Republican JaNice Van Ness won a close Georgia Senate runoff election Tuesday night, taking control of a seat previously held by a Democrat, according to unofficial election results.

Van Ness, a former Rockdale commissioner, defeated former state Rep. Tonya Anderson, D-Lithonia.

Van Ness will represent about 172,000 residents in DeKalb, Rockdale and Newton counties.

Van Ness and Anderson were the two leading candidates among eight people on the ballot during a Nov. 3 special election to represent Senate District 43.

The Senate seat became vacant in July when Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Sen. Ronald Ramsey, D-Lithonia, to become a judge in DeKalb County State Court's Traffic Division.

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Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez