Gov. Brian Kemp on Saturday set a special election for June 9 to replace longtime Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Hill, a Reidsville Republican who died earlier this week.

Kemp set the special election on the same day Georgia voters will be going to the polls to pick Republican and Democratic nominees for a host of offices, including president, U.S. senator and state legislative posts.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Thursday announced the primary elections would be moved from May 19 to June 9 because of the coronavirus, citing health concerns for voters and poll workers.

Hill, who for more than a decade shepherded Georgia's budget through the Senate, died Monday at his office  He was 75.

Hill was sworn into the Georgia Senate in 1991 as a Democrat. A retired grocer, Hill switched parties after the 2002 election, helping throw the Senate to the Republicans. He was rewarded by being named chairman of the Senate budget committee.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres