Politics & Government
Bartow's Bruce Thompson Wins State Senate Seat
Thompson beat Cartersville resident Matt Laughridge in the special election runoff for the District 14 post vacated by Barry Loundermilk.
After coming out ahead in the November special election to fill the District 14 State Senate seat vacated by Barry Loudermilk, Bartow County resident Bruce Thompson has secured the post with more than double the votes of his runoff opponent, Matt Laughridge of Cartersville.
More than 70 percent of Bartow voters chose Thompson, a businessman and entrepreneur who lives in White, with a 7.24 percent voter turnout, according to the county's website.
More than 66 percent of Cherokee voters also chose Thompson, but relatively fewer voters showed up to cast ballots. Cherokee County saw a 4.89 percent voter turnout, according to the county's website.
More than 77 percent of Cobb County voters also picked Thompson, but even fewer went to the polls. Voter turnout in Cobb was 2.8 percent, according to the county's website.
Across the state, voter turnout was 6.69 percent. The total ballots cast in the State Senate District 14 race was 4,337.
Here are the unofficial, uncertified results for the State Senate District 14 special runoff election:
Matt Laughridge
Bartow: 533 (29.73 percent)Cherokee: 765 (33.44 percent)
Cobb: 58 (22.66 percent)
Total: 1,356 (31.27 percent)
Bruce Thompson
Bartow: 1,260 (70.27 percent)Cherokee: 1,523 (66.56 percent)
Cobb: 198 (77.34 percent)
Total: 2,981 (68.73 percent)
Loudermilk resigned to focus on his bid for U.S. Congress.
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