Georgia State Rep. John Deffenbaugh, R-Lookout Mountain, chuckles as his opponent in the upcoming primary election, Colton Moore, makes a comment about creating more jobs locally Wednesday, May 16, 2018 during a forum held at the Rossville Public Library in Rossville, Ga. The event was hosted by the Wilson Road Neighborhood Group.More than a year after he was defeated by a then-24-year-old newcomer for a Georgia House of Representatives seat, John Deffenbaugh is running for District 1 again.
Deffenbaugh, R-Lookout Mountain, announced over the weekend that he'll run in the 2020 election.
Deffenbaugh, 74, was unseated by 24-year-old Colton Moore in Georgia's Republican primary, 2,184 votes to 1,858. No Democrats ran in that race.
District 1 includes Dade and Walker counties. Deffenbaugh served the district from 2013 to 2018.
In his announcement, Deffenbaugh said that in his six years serving Georgia, he "earnestly sought to develop positive relationships with the leadership, including the Senate, the Governor, and with many of the members of the House."
Deffenbaugh touted his efforts in getting the state money for the bridge on Interstate 59, reworking highway intersections and securing additional financing for school projects.
In his farewell letter in 2018, he wrote that being a state representative was a challenging and daunting task, one that he took pride in doing.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed helping constituents find their way in the maze of state government bureaucracy and interacting with citizens who I represent," Deffenbaugh 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."
State representatives in Georgia make about $17,300 a year. Deffenbaugh is the first person to announce his candidacy in District 1.
The primary election is May 19, 2020.