Austin Scott Wins District 8

Atlanta (AP)-
Republican Rep. Austin Scott has been re-elected to serve a fourth term in his south Georgia district.

Unofficial election returns Tuesday showed Scott of Tifton defeated Democratic challenger James Neal Harris in the 8th Congressional District.

The 2016 campaign marked the first time Scott had faced opposition in the November general election since 2010, when he first won election to Congress by defeating Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall of Macon.

The Republican-leaning 8th District covers 24 south Georgia counties and includes the cities of Valdosta, Thomasville and Moultrie.

Harris, a private investigator and retired Bibb County sheriff’s deputy, previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 2006.