Three new lawmakers elected to fill vacant state House, Senate seats in Tuesday runoffs

Voters across Georgia selected three new state legislators Tuesday in a series of special election runoffs aimed at filling vacant seats in the General Assembly.  The newest lawmakers include two Democrats in the House and a Republican in the Senate, and since they are replacing members of their own party, their wins will not shift […]

Voters across Georgia selected three new state legislators Tuesday in a series of special election runoffs aimed at filling vacant seats in the General Assembly. 

The newest lawmakers include two Democrats in the House and a Republican in the Senate, and since they are replacing members of their own party, their wins will not shift the overall partisan makeup of either chamber.

With the 2026 session having come to a close, however, those lawmakers might never actually serve in their respective chambers before the end of their term — unless Gov. Brian Kemp decides to call lawmakers back for a special session later this year to resolve some unfinished business.

Here’s a look at the incoming lawmakers.

Senate District 53

Republican Lanny Thomas, the former mayor of Trion and a public school educator and coach, cruised to victory Tuesday night in a northwest Georgia district, securing over 68% of the vote according to unofficial results from the secretary of state’s office.

Thomas won despite health challenges taking him away from the campaign trail. He told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that an aortic dissection — a sudden tear in his aorta — kept him off the trail right up until four days before the runoff.

He defeated Democrat Jack Zibluk, a professor of communication who received roughly 31% of the vote during the special election runoff.

Thomas previously said he planned to tackle affordability issues by being a fiscal conservative and working to eventually eliminate the state income tax, and that he sees public safety and supporting public education as other important issues for the district. In a video posted Wednesday, he thanked his supporters in the race and pledged to be an advocate for all his constituents.

“I’m gonna work for everyone, whether you voted for me or not,” Thomas said. 

Thomas has also qualified to run in next month’s primary election, when he will face two other Republicans for a full term.

Zibluk, who has also qualified in the Democratic primary to run again for the seat later this year, said he will continue to advocate for constituents in his district and hold Republican leaders accountable.

“The Republicans have been in power forever here, and they are obligated to the status quo, to established political and business interests which may not be in the interest of regular folks, conservative, liberal, Democratic or Republican,” he said, adding that his campaign is “listening to the regular people rather than established interests.”

Senate District 53 spans Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties and part of Floyd County. It was previously represented by Sen. Colton Moore, a Trenton Republican who resigned from his seat in January to run for a congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

House District 94

Democrat Venola Mason, a DeKalb County education consultant, defeated fellow Democrat Kelly Kautz during Tuesday’s runoff, amassing over 68% of the vote across the district, which includes portions of Gwinnett and DeKalb counties.

Kautz, the former mayor of Snellville, received roughly 32% of the vote.

Mason credited her experience working as a teacher as one factor that helped her campaign resonate with voters. Though she may not end up serving in the chamber before the end of this term, she said she planned to use her time learning more about her constituents’ needs and building relationships within her district.

“By getting into this seat, we’re going to be able to continue to do some great work for the community on a larger scale,” she said in an interview Tuesday. “And so I’m just really excited about being able to get to work.”

Kautz did not respond to a request for comment.

Mason will fill a seat vacated by former state Rep. Karen Bennett, a Stone Mountain Democrat who resigned in early January shortly before pleading guilty to pandemic-era unemployment fraud.

Mason will be back on the ballot next month with four other Democrats seeking a full term. No Republicans qualified in that race. 

House District 130

Former state Rep. Sheila Clark Nelson, who is a Democrat, won a Richmond County-based district Tuesday, securing over 70% of the vote in the special election runoff for the seat. Nelson served in the Legislature from 2017 until 2023, when she retired to care for her mother.

She did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Her opponent, Republican Thomas D. McAdams received roughly 29% of the vote.

McAdams, who is a minister, acknowledged that he was facing an uphill battle running as a Republican in a Democratic-leaning district. But he remained determined as he turned his attention to this year’s Republican primary election. 

“Can’t win ‘em if you don’t run a candidate,” he said.

Nelson is set to replace former Augusta Democratic Rep. Rep. Lynn Heffner, who stepped down in early January, citing damage to her home from Hurricane Helene and the state law requiring representatives to live in the districts they represent.

Nelson will face three other Democrats in May’s primary election. Two Republicans, including McAdams, have also qualified to run this year. 

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