Democrats on pace to pick up 3 legislative seats in special elections

Georgia Democrats have gained three legislative seats in Tuesday's special elections.

Deborah Gonzalez bested Houston Gaines to represent the Athens area, replacing former Athens Republican Rep. Regina Quick, who was appointed to a judgeship in August.

A four-way race to replace Republican Chuck Williams in the House went to first-time Democratic candidate Jonathan Wallace. A software engineer, Wallace bested three Republicans to win the seat outright in the traditionally conservative district. Williams was appointed in August to head the Georgia Forestry Commission.

And in the Atlanta area, Democrats Jaha Howard and Jen Jordan topped the field of eight in the race to replace former Sen. Hunter Hill with about half of the votes tallied as of midnight. Hill, a Smyrna Republican who resigned from the Senate to run for governor, flipped the newly redrawn district in 2012.

Howard, a pediatric dentist, and Jordan, an attorney, will face each other Dec. 5 in a runoff election.

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