ATLANTA – Georgia’s newest congressman, Rep. Tom Graves, is leading a crowded Republican primary field barely a month after he won a special election in the state’s 9th District.
Unofficial early returns Tuesday showed Graves with 49 percent of the vote, well ahead of his five GOP challengers, with 10 percent of precincts reporting.
Lee Hawkins of Gainesville, the man Graves defeated in a June runoff election, was second with 19 percent.
Graves was sworn in last month to fill the remaining months in the term of GOP Rep. Nathan Deal, who stepped down to run for governor. He has to run again to keep the seat.
Other GOP contenders are Chris Cates of Blairsville, Bert Loftman of Jasper and Bobby Reese of Flowery Branch and Steve Tarvin of Chickamauga.
No Democrats are seeking Graves’ seat.