Run-Off in Ninth District

The ninth district congressional race ended last night in a run-off between Rep Doug Collins (Gainesville) and Martha Zoller, while Roger Fitzpatrick was eliminated from the contest. In a conversation with FYN today, Fitzpatrick said he would not endorse a candidate for the ninth district by name. However, he encouraged voters to examine each candidate to see which one better supports the Constitution.

Zoller said 57 percent of the district voted against the establishment yesterday, counting 41 percent for both Zoller and Collins and, 16 for Fitzpatrick.

“The establishment thought they could crush me,”

said Zoller to a crowd of supporters at 2 Dog Restaurant in Gainesville.

“But I’m standing strong and I am ready to win on August 21.”

In a press release last night, she also congratulated Fitzpatrick on a hard fought race and commended his devotion to the U.S. Constitution. She also went on to commend Fitzpatrick for years of service in public education, who retired this year from his position as principal of Mossy Creek Elementary School in White County.

Collins was also optimistic.

“We are excited to finish the final three weeks of this campaign and become the Republican nominee for the Ninth Congressional District,”

he wrote in an email to FYN today, adding,

“Our campaign was incredibly humbled by the votes we received.”

The run-off is scheduled for August 21st,