Residents of Georgia’s District 9 can be forgiven if they are a little confused about the number of candidates and the schedule of upcoming elections to fill the congressional seat Nathan Deal vacated to run for governor. They’ve already voted once in a special election, will vote again in a special runoff election in June and still have primary and general elections to go before a permanent representative is selected.
The voters’ first task is to elect an interim representative in the special-election runoff on June 8. They will choose between Tom Graves and Lee Hawkins, both Republicans and the top vote-getters in the May 11 special election. Neither was able to obtain a majority in a crowded field. The winner will complete Mr. Deal’s term, serving through the end of the year. The June 8 balloting officially closes the initial round of District 9 elections.
The next round comes in the July 20 primary when five candidates vie for a full-term to the District 9 seat. Included on the ballot are Mr. Graves, Mr. Fowler, Chris Cates, Steve Tarvin and Bobby Reese. Dr. Cates and Mr. Tarvin ran in the May special election but did not win enough votes to advance to the runoff. Mr. Reese is a newcomer, Two other candidates — Bill Stephens and Bert Loftman — qualified for the July primary but say they have dropped out of the race. Their names, though, will remain on the ballot. Complicated, huh?
The five men qualified and still running for the 9th district seat in July are all Republicans. There are no Democrats or third party candidates in the race. Therefore, whoever wins the primary will automatically win the congressional seat for a full term. A winner in the July primary, however, is not assured.
With five candidates in the primary, the likelihood of a runoff is high. If that proves to be the case, a fourth election will be held on Aug. 10 to determine whose name will be on the November general election ballot as the Republican nominee assured of victory. Given that possible schedule, it’s hardly a wonder that some district voters are a bit shell-shocked.