Democrat Kevin Redmon defeated four-term Republican incumbent JoAnn Birrell in unofficial returns for Cobb County Commission District 3, which covers most of East Cobb.

Redmon received 48,712 votes, or 50.28%, to Birrell’s 48,163 votes, or 49.72%, according to election-night returns from Cobb Elections. The difference was 549 votes.

The county elections board is scheduled to certify returns at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at 100 Cherokee Street in Marietta, according to the county’s announcement.

Margin falls outside recount threshold

The reported totals put Redmon ahead by approximately 0.567 percentage points.

For this contest, Georgia law allows a losing candidate to request a recount when the margin is 0.5% or less. The written request must be submitted within two business days after certification, according to state guidance. The current margin is slightly outside that threshold.

If the outcome holds, Democrats will expand their commission majority from 3–2 to 4–1. Republican Keli Gambrill won reelection without opposition in District 1.

Redmon works in IT sales and management and previously sought a commission seat in 2024. Birrell has represented District 3 since 2011.

School board changes hands

Democrat Micheal Garza also won an East Cobb contest, defeating Republican David Chastain for school board Post 4.

The reported count was 25,487 votes for Garza and 20,977 for Chastain, giving Garza approximately 54.85%. The seat includes the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry high school clusters.

Garza’s victory will give Democrats a 4–3 majority when the new term begins. He discussed the result in post-election coverage by East Cobb News.

Voters approve SPLOST renewal

Cobb voters approved the county’s sales-tax renewal with approximately 62% support, according to East Cobb News.

The existing one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax will continue from Jan. 1, 2028, through Dec. 31, 2033. Collections are projected to reach $1.15 billion.

The county project booklet includes $20 million to acquire property and build a replacement East Cobb Library. Other District 3 projects include improvements along Shallowford, Lower Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads.

Approximately $309.2 million is allocated to county transportation projects. Municipal shares fund additional locally selected improvements.

Certification remains ahead

The local results accompanied Democratic gains elsewhere in Georgia, including Jon Ossoff’s Senate reelection and Keisha Lance Bottoms’ gubernatorial victory.

All figures remain unofficial. Monday’s meeting concerns Cobb’s county returns; Georgia’s statewide certification deadline is Nov. 20.