Georgia state House District 1 incumbent Rep. John Deffenbaugh, R-Lookout Mountain, issued a farewell letter Sunday afternoon.
Deffenbaugh, 73, was unseated by 24-year-old Colton Moore in Georgia's Republican primary elections. No Democrats ran in that race.
While Deffenbaugh will remain in his seat until January, he issued an open letter headlined "It's been a good run" thanking his constituents.
"Six years ago, I made the decision to run for the Georgia State House and enter the world of state politics," he began. "It has been a challenging and daunting experience for which I am very thankful."
He continued, listing how the experiences he was afforded allowed him "to be a better legislator." From representing Georgia nationally and internationally, to meeting "many interesting people of differing ideologies" and sharing ideas across the political aisle.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed helping constituents find their way in the maze of state government bureaucracy and interacting with citizens who I represent," he wrote. "Representing the northwest corner of Georgia for the last six years has been one of the highlights of my life, and I'm grateful that the good folks in Dade and Walker Counties have entrusted me with this responsibility. I will be forever grateful."