Jim Kingston leads Congressional District race, Hollowell says she will appeal

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - As of midnight on Election night the AP reports that Jim Kingston leads by 2.855 percentage points with an estimated 99% of votes counted. His opponent Democrat Amanda Hollowell said she will appeal the result.

Jim Kingston leads Congressional District race

The near victory would keep the coastal Georgia district in Republican hands, continuing a streak of GOP representation that dates back to 1993.

The seat carries deep family ties for Kingston. His father, Jack Kingston, held the 1st District congressional seat for more than two decades, serving from 1993 until 2015.

Born and raised in Southeast Georgia, Kingston centered his campaign on economic relief and backing key local industries. Throughout the race, he campaigned on tax cuts and focused on supporting military service members and their families, port workers, and the agriculture industry—calling them the foundational drivers of Southeast Georgia’s economy.

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Kingston describes himself as a committed Trump conservative.

Ahead of the final vote tally, Kingston told WTOC that his team was taking nothing for granted heading into the final stretch.

“Any Falcons fan will tell you, fourth quarter lead, third quarter lead in the Super Bowl, you don’t slow down,” Kingston said. “I know we’ve got to make it through the goal line not just jogging, but sprinting. So, I feel good about things, but that’s not to say we’re slowing down.”

Margin of defeat

Hollowell lost by a few percentage points, her team says that margin could fall within the range to contest the results.

The district stretches from Chatham to Charlton counties.

Hollowell’s comments on the campaign

Hollowell said the campaign has shown she can lead the people who back her. She wants to prove that given how close the results are.

Earlier in the night, Hollowell spoke about being in communities during the campaign.

“I haven’t learned much because I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years talking to voters, but what I did learn was that people want to be heard. And for a very long time, no one was heard in this district and that’s why people really resounded with our campaign,” Hollowell said.

What’s next

Hollowell said she will continue to fight for access to higher education, increased accessibility for all in elections and affordability for everyone in the district.

Her team said it will provide an update Wednesday about appealing the decision.