ATLANTA (AP) - A Republican county party chairman has won the special election for a southwest Georgia House seat left vacant by the death of a lawmaker last year.
Joe Campbell of Camilla received just over 58% of the nearly 4,900 votes cast, according to unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state’s office Tuesday.
Campbell will replace Republican Jay Powell, a longtime lawmaker who died at a legislative retreat in November. State House District 171 spans parts of Colquitt, Decatur and Mitchell counties.
Jewell Howard, a Democrat from Baconton, finished in second with just over 33% of the votes. Tommy Akridge, a Republican from Camilla, received roughly 8% of votes.
Campbell is chairman of the Mitchell County Republican Party and has said he’ll focus on agricultural issues.
The seat will be up for grabs again in a general election in November.
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