Politics
Politics

Camilla Republican wins southwest Georgia special House election

Voters in southwest Georgia went to polls to vote in a special election. FULTON COUNTY
Voters in southwest Georgia went to polls to vote in a special election. FULTON COUNTY
By
Jan 29, 2020

A Republican county chairman from Camilla will head to the state House to fill a vacant southwest Georgia seat.

Joe Campbell, chairman of the Mitchell County Republican Party, received the most votes in a three-way race to fill the House District 171 seat that previously was held by state Rep. Jay Powell, a Camilla Republican who died in November.

Campbell received about 58.3% of the nearly 5,000 ballots cast on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State's office. Jewell Howard, a Baconton Democrat who is a retired teacher, in secured about 33.6% of votes cast. Howard lost to Powell in 2012.

Tommy Akridge, a farmer who also is a Republican from Camilla, came in third place was about 8% of the vote.

House District 171 covers parts of Colquitt, Decatur and Mitchell counties.

Campbell will serve the remainder of Powell’s term, which ends in January. A general election for the seat will be held in November.

About the Author

Maya T. Prabhu is a government reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in northern Virginia, Maya attended Spelman College and then the University of Maryland for a master's degree. She writes about social issues, the criminal justice system and legislative politics.

Follow Maya Prabhu on facebookFollow Maya Prabhu on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

ajc.com

Georgia congressman confronted by angry crowd over support for Trump’s agenda

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick said during a town hall that he does not want to see any president be “too powerful.”

After threats and deals, Kemp’s litigation overhaul clears Senate vote

The governor has called it one of the thorniest fights of his political career.

Patricia Murphy: Meet Brian Kemp, Governor Hardball

On the eve of a pivotal vote, an aide to Gov. Brian Kemp threatened to support primary challenges against Republicans who don't support his top priority at the Capitol.

The Latest

State Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, introduces himself while attending an AAPI mental health event at Norcross High School on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray

This Republican says Georgia needs migrants in the workforce

After threats and deals, Kemp’s litigation overhaul clears Senate vote

Georgia bill would ban kids younger than 14 from social media

Featured

State Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, introduces himself while attending an AAPI mental health event at Norcross High School on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray

This Republican says Georgia needs migrants in the workforce

A Republican-backed bill in the Georgia General Assembly would advocate for Georgia businesses seeking legal migrant workers.

In 1961, Malcolm X took an eye-opening trip to Atlanta

Malcolm X had been a public critic of King and rejected the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s direction on race relations.

What to know before the Atlanta United season opener Saturday

A fan’s guide to traffic, parking, safety and weather for the first Atlanta United match of the season with an expected sellout crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.