State senate results: Republican incumbents Bill Cowsert, Frank Ginn hold seats for Athens

The two incumbent Republican state senators from northeast Georgia – Bill Cowsert and Frank Ginn – defeated their Democratic challengers in Tuesday's midterm election.

Cowsert, an Athens attorney who has represented Senate District 46 since 2007, was reelected to a new two-year term by defeating Andrew Ferguson of Athens.

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Vote counts posted Wednesday morning on the Georgia Secretary of State's website shows that Cowsert won his seat with about 64% of the vote.

Cowsert received 48,536 votes in the three counties of Clarke, Oconee and Walton, while Ferguson received 27,255 votes.

Ferguson, who ran for the 10th Congressional seat in 2020, but lost in the Democratic primary, received nearly 42% of the vote in Clarke and Oconee, the two counties where he ran the strongest.

Ginn, who represented the Senate District 47 since 2001, defeated Conolus Scott, a lifelong resident of Madison County who is employed as a court bailiff. The district reaches voters in Barrow, Jackson, Clarke and Madison counties.

Ginn received 44,513 votes or nearly 62% in the reported vote tally, while Scott garnered 27,291 votes.

"I always try to work hard for the people and they've supported me since I've been running," Ginn said late Tuesday.

Ginn said he and Scott ran a good race.

"I've known Colonus for 40 years. We've been friends and I have nothing but good stuff to say about Colonus," Ginn said. "The problem with most politics is people want to make it negative and that's not me."

Ginn said the financial state of Georgia has improved over the years since he has been in the senate.

"When I started in the senate there was 14% unemployment and a lot of problems with the state budget. We've got everyone working and things are going the right direction under the leadership of governors Deal and Kemp," he said.

Cowsert could not be reached for comment.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia Election Results: Bill Cowsert, Frank Ginn win reelection bids