The three-way contest for the Republican nomination for the District 180 seat in the state House of Representatives was too close to call late Tuesday but appeared headed to a runoff.
With all the votes counted, incumbent state Rep. Steven Sainz was leading with 49.68% of the vote, short of the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff.
Runner-up Glenn Cook picked up 27.04% of the 6,187 votes cast, while the third-place finisher, David Rainier, received 23.27%.
It wasn’t known late this evening if Sainz or Cook would seek a recount.
Under state law, a candidate can request a recount if the margin is less than or equal to 0.5%. That request has to be made within two business days of the results being certified.
If Sainz’s vote total stands, he and Cook will face each other in a June 18 runoff. Democrat Defonsio will take on the winner in the November general election.
A three-term lawmaker from Woodbine, Sainz campaigned on what he describes as a conservative platform, including reducing taxes, beefing up security in schools, and cracking down on crime in the district, which covers Jekyll Island, Waverly, Woodbine, Kingsland and St. Marys.
Cook, Sainz’s opponent in the expected runoff, worked for Delta Airlines for more than three decades and is currently supervisor of the Satilla River Soil and Water Conservation District, an elected post.