North Georgia Congressman Doug Collins said Wednesday morning that he’ll enter a special election for the U.S. Senate, saying he’s the best candidate to support President Donald Trump’s agenda. In an appearance just after 7 a.m. on Fox News, Collins dismissed concerns about a possible rift in Georgia’s Republican Party.
Collins’ entrance into the race will pit him against Atlanta businesswoman Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed to the seat by Governor Brian Kemp last month.
9th District Congressional race wide open
Collins’s decision to not seek re-election to the U.S. House, where he has served since 2013 leaves that field wide open. A number of candidates are expected to enter the race to replace Collins.
State Sen. John Wilkinson of Toccoa was the first to announce his candidacy Wednesday morning within minutes of Collins’ TV appearance.
The 9th congressional district covers most of North Georgia. It includes all of Banks, Dawson, Elbert, Fannin, Franklin, Gilmer, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties. The district also includes portions of Clarke, Forsyth, and Pickens counties.
Other possible GOP contenders for Collins’ congressional seat include former U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, who lives in Towns County, State Rep. Kevin Tanner of Dawsonville and state Rep. Steve Gooch of Dahlonega. Democrats Devin Pandy, Antwon Stephens, and Dan Wilson previously announced their intentions to run.
The U.S. Senate race is a special election, meaning all candidates from all parties will run in a single election, set for November 3rd.
Some Republicans have expressed their concern that such a scenario could split the Republican vote and help a Democrat make a runoff or win the seat outright. The state House Governmental Affairs Committee approved a measure Tuesday that would force a partisan primary election in May. The winners from the Democratic and Republican primaries would then face each other in November. The full House will take up the measure soon. But Kemp has vowed to veto it.
By: Dean Dyer | WRWH News
