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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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com