The Nov. 3 election isn’t over in Buckhead, where voters likely will see a state Senate runoff and where two candidates remain in a tight battle for a state House seat. The results remain unofficial.
In House District 52, Republican incumbent Rep. Deborah Silcox was trailing Democratic challenger Shea Roberts by fewer than 350 votes — 16,808 to 16,460 — on the afternoon of Nov. 6. Roberts expressed confidence in a win with her 50.52% lead, while Silcox was not conceding.
“I have been advised to not concede at this time pending further information,” Silcox said in a Nov. 6 text message.
“Yesterday, my team and I carefully calculated what possible outstanding ballots were left and we do not believe [Silcox] can close the gap, but she has not conceded,” Roberts said in a Nov. 6 text message. Roberts said she likely would not “officially claim a win until certification or she concedes.”
District 52 includes parts of Buckhead and Sandy Springs. Silcox was one of the few Republican legislators who survived the 2018 election’s “blue wave” of Democrats winning seats. In that 2018 race, Roberts also challenged Silcox.
In the 5th Congressional District, which represents some southern parts of Buckhead, Nikema Williams easily defeated Republican Angela Stanton-King with 85.13% of the vote to win the open seat. Williams, who also chairs the Democratic Party of Georgia, will replace the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who died in July in the midst of a re-election campaign.
Williams previously held the District 39 state Senate seat, which also includes part of southern Buckhead. She left the seat to run for Congress, triggering a special Democratic primary to replace her.
That four-way Senate race appears headed to a runoff between top vote-getters Sonya Halpern (45.2%) and Linda Pritchett (25.4%), with Zan Fort and Jo Anna Potts eliminated. Walter Jones, a spokesperson for the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, said an official announcement about a runoff will be made Nov. 20. The runoff would be held Dec. 1, he said.
Incumbents won in several other local races:
In the 11th Congressional District, Republican Barry Loudermilk drew 60.46% of the vote to defeat Democratic challenger Dana Barrett.
In state Senate District 6, representing parts of Buckhead and Sandy Springs, Democratic incumbent Jen Jordan pulled 61.52% of the vote to beat Republican challenger Harrison Lance.
In state House District 40, Democratic incumbent Erick Allen was set to keep the seat over Republican challenger Taryn Chilivis Bowman with 58.38% of the vote.
In state House District 54, Democratic incumbent Betsy Holland won 57.9% of the vote in defeating Republican challenger Lyndsey Rudder.
–John Ruch and Bob Pepalis