Fact brief: Has the district for Middle Georgia’s open state Senate seat historically voted Republican? 

For the past 22 years, the District 18 seat in Georgia’s State Senate has been held by a Republican.

The seat is currently vacant due to the resignation of John F. Kennedy, who is looking to be the next lieutenant governor of the Peach State.

The district encompasses Crawford, Monroe, Peach, Upson and portions of Bibb and Houston counties.

In the most recent regularly scheduled Senate election in 2024, a majority of voters in Crawford, Houston, Monroe, Peach and Upson counties voted Republican, while a majority of voters in Bibb County voted Democratic.

Kennedy, who resigned in December, was first elected in 2015. Republican Cecil Staton (2005-2015) previously held the seat.

Republican Steven McNeel and Democrat Lemario Brown will compete in a Feb. 17 runoff election to determine which political party will hold the seat.