Former Athens Mayor Doc Eldridge, who had been contemplating entering the special election to replace the late Rep. Charlie Norwood (R), has decided not to run, an Atlanta-based political news service reported Wednesday.

“I am sitting on the sidelines of this thing,” Eldridge told CapitolImpact.com. “It’s just not going to happen this go-round.”

Eldridge’s decision is a boon to the candidacy of state Sen. Jim Whitehead (R), who remains the heavy favorite in the June 19 special election. Already two state legislators have pulled out of the race, and Eldridge — who was a Democrat when he was mayor but was planning to run for the House seat as a Republican — is the latest big name to exit.

Although several other candidates remain in the field, the filing deadline for the race is just a few weeks away and there are no obvious top-tier contenders waiting in the wings.
— Josh Kurtz