Carmen Rice Prevails in All-Republican Runoff for Georgia State House District 139
The special election was called following the death of State Representative Richard H. Smith (R).
The Republican runoff occurred today to fill a vacancy in the Georgia House of Representatives. The runoff was called after no candidate achieved a 50%+1 majority in the primary earlier this month. Instead, the top two finishers advanced to the runoff. This is the second special election in 2024 for the state’s lower legislative chamber.
The special election for Georgia State House District 139 was called following the death of State Representative Richard H. Smith, a Republican, from influenza. He represented this district from January 2005 to January 2024.
Carmen Rice has been declared the winner of the all-Republican runoff. The race was called in her favor as she’s currently leading with 55.8% against Sean Knox with 44.2%. 2,075 votes have been counted.
Rice was the first woman to serve as Chair of the Muscogee County Republican Party - retiring to run in the special election.
Knox has been the co-owner and president of Knox Pest Control and Lawn Solutions since December 1998.
Notably, Knox outpaced Rice during the nonpartisan primary with 42.6% to 42.1% - a margin of just 12 votes. The remainder of the ballot went to Independent Robert Mallard with 9.7% and Republican Don Moeller with 5.7%. Knox, Moeller and Rice will compete again later this month in the Republican primary for the regular two-year term to the State House.
Georgia State House District 139 covers parts of Harris and Muscogee Counties - taking in several neighborhoods of Columbus as well as some of its northern suburbs.
Once Rice is sworn in, the Georgia House of Representatives will feature 102 Republicans and 78 Democrats. The chamber currently has no additional vacancies. All 180 seats will be up for regular two-year terms in November 2024.