Miriam Paris was the winner in five of the seven counties in State Senate District 26 for last week’s runoff election, but when the total votes were counted, that was not enough to retain her senate seat.

David Lucas won the Aug. 21 runoff against Paris by less than 300 votes districtwide. The former state representative had 8,649 votes to Paris’ 8,428, based on final tallies from the Georgia secretary of state’s office. He will face Republican Bobby Gale of Irwinton in November’s general election.

Paris was the winner in Jones, Twiggs, Washington, Wilkinson and Hancock counties. Lucas only took Houston and Bibb counties, but the additional 1,751 votes he took over Paris in Bibb County was enough to put him over the top for the district.

Jones County is split between State Senate districts 25 and 26. District 25 incumbent Sen. Johnny Grant was defeated by challenger Burt Jones in the Republican primary July 31. Jones will face Democrat Darrell Black of Milledgeville Nov. 6.

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