Early primary returns Tuesday night show TSPLOST passing by a large margin. With 30 percent of precincts reporting, the transportation-specific Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax holds a 65-35 advantage, with 1,210 votes in favor and 646 against.

The 1 percent levy would raise about $18 million over five years for Bryan County and the cities of Richmond Hill and Pembroke.

In the First Congressional District, Richmond Hill resident Lisa Ring holds a 64-35 advantage over Barbara Seidman of Waycross. The winner will face incumbent Republican Buddy Carter in November. Ring has 6,329 votes compared to 3,588 for Seidman with 41 percent of precincts in.

Otha Thornton, also of Richmond Hill, leads the Democratic primary for state schools superintendent with 43 percent of the vote in a three-way race. He has 79,273 votes with 46 percent of precincts reporting. Sid Chapman has 36 percent, or 66,358 votes, while Sam Mosteller is at 20 percent with 37,189 votes. If no candidate receives 51 percent of the primary vote, the top two advance to a July 24 runoff.

In other races, Stacey Abrams has declared victory in the Democratic gubernatorial primary over Stacey Evans, holding a 75-25 margin with 47 percent of precincts reporting.

Casey Cagle leads the six-way Republican primary with 39 percent of the vote. Brian Kemp is at 27 percent.