State Rep. Steven Sainz is one step closer to returning to the Georgia General Assembly for a fourth consecutive term after he defeated a challenger in the District 180 Republican Runoff on Tuesday.
Sainz, the managing principal at Camden Connections, secured 2,294 votes (52.49%) in the GOP runoff against attorney and former fighter pilot Glenn Cook (2,076 votes).
“This campaign had much less to do about me than it did about everyone in Camden and south Glynn – what they deserve in their state representative,” Sainz said via text message to the Tribune & Georgian. “I’m proud of our campaign and the all the people who gave up their time and resources to support a homegrown voice at the state Capitol who’s focused on local issues, delivering real results like the redevelopment of the former airport into a job-creating industrial park, the expansion of our College of Coastal Georgia nursing program, and the public library in Woodbine.”
The majority of the district consists of Camden County, which Sainz won with 54.94%. A runoff was needed after Sainz failed to collect 50%, plus one vote, in the primary election in May. He narrowly missed the needed votes in the three-way race with Cook and Camden County native David Rainer.
Sainz was first elected in 2018 when he defeated incumbent Jason Spencer. Sainz was unopposed in 2020 and defeated GOP challenger and recently elected Camden County commissioner Cody Smith. Sainz faces Defonsio Daniels in November in the general election.
“I look forward to continuing to campaign hard through the general election,” Sainz wrote. “I’m blessed to be a part of this community and represent us in the state House.”