By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Special election for Georgia’s House District 7 seat will head to a runoff
Special election runoff District 7
Photos submitted to DCN.

After a five-way special election on Jan. 3, two Republicans will compete later this month for the Georgia House District 7 seat formerly held by the late Rep. David Ralston. 

This story continues below.

Sheree Ralston, his widow, has gotten a projected 45.02% or 3,582 of 7,956 votes, according to updated results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. 

Opponent and fellow Fannin County Development Authority member Johnny Chastain has gotten 39.28% or a projected 3,125 votes.

A special election runoff will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, since neither of the leading candidates won more than 50 percent of the vote. 

District 7 covers northwestern Dawson and all of Fannin and Gilmer counties. 

On Wednesday, the Dawson County Board of Elections and Registration posted a voting schedule for the runoff.

Advance voting for western precinct voters only will take place from Monday, Jan. 23 until Friday, Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Board of Elections office. The office is located at 96 Academy Avenue in Dawsonville.

Election Day voting will take place Jan. 31 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Fire Station 6, located at 2142 Hubbard Road.


Voter turnout

The other candidates have gotten the following vote percentages so far: 

  • Justin Heitman: 7.42%

  • Brian K. Pritchard: 6.16%

  • Richie Stone: 2.12%

Overall, the voter participation rate for all three counties together was 17.52%. 

“To the voters of the 7th District: Thank you for your faith in me. Tomorrow, the clock starts over, and we are hitting the ground running,” Sheree Ralston said in a Tuesday night Facebook post.

“The special election runoff is January 31, and we are going to bring our conservative message and mountain values to every voter in the district.”

In a post on his campaign’s Facebook page, Chastain said he was “humbled to say the least.”

“Nearly 8,000 voted, and we came in a close second to someone who we were told deserved the seat. Less than 400 votes separated us tonight. Now we are in a 28 day sprint, and I need all hands on deck.”

DCN will continue to follow the special election for the Ga. District 7 seat.