District 125
The field has been narrowed for candidates vying to fill the seat in the Georgia House of Representatives being vacated this year by State Rep. Jim Cole, R-Forsyth.
Former Monticello Mayor Susan Holmes won with 60 percent of votes in Tuesday’s primary election, beating political newcomer Mary Alice Carter with 99 percent of precincts reporting
Holmes said she’s already planning her campaign for November. Holmes, a Republican, will face Democratic challenger David Gault. Gault is a former Jones County commissioner.
“I’m very proud of my positive campaign,” Holmes said. “I am very happy with our wonderful support.”
District 125 is comprised of Jasper County and parts of Monroe, Jones and Lamar counties.
District 143
Mitch Warnock and Dr. Pablo Santamaria appeared headed for a runoff in the Democratic race for the state House District 143 seat late Tuesday night.
With 17 of 17 Laurens County precincts and 1 of 1 precinct in Johnson County reported, Warnock grabbed the top spot in a four-candidate race with 2,081 votes.
“We’ll get out and talk to as many voters as we can,” Warnock said. “That’s been my campaign strategy all along because that’s the kind of representation I’m going to give. Every family, every profession, every community in the district will have a voice.”
Santamaria, attorney Dan King and political consultant Claudia Graham finished in a near dead heat in what has been a spirited campaign. Santamaria had 1,540 votes, King had 1,530 and Graham had 1,394.
“In a lot of ways, we’ve already won,” Santamaria said before the results were posted. “I was a longshot in this race. ... I did it in a way where I can look myself in the mirror and my kids can be proud of me.”
The winner will face Republican Matt Hatchett in November for the vacant House seat, which had been held for the past 28 years by DuBose Porter. Porter stepped down this year to run for governor.
