SAVANNAH, Ga. -- A recount of votes affirms Augusta businessman Rick W. Allen will face state Rep. Lee Anderson of Grovetown in a Republican runoff in east Georgia's 12th Congressional District.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced the results Thursday. The recount was requested by third-place candidate Wright McLeod and showed him finishing 580 votes behind Allen in the July 31 primary. That's a difference of just four votes from the prior tally.
The Aug. 21 runoff will decide whether Allen or Anderson is the Republican who challenges Democratic Rep. John Barrow in the fall. Barrow is a top target of the GOP after lawmakers removed his political base of Savannah from the district last year.
Anderson emerged as the frontrunner in the primary by finishing more than 5,000 votes ahead of Allen.
Associated Press