ATLANTA — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has called for a special election to fill the state Senate District 7 seat, and Gov. Brian Kemp has called for a special election to fill the House District 177 seat.
House District 177 is vacant after former Rep. Dexter Sharper resigned. The special election will be held on May 12. Raffensperger has not released additional details about qualifying and a runoff date.
Sharper, D – Valdosta, was accused of fraudulently obtaining emergency pandemic unemployment assistance payments. He was charged on Friday, Jan. 30, and pleaded guilty on March 12, according to WABE. Sharper was the third Democratic lawmaker to face fraud charges, joining Karen Bennett and Sharon Henderson. Bennett resigned, and Henderson was suspended, leaving three vacant seats in the state House.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said, in a news release, that Sharper allegedly pretended to be out of work to collect unemployment benefits.
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