalwarts were quick to announce their candidacy. Six Republican hopefuls were joined by one Democrat and one Independent. The latter pair, most seasoned political observers agreed, had little chance of winning, but at least would have made the race interesting. There always was the possibility, for example, that the Republicans in the race would divide up votes and thus allow the Democrat to get into the runoff. That won’t happen now.
Mike Freeman, the lone Democrat in the race to fill the remainder of Mr. Deal’s term, announced his withdrawal from the race last week. He also said he would not be a candidate for a full term. With few giving Eugene Moon, the independent, a chance to win a spot in a possible runoff, the only suspense now left in the May 11 election is whether there will be a runoff.
It seems quite likely there will be. Georgia law requires the winning candidate in the special election to receive a majority of votes. If he or she does not – always a possibility in a crowded field – a run-off election between top vote-getters will be held June 8. Whatever the result on May 11 or June 8, there’s another election for the congressional seat on tap in November.
The winner of the special election will serve only the remainder of Mr. Deal’s term. Voters in the far-flung district – which includes Catoosa, Dade, Walker, Whitfield, Fannin, Gilmer and Murray counties in the tri-state region – will elect a full-term congressman in November’s general election. The prospect of two, or possibly three, campaigns in six months, however, does not seem to deter the candidates in the special election. Most have made it clear they would seek a full term.
The May 11 election is officially nonpartisan, though each candidate’s party affiliation will be listed on the ballot. That might once have meant something, but now that the field consists of six Republicans and a lone independent, that should have little effect on turnout. Given the composition of the district, it seems unlikely that many Democrats will have a reason to vote.
The Republicans in the race – Chris Cates, Tom Graves, Lee Hawkins, Bert Loftman, Bill Stephens and Steve Tarvin – and Mr. Moon have something in common. All lack the name recognition engendered by Mr. Deal’s long tenure in Congress. Their task between now and May 11 is to make themselves and their platforms known to voters.