Georgia Election 2019: Election for House District 176 heads to runoff

Two Republican candidates will face off in a runoff election next month for a South Georgia seat in the state House of Representatives.

None of the four candidates in the race won a majority in Tuesday's special election for House District 176. The seat became open when former Gov. Nathan Deal appointed state Rep. Jason Shaw to the Georgia Public Service Commission in November.

Voters will return to the polls on March 12 to choose between Franklin Patten and James Burchett. Patten is the owner of Southern Financial Systems and chairman of the Lanier County Board of Education, and Burchett is an attorney and a member of the Waycross Chamber of Commerce.

Both Patten and Burchett received more votes than the two Democrats in the race, Barbara Seidman and Barbara Griffin.

The district covers Atkinson and Lanier counties, as well as parts of Lowndes and Ware counties.

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