Two Georgia state legislative special elections advance to July 13 runoffs


Image of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia.

A special general election was held for Georgia House of Representatives Districts 34 and 156 on June 15. In District 34, Priscilla Smith (D) and Devan Seabaugh (R) advanced to the general runoff and defeated Sam Hensley Jr. (D), David Blinkhorn (R), and Chris Neill (L). In District 156, Leesa Hagan (R) and Wally Sapp (R) advanced to the general runoff and defeated Wright Gres (D).

The general runoff election is scheduled for July 13. The filing deadline passed on May 7.

The special elections were called after Bert Reeves in District 34 and Greg Morris in District 156 resigned on Apr. 30 and Apr. 13, respectively. Reeves served from 2015 to 2021, and Morris served from 1999 to 2021.

There was a third special election held for a state legislative seat in Georgia earlier this year. A primary for the District 90 seat was held on Feb. 9 after Pam Stephenson (D) resigned her seat on Sept. 4. Angela Moore and Stan Watson advanced to the Democratic primary runoff election held on March 9. Moore won the seat. 

Georgia had 67 state legislative special elections between 2010 and 2020. The state has held at least one special election every year during that time period. The highest number in one year was 12 in 2015, and the lowest was two in 2012. 

Georgia is one of only two states that require a majority in all congressional, state executive, and state legislative elections in order to avoid a runoff. 

Additional reading: