Bounced check: Tony Brown disqualified from Special Election for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Democrat Tony Brown has been disqualified from the Special Election for Georgia’s 13^th Congressional House District because the check he submitted with his qualifying papers bounced, the Secretary of State’s Office said on Friday, July 10. 

The spokesperson stated in an e-mail to On Common Ground News that Brown “paid the qualifying fee, but on a later date, the check bounced, which amounts to not paying.”  

The qualifying fee for the U.S. House of Representatives is $5,220, according to the Secretary of State’s 2026 published schedule. The base salary for the position is $174,000 annually.

The Special Election was scheduled after long-time Congressman David Scott died on April 22 while seeking re-election to a 13^th term. The candidate who wins the special election will serve the remainder of Scott’s term through December 2026. The full two-year term will be decided in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election between Rep. Jasmine Clark and Jonathan Chavez. 

The 13th Congressional District includes portions of Clayton, DeKalb, Henry Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties.  

Meanwhile, Rockdale County Supervisor of Elections Cynthia Willingham has been notifying the public through emails concerning early voting turnout results  that Brown has been disqualified. Notices also must be posted to both physical polling locations and to absentee by mail voters, the Secretary of State Office stated. Votes cast for Brown will not be counted. 

There are now five candidates running in the special election. Even though the race is non-partisan, all candidates chose to identify their party affiliation. The following are vying for the seat:

 Everton “E.J. Blair (Democrat)

Caesar Gonzales(Republican)

Carlos More Moore(Democrat)

Fayth Park(Republican)

Marcye Scott,(Democrat), daughter of the late David Scott 

Early voting for the special election began on July 6 and ends on July 24. Election Day is July 28.