Five candidates each have announced their candidacy for the upcoming special elections in Georgia’s state Senate and House districts. The elections are being held to fill the vacancies left by Republican Mike Dugan in Senate District 30 and Rep. Barry Fleming in House District 125. Dugan resigned to run for Congress, while Fleming was sworn in as a superior court judge. With qualifying now closed, the elections are set to take place on February 13th.
Unlike regular elections, the special elections will see members of all parties run together, with no primaries to select nominees. In the event that no candidate wins a majority on February 13th, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff on March 12th, coinciding with Georgia’s presidential primary.
Running as Republicans in the Senate race are former state Rep. Tim Bearden, real estate agent Renae Bell, contract administrator Amber Nixon, and consultant Robert “Bob” Smith. Ashley Kecskes Godwin is the sole Democrat running. The district encompasses Haralson County and parts of Carroll, Douglas, and Paulding counties.
Tim Bearden, a former state House representative, aims to ensure a prosperous future for the district. He advocates for tougher criminal penalties for fentanyl trafficking and for those who harm police officers and firefighters. Renae Bell, a real estate agent and the wife of Haralson County school Superintendent Jerry Bell, supports limited government, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance. She emphasizes her alignment with the Make America Great Again movement and the positive impact of the Trump economy on her community.
In the House race, Republican candidates include conservative commentator C.J. Pearson, Columbia County Commissioner Gary Richardson, farmer James Steed, and software developer John Turpish. The lone Democrat running is cosmetologist Kay Turner. The district covers parts of Columbia and McDuffie counties.
C.J. Pearson, currently the national co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council, gained attention as a Black middle school student posting videos in support of Republican causes. Gary Richardson, who owns a car wash and serves as a county commissioner, is unable to run for re-election due to term limits.
As the special elections approach, Georgia residents are eager to see who will emerge as the new representatives for these districts. The outcome of these races will have an impact not only on local politics but also on the broader political landscape. Stay tuned for updates as the campaigns unfold.
