The retirement of Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss set off a political game of musical chairs that was partially settled with Tuesday’s primary runoff election.
Three congressmen from Georgia – Jack Kingston of Savannah, Paul Broun of Athens and Phil Gingrey of Marietta – left the House of Representatives because they wanted to replace Chambliss. A crowd of politicians then competed for a chance to be elected to those soon-to-be-vacant House seats. Because none of those candidates competing for the House seats won an outright majority, a runoff election was required.
The winners of Tuesday’s primary runoff will be their party’s nominee for November’s general election. Kingston lost the Republican Senate runoff to businessman David Perdue.
Here’s a look at where the other races stand:
CONGRESSIONAL RACES
1st DISTRICT: State Sen. Buddy Carter of Pooler won the Republican primary runoff against Bob Johnson, a Savannah surgeon backed by local tea party groups. Early, unofficial returns showed Carter winning about 54 percent of the vote. Carter is seeking to replace Kingston, who held the seat for more than two decades. Savannah UPS supervisor Brian Reese won the Democratic primary with about 63 percent of the vote against real estate agent Amy Tavio of Richmond Hill.