The results are in: Mike Buck still lost the GOP race to be Georgia’s next schools superintendent.

Buck requested a recount Tuesday after the initial vote from the July 22 runoff election showed him trailing his opponent by 713 votes out of more than 398,000 cast.

But final recount results on Thursday showed only a vote gained in favor of Buck, the state’s current chief academic officer for the Georgia Department of Education.

Irwin County educator Richard L. Woods is now the Republican nominee to be state superintendent. He will face off in November with Democrat Valarie Wilson, the former chairwoman of the City Schools of Decatur school board.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore, R-Trenton, was banned from entering the Georgia House on March 14. House Speaker Jon Burns said the senator made "vile" remarks against David Ralston on the day the late speaker was being honored. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: TNS

Featured

Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez