Georgia’s 5th Congressional District Race Set For Runoff Between Hall, Franklin
Voters will be called back to the polls for the Dec. 1 runoff to decide whether Kwanza Hall or Robert Franklin will get a month in Congress representing the Atlanta-centered district.
Mike Stewart / Associated Press
More than 780,000 people in metro Atlanta are without a congressional representative for another two months.
That’s after Tuesday’s special election ended in a runoff.
The election was held to fill the remainder of the late John Lewis’ term for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District.
None of the seven candidates on the special election ballot received more than 50% of the vote, which is required to win by Georgia law.
The top two vote-getters will head to a December runoff: former Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall and the former president of Atlanta’s Morehouse College, Robert Franklin.
Hall and Franklin led five other candidates in Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, but no one won a majority.
(See results here)
“Morning Edition” host Lisa Rayam spoke with Hall and Franklin after Tuesday night’s results were made official.
Hall applauded his groundswell of support and says he’ll start stumping for the runoff election immediately.
Franklin also appreciates the 28% of the votes he received. He says he’s determined to carry the torch for Lewis.
Both candidates watched the presidential debate Tuesday night and say now, more than ever, it’s important to get to Washington, D.C., and represent Georgia’s 5th District.
Hall on getting to Washington, D.C.
Franklin on getting to Washington, D.C.
Voters will be called back to the polls for the Dec. 1 runoff to decide whether Hall or Franklin will get a month in Congress representing the Atlanta-centered district.
The November general election between Republican Angela Stanton King and Democrat Nikema Williams will decide who serves the full two-year term that begins in January. Neither was on Tuesday’s ballot.
Congressman Lewis died in July from pancreatic cancer after 17 terms in Congress. Because he died after winning the primary election, Georgia Democrats chose a new nominee without a primary, placing Williams, the party chair and a state senator, on the November ballot.
WABE’s Maria White Tillman contributed to this report.
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