Georgia to hold special election after state lawmaker-elect resigned following drug charges

The Georgia Secretary of State's Office has announced plans to hold a special election at the end of the month to fill the vacancy left by Republican Rep.-elect Danny Rampey, who resigned after he was accused of stealing prescription drugs from the retirement complex he manages.

The special election will be held on Jan. 31, with a possible run-off for Feb. 28, GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Monday.

Georgia House Speaker Jan Jones and Speaker-nominee Jon Burns, Republicans, stated in a joint statement Saturday to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Rampey decided to withdraw prior to being sworn in on Jan. 9 to "ensure his constituents have a voice."

That same day, GOP Gov. Brian Kemp ordered Raffensperger to schedule a special election.

Rampey, who ran unopposed in November for Georgia House District 119, was arrested last month and charged with 18 counts, including multiple ones related to obtaining drugs by misrepresentation or theft and exploiting the elderly, The Associated Press reported.