Who’s who in the race to fill the state Senate seat in east Cobb

Judson Hill resigned from the state Senate this year to run for the open 6th Congressional District seat. Eight candidates are now vying to fill the Senate vacancy to represent parts of east Cobb County and Sandy Springs. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Judson Hill resigned from the state Senate this year to run for the open 6th Congressional District seat. Eight candidates are now vying to fill the Senate vacancy to represent parts of east Cobb County and Sandy Springs. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Tom Price’s ascension from congressman to health and human services secretary set off a domino effect that’s playing out most prominently in Cobb and Fulton counties.

The Roswell Republican's Senate confirmation triggered a race to fill the open seat, which drew interest from a wide-ranging list of 18 candidates.

State Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, among those vying to represent Georgia's 6th District and the first Republican to enter, vacated his position in pursuit of the opportunity setting off a second special election.

Nearly 178,000 people live in Senate District 32, which stretches from east Cobb to Sandy Springs. An affluent Atlanta suburb and popular area to raise a family, the median income is more than $93,000 and the median age is 41 years.

Qualifying ended Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. and attracted eight candidates.

The special election to replace Hill will be April 18, the same day as the federal special election to replace Price. A runoff, if needed, is scheduled for May 16.

March 20 is the last day to register and be eligible to vote. Advance in-person voting begins March 27.

Below is the list of who is in the running.

REPUBLICANS

Hamilton Beck: A consultant with Huron Consulting Group with accounting degrees from Kennesaw State University, according to his LinkedIn page.

Matt Campbell: A railroad conductor with a career in transportation, Campbell picked up an endorsement from state Sen. Brandon Beach, a Republican from Alpharetta and chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

DEMOCRATS