Ex-Ga state senator quits race for Congress

A former state Senate leader has dropped out of the Republican primary to fill a seat in Congress representing north Georgia.

A spokeswoman for former state Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens said he has decided against seeking election in the July 20 primary. The decision came after Stephens won 4 percent of the vote this month in a special election to fill the Congress seat vacated by Nathan Deal, who is running for governor.

The two top-finishers in that race, Tom Graves and Lee Hawkins, will face off in a June 8 election to decide who will finish Deal's term.

Stephens spokeswoman Alicia Stafford said Thursday that Stephens has not endorsed any candidates.