Democrats are one seat from a majority in the Georgia House, and the closest of the races that could give it to them is separated by 27 votes. Unofficial results from the Secretary of State show Democrats have won 90 of the 180 seats and Republicans 86, with four races unsettled. A majority takes 91, and Republicans can no longer get there. Even if they won all four unsettled races, the House would split 90-90. Republicans have controlled the chamber since January 2005, when Glenn Richardson became the first Republican speaker since Reconstruction. The results are unofficial until the state certifies them.
Democrats lead in three of the four unsettled races. Chris Luchey (HD-103) (D) leads State Rep. Soo Hong (R) in a district in Gwinnett and Hall counties, 12,004 votes to 11,977. Harry James (HD-154) (D) leads State Rep. Gerald Greene (R) by 59 votes in a southwest Georgia district that includes part of Dougherty County and all of Early, Seminole and six other counties. Scott Soracco (HD-29) (D) leads State Rep. Matt Dubnik (R) by 131 votes in Hall County. If those leads hold, Democrats would end with 93 seats.
A candidate can ask for a recount after the results are certified when the margin is 0.5% of the vote or less. HD-103, with a margin of 0.1%, and HD-154, at 0.3%, would be eligible. HD-29, at 0.8%, would not.
In the fourth unsettled race, HD-151, no candidate has a majority. State Rep. Mike Cheokas (R) has 48% of the vote, Ethan Wolfe (HD-151) (D) has 41% and Travis Lockhart (HD-151) (I) has 11%. The race is headed to a Dec. 1 runoff between Cheokas and Wolfe, based on unofficial results.
Democrats entered the night with 81 seats and have won 11 seats that Republicans held. Eight are in metro Atlanta. Counted by the county that holds most of each district, two are in Paulding County, two in Fulton, two in Gwinnett and one each in Cobb and Henry. Democrats also won a seat in Houston County and two in the Savannah area, in Effingham, Chatham and Bryan counties. Republicans won two seats that Democrats held, one around Oconee and Clarke counties and one in a district spanning Washington, McDuffie, Hancock, Warren, Baldwin and Glascock counties.