A Democrat will move into a runoff election to represent a stretch of Fulton and Cherokee counties that has been a Republican stronghold for decades and overwhelmingly voted for President Donald Trump last November.

Debra Shigley, an Alpharetta resident and former attorney, was the top finisher in a special election to replace state Sen. Brandon Beach , whom Trump tapped earlier this year to serve as U.S. treasurer. Shigley, the lone Democrat in the race, finished with 39.5% of the vote, benefiting from Republican votes splitting among six GOP candidates.

“We’re very excited and encouraged,” she said.

Unofficial vote totals posted late Tuesday suggested Shigley would compete against Republican Jason Dickerson, who received 17.4% of the vote, in the runoff election Sept. 23. But th

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