A special election will be held Jan. 8 to fill the seat of state Sen. Chip Rogers, who resigned from office Wednesday to take a job with Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Gov. Nathan Deal had been expected to call for the election quickly, in order for a successor to take office before the Georgia Legislature convenes for its next session Jan. 14.

Rogers, who has prior broadcasting experience, announced Tuesday he would leave the Senate. Voters re-elected him last month to Senate District 21, representing parts of Cherokee and north Fulton counties.

Beginning in January, Rogers will report directly to GPB President Teya Ryan as he leads a new programming effort to cover Georgia’s jobs and economic development push.