Special election to fill rest of John Lewis’ term set for September

ATLANTA — Gov. Kemp signed an executive order Monday for a special election to fill the remainder of the late Rep. John Lewis’ term.

The special election will be held Sept. 29. The winner will serve the rest of Lewis’ term until January when the winner of the November general election is sworn in.

“John Lewis was a man of integrity, visionary, and force for good. It is impossible to adequately describe how he positively changed the world during his lifetime,” Kemp tweeted Monday. “Although his loss remains heavy on the heart of our nation, his legacy will endure, and we must all strive to live our lives with the resolve of a higher purpose and meaning like John Lewis.”

Lewis covered Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Brookhaven south past Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The congressman represented the district since he was first elected in 1987.

Lewis was running for re-election and had won the Georgia primary before his death on July 17. The Democrats selected State Sen. Nikema Williams as their nominee to run for Lewis’ seat.

[RELATED: Rep. John Lewis’ casket arrives in D.C. to lie in state at U.S. Capitol]

RAW VIDEO: John Lewis' casket makes final journey across Selma bridge ABC News drone video flies over the scene on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Cox Media Group