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Georgia District 7 | Republican, 2 Democrats survive congressional primary

District 7 covers parts of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties.

ATLANTA — The field narrowed Tuesday in Georgia’s seventh congressional district. Two Democrats appear headed for a runoff.  And a Republican newcomer won a solid majority against five other hopefuls.  

Republican Rich McCormick’s website shows a video of the Afghanistan war veteran -- and emergency room doctor -- mowing through his opponents in what appears to be a game of rugby. 

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The tough guy image helped sell McCormick as a Trump-supporting Republican in the GOP primary.  And while the rugby scene was staged, McCormick did impressively plow through a large field of Republican opponents to earn the nomination without a runoff.

"This is what politics should be about, which is an authentic message and relationships, not talking points but relationships," McCormick told 11Alive News Wednesday.

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McCormick would replace Congressman Rob Woodall in the 7th district – which spans Gwinnett and Forsyth counties.  

Woodall is retiring from Congress after nearly losing his seat two years ago to former congressional aide Carolyn Bourdeaux – who nearly won the Democratic nomination again Tuesday night, hovering around 45 percent Wednesday. She would need 50 percent plus one to avoid a runoff.

RELATED: Georgia primary election real-time updates | Results delayed after long night of voting

In a statement, Bourdeaux said she’s “honored” to finish first, and added “It’s time for our party to come together and go into November united against a Republican party that has lost its moral bearings.”  

She declined an interview request.

But it appears she’ll have to beat Brenda Lopez Romero first in a runoff.  

The state lawmaker and immigration attorney was way behind Bourdeaux in Tuesday’s primary – but expects better results in the runoff.

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"I’m the only candidate in this primary race that has both the experience and the grassroots organizing and community experience to flip a district," Romero said Wednesday.

Romero says Bourdeaux should have beaten Woodall two years ago. That, Romero says, suggests the need for a different Democrat in the seventh district this November.

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