Chris West defeats Jeremy Hunt in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional runoff

Thomasville legal professional Chris West received the Republican nomination in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District, defeating former U.S. Military captain and Yale Legislation scholar Jeremy Hunt in Tuesday’s runoff election.

With an estimated 98% of the vote in, West leads Hunt 14,608-13,853. Hunt conceded simply earlier than 10:20 p.m. however didn't point out West by title in his speech.

“We’re all in. We’re going to assist the Republican nominee,” Hunt informed supporters at his election night time occasion in Columbus. “We’re going to maneuver ahead.”

West, 38, received regardless of ending second within the Could major and being outspent by almost 10-1 by Hunt.

Hunt, 28, completed first in Could’s major with 37% of the full ballots solid and was the favored candidate of a number of nationwide Republican politicians, carrying endorsements from U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri, former U.N ambassador and S.C. governor Nikki Haley in addition to GOP operative Karl Rove.

Hunt’s marketing campaign raised essentially the most cash within the major and runoff, boosted by outdoors PAC spending that ramped up within the weeks main as much as the runoff. Two PACs, American Patriots PAC and American Values First, spent greater than $1.4 million on Hunt’s marketing campaign since early Could with greater than $623,000 coming since June 11, in response to uncooked experiences filed with the Federal Elections Fee.

As of June 1, Hunt’s marketing campaign raised simply over $721,000, and West raised greater than $232,000.

West, who has been concerned within the Georgia Republican get together since 2004, can also be an officer within the Georgia Air Nationwide Guard. He managed to safe the endorsement of three of his GOP opponents in Could — Vivan Childs, Paul Whitehead and Wayne Johnson.

Days earlier than the runoff, Johnson filed a civil racketeering lawsuit towards Hunt, Fox Information and Fox host Brian Kilmeade.

West goes on to face Democrat Sanford Bishop, an incumbent who has represented the area for almost three a long time. The race shall be Georgia’s most carefully contested Congressional election in November.