The only race that actually produced a new public official Tuesday came in Georgia. Former state Rep. Tom Graves, another Tea Party favorite, defeated former state Sen. Lee Hawkins in a special election runoff to replace Rep. Nathan Deal, who had resigned from the House in order to run for governor. The two Republicans led the original special election on May 11 when Graves garnered 35 percent of the vote and Hawkins 23 percent. Neither earned the necessary majority in May, necessitating Tuesday's runoff. Graves' campaign expects that he will be sworn in as the newest House member from Georgia early next week.
The GOP also selected their nominees in lower profile, but still important, races in swing congressional districts around the country. In California's 11th Congressional District, attorney and businessman David Harmer won the Republican nomination to compete with incumbent Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney in November. In New Jersey's Third Congressional District, Republicans tapped former NFL offensive tackle Jon Runyan to face incumbent Democratic Rep. John Adler. And Virginia Republicans settled on a pair of nominees in contested races. In the Second Congressional District they selected auto dealer E. Scott Rigell to run against Democratic Rep. Glenn Nye. In the Fifth District nominee, attorney and state Sen. Robert Hurt will face Democrat Tom Perriello, who is seeking his second term.
- See a slide show of 11 hot races in November.
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- See who's contributing to your member of Congress.
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Paola Pizzini of TX 6:00PM September 15, 2010
Dean of CA 12:37PM June 11, 2010
Rev Keith Wright of SC 6:54PM June 10, 2010