Voters in House District 125 go to the polls Tuesday in the whirlwind special election to replace Rep. Barry Fleming.
The sun is expected to come out with a high temperature around 60 degrees, while observers wished the same would happen among voters in the election.
Columbia County Elections Director Nancy Gay predicted a turnout of 6-7%.
The election includes three Republicans, a Libertarian and a Democrat – all of whom appear together on Tuesday’s ballot. If none of the five get 50% of votes, the contest heads to a runoff on March 12.
The race has remained under the radar, despite the appearance last month of internet influencer C.J. Pearson, who made a name for himself in grade school with a critique of Barack Obama.
“I’m disappointed in the voters,” observed Dave Barbee, the former chairman of the 10th Congressional District Republican Party. ‘The turnout has been so poor. It’s a toss-up.”
Pearson, now 21, has raised at least $71,513 since announcing his campaign, according to a Jan. 31 campaign filling.
Better known in local political circles is candidate Gary Richardson, who served two terms on the Columbia County Commission, including as its vice chair, before resigning to run for the House seat.
Richardson, an Evans businessman, had raised $41,072 in his latest report, including a $30,000 loan to himself.
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Richardson qualified early and no one expected the crowd of five, Barbee said, particularly not Pearson, who has been away at college. It was set in motion when Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Fleming Dec. 27 to complete retiring Columbia Chief Superior Court Judge James G. Blanchard’s term.
Also pursuing the District 125 seat, but reporting no fundraising or spending is Jim Steed, who operates a dairy cow corn maze near Grovetown, and Libertarian Jim Turpish. A software developer, Turpish ran for the Georgia Public Service Commission in 2018.
The only Democrat in the race is Kay Turner, a Grovetown stylist and brand manager. Turner reported raising $1,900.
Pearson’s fundraising haul came from donors around the country.
He received 14 donations of the state maximum of $3,300, from Andy Albright of Integrity Marketing, both of Atlanta physician couple Scott and Alyssa Barbour, Wayne Works businessman Wayne Brown, auto group owner Michael Murphy, Rec Tec cofounder Ray Carnes and Texas oil and gas investors Don and Margaret Dyer, William and Mary Janes Holmes and Kyle Stallings.
As of Friday, the last day of early voting, approximately 1,100 people had cast early ballots, including 879 in Columbia County, according to county records. In the McDuffie County part of the district, 209 voted early in the state’s report.
With a voting-age population of some 43,800, that’s turnout so far of under 3%. Current active and registered voter totals were unavailable Monday.
The potential for a runoff adds another wrinkle because it’s the same date as Georgia’s Presidential Preference Primary, which includes Donald Trump on the Republican primary ballot, as well as in Grovetown, the special council election between Ceretta Smith and Jacqueline Rivera-Player.
During redistricting, Fleming’s district – which includes Grovetown, Harlem, Appling and Dearing areas – was drawn as 60% non-Hispanic white, 21.7% Black and 8.9% Hispanic.
In advance voting, the highest turnout has been in precincts voting at Kiokee Baptist Church and the former Euchee Creek Library, according to state records. It’s been lowest at Grovetown Methodist Church and Belair Baptist Church.
On Election Day, voters must use their assigned polling places. Those include the above, as well as Woodlawn Baptist Church, Harlem Branch Library, Harlem Senior Center, Second Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Liberty Park, Greater Augusta Apostolic Church, Grovetown Public Safety Station 2, Grovetown Branch Library, Eubank Blanchard Community Center, Parkway Baptist Church and Parkway Elementary School.
In McDuffie County, polling places at the Dearing Community Center and former Thomson High School gym are open.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
