UPDATED, 9:51 P.M.:
Republican former legislator Mitch Kaye and Democratic newcomer Dustin McCormick will vie for a Georgia House seat from East Cobb in a May 3 runoff.
In Tuesday’s special “jungle” election, Kaye received 2,272 votes, or 42 percent, to 2,207 votes, or 39.8 percent, with all 12 precincts reporting, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
Georgia elections law requires a runoff when the leading candidate does not receive a majority of the votes.
Two other candidates, both Republicans, also were running. Pamela Alayon received 733 votes, or 13.67 percent, and Darryl Wilson got 242 votes, or 4.49 percent.
The results are unofficial, but McCormick and Kaye have been leading all evening.
Both have have both come out publicly against East Cobb Cityhood; Dollar has been the chief sponsor of a Cityhood bill that passed the Georgia legislature calling for a May 24 referendum.
The special election was called by Gov. Brian Kemp to determine a successor to former State Rep. Matt Dollar, who resigned on Feb. 1. The winner will fill out the rest of his term this year.
McCormick is the only candidate in the special election who has qualified for the May 24 primary election in the new District 45.
Current State Rep. Sharon Cooper of District 43 and Carminthia Moore have qualified as Republican candidates.
The winner of the November general election will assume office in January, when a new legislative session begins.
ORIGINAL POST:
The polls have closed in a four-way “jungle” special election in Georgia House District 45 in East Cobb, and East Cobb News will be providing updates as they become available.
The Georgia Secretary of State’s office is providing real-time results at this link; as of 7:49 p.m., two candidates appear headed for a May 3 runoff.
Dustin McCormick, the only Democrat, has 1,153 votes, or 46.89 percent, while Mitch Kaye, a Republican former legislator, has 47 votes, or 38.5 percent.
Two other Republicans are in the race: Pamela Alayon, with 268 votes, or 10.9 percent, and Darryl Wilson, who has 91 votes, or 3.7 votes.
Here’s how advance voting went: McCormick 998; Kaye 887; Alayon 233; Wilson 79.
And absentee votes: McCormick 155; Kaye 60; Alayon 35; Kaye 12.
Related:
- Early voting continues in Georgia House special election
- 4 candidates qualify in State House special election
- East Cobb News Politics & Elections page
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Please explain why it’s necessary to spend money to hold a separate run-off election, when the vote could take place on the same day as the General Primary, May 24, 2022?
Why can’t the runoff be held on the same day as the General Primary, May 24th?
These elections cost the county money. Three weeks is not going to make any difference at all since the General Assembly ended on April 5th.