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Paulette Rakestraw 9th State Legislator to Lose Seat in Primary This Year

Georgia House of Representatives

Paulette Rakestraw was arguably the most powerful legislator to lose her seat to a member of the same party, serving on the Appropriations Committee and as vice-chair of the Special Rules and Science and Technology Committees. She became the ninth state legislator to lose their seat in a 2018 primary after Tuesday night’s runoff elections.

 Rakestraw, who was first elected in 2010, is one of five Republican and four Democratic incumbents who lost in this year’s primary or runoff elections.
 Another legislator who lost his primary election, Representative Jason Spencer of Woodbine, resigned his seat effective July 31, after facing blowback from a controversial television appearance featuring comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. During his appearance, Spencer exposed his buttocks and repeatedly used hosts of racial slurs.

Martin Matheny is WUGA's Program Director and a host and producer of our local news program 'Athens News Matters.' He started at WUGA in 2012 as a part-time classical music host and still hosts WUGA's longest-running local program 'Night Music' which is heard on WUGA and GPB Classical. He lives in Normaltown with his wife, Shaye and dog, Murphy.
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