State Sen. Hunter Hill, R-Smyrna, speaks to the Buckhead Business Association on Jan. 5, 2017.

Election 2017: Dems flip off GOP in sixth, runoff in Atlanta

SMYRNA, Ga. — A Democrat will be elected in Georgia’s 6th District.

Democrat Jaha Howard led the crowded eight-person field with 43.4 percent. He faces Democrat Jen Jordan, who picked up 21.8 percent of the vote, in a Dec. 5 runoff.

The winner replaces state Sen. Hunter Hill, a Republican who resigned to run for governor next year. Matt Bentley was the top Republican vote-getter in the race with 14.9 percent of the vote.

Hill was elected to the seat in 2012. Other high-profile candidates running for governor in 2018 include Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a Republican; Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, a Republican; state Rep. Stacey Evans, D-Smyrna; and state Rep. Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta.

Elsewhere in the region, the Atlanta mayoral race is also headed to a runoff.