7 DeKalb seats in Georgia Legislature contested

Several challengers in politically divided districts are trying to shake up DeKalb County's representation in the Georgia General Assembly on Election Day.

Seven state legislative seats from DeKalb are being contested. The other 16 state lawmakers from the county are unopposed.

Both Republicans and Democrats are hoping to upset incumbents and make gains at the state Capitol.

There are currently 20 Democrats and three Republicans in DeKalb’s delegation.

Contested races

• Rep. Taylor Bennett, D-Brookhaven, vs. Meagan Hanson, a Republican attorney. Bennett won the seat last year, which was held by Republican Mike Jacobs until he became a State Court judge.
• Sen. JaNice Van Ness, R-Conyers, vs. Tonya Anderson, a Democrat and former state House representative. This race is a rematch of a runoff last year that Van Ness won by 84 votes and 1 percentage point.
• Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Atlanta, vs. Lane Flynn, a Republican pilot and business owner. Holcomb sponsored and helped pass a bill this year that requires law enforcement agencies to find and count untested sexual assault evidence. Flynn is campaigning on a platform of fewer regulations, lower taxes and more efficient local government.
• Former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones, a Democrat, vs. Carl Anuszczyk, a Republican and the CEO of a software development company.
• Sen. Fran Millar, R-Atlanta, vs. Tamara Johnson-Shealey, a Democrat and the founder of organizations that track legislation affecting the beauty industry.
• Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, vs. Kenneth Quarterman, a Republican and former eduator.
• Sen. Gloria Butler, D-Stone Mountain, vs. Annette Davis Jackson, a Republican and education advocate.