WASHINGTON — Georgia’s newest member of Congress has been sworn in.
Republican Tom Graves, a former Georgia representative from rural Ranger, was sworn in during a Monday evening ceremony. Graves won a special election last week to fill what’s left of GOP Rep. Nathan Deal’s term.
Deal, a longtime congressman, stepped down earlier this year to seek the Republican nomination for Georgia governor.
Graves has no time to savor the victory — he has to begin campaigning immediately to prepare for the July 20 primary for the next full two-year congressional term.
Five other Republicans are competing in the GOP primary. Among them is Lee Hawkins, the Gainesville dentist who opposed Graves in the June runoff. Graves won that matchup with more than 56 percent of the vote.