Rep. Westmoreland beats GOP challenger in west Ga.

SHARPSBURG, Ga. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland has defeated a fellow Republican in the primary election for a west Georgia seat.

Unofficial returns showed Westmoreland held a wide vote margin over challenger Chip Flanegan, a business owner from Jonesboro, in the GOP primary Tuesday in 3rd Congressional District. The seat covers several counties between metro Atlanta and the Alabama line and includes the cities of La Grange, Carrollton, Newnan and Griffin.

Westmoreland of Sharpsburg is running for a sixth term in Congress. He'll get a free pass in the fall because no Democrat is running in the district.

Flanegan lagged far behind the incumbent in fundraising during the campaign, raising just $24,877. Westmoreland's haul was $627,921 25 times more money than his opponent.