ATLANTA -- A pair of former Republican state legislators will face off in a June 8 runoff for a north Georgia congressional seat vacated by Nathan Deal.
Unofficial results showed Tom Graves and Lee Hawkins as the top finishers in Tuesday's special election. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Graves had 35 percent of the vote while Hawkins earned 20 percent.
Graves, a 40-year-old developer from Ranger, ran with support from tea party and anti-tax groups. Hawkins, a 59-year-old dentist from Gainesville, had cast himself as a mainstream conservative.
Graves said Tuesday night that his message resonated with voters in the solidly Republican district because it focused on "the right values and the right solutions and the new energy that's needed in Washington right now."
In Georgia, a runoff takes place if no candidate earns 50 percent plus one vote.
The rest of the field included Republicans Chris Cates, a cardiologist; Bert Loftman, a retired neurosurgeon; former state Sen. Bill Stephens and textile executive Steve Tarvin. Independent Eugene Moon and Democrat Mike Freeman were also on the ballot.
Among those voting for Graves was Dalton resident Woody Glenn, 71.
"I believe he's a man of conviction, and I don't think he'll be swayed once he gets to Washington," Glenn said.
The 9th congressional district is heavily Republican and covers 15 counties in north Georgia. In the 2008 presidential race, 75 percent of voters there cast a ballot for Republican John McCain.
The major candidates ran on similar issues: the need to rein in spending, get tough on immigration and repeal the new federal health care law.
Margaret Williamson, a tea party activist from Ellijay who voted for Graves, said she was disappointed by what she described as voter apathy.
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