Politics
Missing Memory Card in Seminole County Flips Georgia House Race, Narrows Democratic Majority
A forgotten memory card in southwest Georgia erased Democrat Harry James's 58-vote lead and handed Republican Rep. Gerald Greene a 262-vote victory, trimming the Democrats' new House majority to a single seat as the secretary of state investigates.
ATLANTA â A misplaced memory card in rural Seminole County has upended a Georgia House race and whittled the Democrats' newly won majority down to a single seat, state election officials said Friday.
The discovery came after officials noticed a discrepancy in the county's vote totals. When the uncounted card was finally uploaded, Republican state Rep. Gerald Greene of Cuthbert went from trailing Democrat Harry James by 58 votes to leading by 262.
Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said his office is investigating how the error occurred. "This is unacceptable, and we intend to find out exactly how it happened and what can be done to prevent it in the future," Raffensperger said, adding that the investigation would not change the outcome of the election.
Seminole County election officials contacted the county's election director after realizing the memory card was missing, according to a statement. The ballots had been cast on Election Day and the discrepancy emerged during routine checks.
If the result stands, Democrats would hold 92 seats in the 180-member House â just one more than the 91 needed for a majority. The party had celebrated winning control of the chamber for the first time in 22 years.
James could not be reached for comment Friday. Greene, first elected in 1982, is one of the Legislature's longest-serving members and among its most vulnerable Republicans. He has represented a majority-Black district that has grown increasingly Democratic, and he survived a 2024 challenge by a narrow margin.
The reversal is the latest twist in a turbulent election season that saw Democrats sweep statewide offices, including Keisha Lance Bottoms' historic win for governor. Republicans have raised questions about the results, but Raffensperger's office has defended the integrity of the count.
The narrow Democratic edge means the party will have little room for error when the House convenes in January. With just a one-seat cushion, any absence or defection could complicate the party's agenda.
"Every vote matters, and this situation shows just how true that is," said a Democratic Party of Georgia spokesperson. "We are monitoring the investigation closely and will ensure that every valid ballot is counted."
The secretary of state's office said it would release more details as the investigation proceeds.