The District 9 seat was vacated by Nathan Deal, who resigned to run for governor.

Tom Graves won the June 8 special election runoff to fill the unexpired term through year’s end.

This contest is for a full, two-year term that begins in January.

Bert Loftman, Chris Cates and Bill Stephens appear on the July 20 ballot. However, Loftman has suspended his campaign and Stephens has withdrawn.

Cates has also suspended his campaign, though said he would serve if elected.

A runoff election, if necessary, would be Aug. 10.

There are no Democrats running for the seat, so whoever wins the GOP primary will claim the seat.

The 9th District includes all Forsyth County precincts except 17, 19, 21 and 30, and a small part of precinct 8, all of which are on the county’s south end.

Tom Graves, R
Age: 40
From: Ranger
Family: Wife, Julie; children, JoAnn, John and Janey
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, focus on finance, from the University of Georgia
Occupation: Owner of Tich Properties, a small business that manages multifamily housing and commercial retail properties
Affiliations: Ordained deacon at Belmont Baptist Church in Calhoun, Gordon County Chamber of Commerce member
Why he’s running: “Julie and I and the kids, we have a passion to serve north Georgia and we know that this is a great way to represent north Georgia in the 9th congressional district and represent the values and the ideals of north Georgia.”
Web site: www.gravesforcongress.org

Lee Hawkins, R
Age: 59
From: Gainesville
Family: Wife, Sharon; children, Dora, Michelle, Elizabeth, Meredith, Ben, Jim and Charlie; and two grandchildren
Education: Dental degree from Emory University
Occupation: Dentist, practicing for more than 30 years
Affiliations: Member of the Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Kiwanis Club, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Why he’s running: “I believe we have a right as American citizens to make our decisions on health and decisions on safety of our family, and I’m running to represent the people of this district in those areas and on those issues.”
Web site: www.leehawkinsforcongress.com

Bobby Reese, R
Age: 55
From: Flowery Branch
Family: Wife, Marjorie; children, two daughters; and four grandchildren
Occupation: Real estate broker; retired U.S. Army
Why he’s running: Could not be reached for comment.
Web site: www.bobbyreese.com

Steve Tarvin, R
Age: 59
From: Chickamauga
Family: Wife, Jennifer; children, Lance and Amy; and four grandchildren
Education: Gordon Lee High School graduate
Occupation: President and CEO of Crystal Springs textile mill
Affiliations: Member of the Shorter University trustees board, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association board, Oakwood Baptist Church and charter president of the Habitat for Humanity of Walker County
Why he’s running: “I saw that there was nobody in this race that could go to Washington and could do what needs to be done for the liberty of this country. I sit back and just realize that what’s going on in America is my fault and I want to use my ability to change that.”
Web site: www.stevetarvin.com