Tangie Herring wins state house seat by razor-thin margin

Margins were razor thin in the hotly contested race for State House District 145, a newly redistricted seat representing west Bibb County and part of Monroe County. 

Tangie Herring, a democrat and former Atlanta Public Schools teacher who was endorsed by Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller, beat Republican challenger Noah Harbuck, who was backed by Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.

Herring won by just 251 absentee votes.

“I am so proud of the race that I ran,” Herring said. “I’ve always been the person that was listening to my constituents, knocking on those doors, make those calls and that’s what I did until the very end.”

Economic development, education, public safety and healthcare will be among her top priorities under the Gold Dome.

“I just really want to make sure that I go to the Capitol and take what I’ve heard from my constituents and keep them in mind every time that I’m making decisions,” Herring said. 

Harbuck said he plans to request a recount.

“I have to, just for my supporters,” Harbuck told The Melody by phone Wednesday afternoon while picking up campaign signs. 

A recount may be requested by a candidate within two days of the election certification deadline at 5 p.m. Nov. 12. 

Harbuck said the outcome of the race wasn’t too surprising, “because a republican isn’t supposed to win this seat, but when I saw that I won election day and early voting, it was a little heart wrenching.”

A majority of Monroe County voters picked Harbuck while a majority of Bibb voters chose Herring.