The Independent View: GA Democrat Applications to Replace Rep Lewis on Ballot Update

Thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for this post.

Georgia Democrats will gather Monday, July 20th, to decide a Replacement on November's Ballot for U.S. Rep. John Lewis (5th District), who died Friday after serving for more than 30 years in Congress.

The Seat will remain Empty until Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) schedules a Special Election. The Governor has given No indication when he will hold an Election with just over Six months left in Lewis' Term.

State Law allows the Democratic Party to Replace Lewis on the Ballot, but the Decision has to be made quickly for the District that includes much of the City of Atlanta. The Democratic Party of Georgia is accepting Applications for the Nomination Online until 6:30 p.m. Sunday July, 19th.

A Special Seven-Member Committee of Democrats, including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, 2018 Gubernatorial Nominee Stacey Abrams and 2014 Gubernatorial Nominee Jason Carter, will choose between Three and Five Candidates from the Applicant Pool.

The State Party's Executive Committee will then meet Monday, choose a Nominee and Submit the Name to the Georgia Secretary of State by 4 p.m. Monday.

The Nominee will face Angela Stanton-King (R) in November. Stanton-King is a Reality TV Personality and was Pardoned earlier this year by President Trump for her Role in a Stolen Car Ring, after serving Six months of Home Confinement in 2007.

Lewis won more than 84% of the Vote when he last faced a Republican Opponent in the District in 2016.

State Law allows the Governor to Call a Special Election to fill the Seat as long as he gives 30 days for Candidates to Register and Campaign. But that would leave at most less than Five months before the Winner of the General Election is Sworn into Office in January, 2020.

Kemp Declared Flags in Georgia will be at Half-Staff until Sunset of the day of Lewis' Funeral.

UPDATE

Georgia Democrats have selected State Sen. Nikema Williams, Chair of the State Party, to Replace Rep. John Lewis on the Ballot in November.

The Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia Voted overwhelmingly, on Monday, for Williams to take Lewis’ Spot on the Ballot for the Atlanta-area 5th Congressional District.

Williams, 41, was chosen from a List of Five Finalists as the Group Works to Quickly Fill the Spot in accordance with State Law. She is nearly assured of Winning in November in the Heavily Democratic District.