A woman who was once a beauty pageant rival of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is running for a seat in the Georgia state House.
Maryline Blackburn, a Democrat, qualified Thursday for the House District 34 election in the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna. She hopes to challenge incumbent Rep. Rich Golick, a Republican.
Blackburn won Miss Alaska in 1984, beating Palin, who was second runner-up. Blackburn is a recording artist who has been nominated twice for a Grammy.
Georgia's primary is July 20, and the general election is Nov. 2.
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