5 qualify for special election in Georgia’s Senate District 30

Four Republican challengers, including former state House Speaker Glenn Richardson, and one independent have qualified to run for state Senate District 30.

Richardson will face longtime state Rep. Bill Hembree, R-Winston; Jim Naughton, a Carroll County businessman; and Mike Dugan, a Carrollton building contractor, on a special Republican primary ballot Nov. 6 — the same day as the general election.

The race is especially notable because it represents Richardson’s first public attempt to rehabilitate his image. He resigned from office in 2009 after a suicide attempt and news of an affair with a lobbyist.

Whoever wins the primary contest will face Libertarian candidate James Camp, a Temple-based information technology worker, in a special general election Jan. 8. There is no special Democratic primary because none qualified earlier this year against the seat’s incumbent, Sen. Bill Hamrick, R-Carrollton.

District 30 includes portions of Carroll, Douglas and Paulding counties. The deadline to qualify was noon Friday. The seat came open after Gov. Nathan Deal named Hamrick a Superior Court judge on the Coweta Judicial Circuit.

About the Author

Kristina Torres

How will the ‘big, beautiful bill’ impact Georgia?

The U.S. Senate-passed version of the reconciliation bill includes some key changes to the package approved by the House in May.

Blind justice? In Georgia, public safety officers still wear partisan labels

Some state lawmakers want to remove political party labels from sheriffs and district attorneys. Critics say party identification gives voters help when deciding.

PATRICIA MURPHY

Hometown of Plains adjusts to life without Jimmy, Rosalynn Carter

It’s been six months Jimmy Carter died at age 100, and his hometown of Plains continues to live by the example set by the late president and first lady Rosalynn Carter.

The Latest