Four candidates are running in each of the two special elections Jan. 9 to fill vacancies in the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives.

The elections are being held to fill the seats of former Sen. Rick Jeffares and former Rep. Brian Strickland. Jeffares, R-McDonough, resigned to run for lieutenant governor, and Strickland, R-McDonough, stepped down to seek Jeffares' Senate position.

Candidates filed papers to run in the special elections last week. Runoff elections will be held Feb. 6 if needed.

The candidates seeking the Senate seat are Ed Toney, a Republican retired civil engineer; Nelva Lee, a Republican business owner, Phyllis Hatcher, a Democratic pastor; and Strickland. Senate District 17 seat covers parts of Henry, Newton and Rockdale counties.

For the House seat, the candidates are El-Mahdi Holly, a Democratic substitute teacher; Geoffrey Cauble, a Republican general contractor; Larry Morey, a Republican real estate developer; and Tarji Dunn, a Democratic real estate broker. House District 111 is in Henry County.

About the Author

Featured

Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com