Macon-Bibb District 5 commissioner race to go to a runoff. What to know.

The race to choose a new District 5 commissioner is headed to a runoff after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote, according to the Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections.

Preliminary results Wednesday showed Andrea Cooke, a local mental health advocate, eading the race with 49.53% of the vote, according to Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections Supervisor Thomas Gillon.

She will face community advocate Edward Foster, who had the second-highest percentage of votes, in a runoff scheduled for April 14, Gillon said.

According to preliminary results, Foster received 19.41% of the vote, Stephanie Stephens-Lanham received 14.58%, Landon A. Justice received 9.75%, A. Chester Gibbs received 5.4% and Ulisha Hill received 1.33%. A total of 1,056 votes were cast.

The runoff will determine who will replace former District 5 commissioner Seth Clark, who resigned in January to run for lieutenant governor. He dropped out of that race in February due to undisclosed “personal circumstances.”

The district encompasses Payne, Vineville and Ingleside.

This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 4:26 PM.