Updated 9:52 p.m. |  Former state Sen. Barry Loudermilk thwarted former Rep. Bobb Barr’s comeback, capturing a decisive win in Tuesday’s GOP runoff.  

Loudermilk defeated Barr 70 percent to 30 percent, with 41 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.  

There is no Democrat running in the 11th District in the fall, making Loudermilk the de facto next member of Congress from this Marietta-based district. He will succeed Rep. Phil Gingrey, who lost a GOP Senate primary  in May.  

In the primary for Gingrey’s seat, Loudermilk came in first in a six-candidate primary with 37 percent. Barr trailed him with 26 percent.  

GOP operatives said Barr was well known in the district, but ultimately could not overcome his lengthy and unique political past to win over voters.  

Loudermilk also had the backing of a number of conservative outside groups, such as the Club for Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund, though neither spent much to boost his bid.  

Georgia’s 11th District is rated a Safe Republican contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried the seat with 67 percent in 2012.  

Georgia’s 1st District State Sen. Buddy Carter defeated surgeon Bob Johnson, overcoming outside spending by the Club for Growth to win the Republican nomination in Georgia’s 1st District.  

Carter defeated Johnson, 54 percent to 46 percent, with 79 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP.  

Carter is now the heavy favorite to succeed Rep. Jack Kingston, a GOP candidate for Senate.  

Carter came in first in the May 20 primary with 36 percent, while Johnson trailed with 23 percent.  

In the final days of the runoff, the Club for Growth spent more than $388,000  against Carter. But the final influx of spending was not enough to boost Johnson to victory.  

GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried this district with 56 percent in 2012, making it a tough seat for a Democrat to win.  

Georgia’s 1st District is rated a Safe Republican  contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.  

Georgia’s 10th District Baptist pastor and radio show host Jody Hice defeated trucking company owner Mike Collins to win the GOP nomination in Georgia’s 10th District — almost certainly sending him to the next Congress.  

Hice defeated Collins, 54 percent to 46 percent, with 93 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP.  

Hice is now the favorite to succeed Rep. Paul Broun, the Republican firebrand who lost in the Peach State’s open Senate primary  in May. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried the district with 63 percent in 2012.  

Broun endorsed Hice’s bid  a few weeks before the primary. Like Broun, Hice is outspoken: He’s made controversial statements about Islam and gender roles.  But Republican operatives said Broun’s endorsement, as well as Hice’s ties to the Baptist community , helped push him to victory.  

In May, Hice came in first in the seven-candidate primary with 33 percent. Collins came in second by a 270-vote margin. Neither captured the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff in Georgia, triggering Tuesday’s contest.  

Georgia’s 10th District is rated a Safe Republican  contest by the Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.