Qualifying began this morning at the Georgia Secretary of State's Office in Atlanta to replace state Sen. Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton.

Bethel, 40, won reelection to the state Legislature last Tuesday. A day later, Gov. Nathan Deal announced his appointment to the Georgia Court of Appeals, effective Jan. 1.

Bethel, an attorney who served as chairman of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, then resigned Friday, ending a six-year legislative career during which he served as Deal’s floor leader in the Senate chamber.

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp has called a Dec. 13 special election to fill Bethel’s former seat, which includes parts or all of Gordon, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties in north Georgia.

Eligible candidates have until 2 p.m. Thursday to sign up.

About the Author

Keep Reading

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) listens as House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) speaks to the media after the House narrowly passed a bill forwarding President Donald Trump's agenda, May 22, 2025 in Washington, D.C.  (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Featured

Savannah Chrisley, daughter of former reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, speaks outside the Federal Prison Camp on May 28, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla. President Donald Trump pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were found guilty of defrauding banks out of $36 million and hiding millions in earnings to avoid paying taxes. (Dan Anderson/AP)

Credit: Dan Anderson/AP