Who will replace Rep. Collins when he runs for Senate?

Rep. Doug Collins (R-Georgia) is widely expected to announce his campaign for U.S. Senate against Sen. Kelly Loeffler in the coming days. Loeffler was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to complete the term of former Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson, who resigned at the end of last year because of health concerns.

Republicans may need to look no further than Dawsonville to answer that question.

District 9 State Rep. Kevin Tanner said today “I am giving it serious consideration and I will make a decision in the next few days.”

Qualifying for the race will take place in March and the Republican Primary will be held in May.

Tanner, a four-term representative is chairman of the House Transportation Committee and serves on the Appropriations, Education and Special Rules committees. He has more than 27 years of public service.

“This is an unexpected opportunity,” he said. “It’s not something I had planned on or thought about. But I have had a tremendous outpouring of colleagues and constituents calling on me to run.”

He added, “When I have a decision like this to make, I try to do so prayerfully. I want to do what is in the best interest of my family and the constituents in the 9^th District.”

Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) said he will not be a candidate at this time.

“I believe it is a good opportunity for somebody to run for an open seat, but it won’t be me,” he told Fetch Your News. “I’m happy doing what I’m doing here. But the three main reasons I won’t run are my three sons, Samuel, Seth and Sawyer. They are in public school now and they need a full-time Dad. This just isn’t the right time for me to leave and go to Washington.”

Should Tanner pull the trigger on a run for the U.S. House of Representatives that will leave an open seat in the Georgia House.

One name that surfaced multiple times today as a potential replacement for Tanner is Lumpkin County attorney Zack Tumlin.

Fetch Your News reached out to Tumlin for comment, but he could not be reached before deadline.

 

 

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