Tom Graves got an early start on what promises to be a long day by voting at 7 a.m. today at his home precinct in Ranger.

Graves, who is in a runoff election that will select a new member of Congress, was the first voter at the Ranger Community Center this morning. He was with his son John, 10. He said they would be visiting a number of north Georgia counties as voters in the 9th congressional district decide between him and fellow Republican Lee Hawkins.

“We’re excited,” Graves said after casting his ballot.” We’ve had a wonderful campaign with a lot of volunteers and a lot of energy.”

As he was leaving the Ranger precinct, other early voters were walking into the community center.

Want to learn more about your new Congressman, watch this video that Tom Graves prepared about himself.

Graves and Hawkins were the top vote getters in a May 11 special election to complete the term of Nathan Deal, who stepped down to run for governor. But with eight candidates on the ballot, neither Graves or Hawkins was able to claim more than 50 percent of the vote.

The 40-year-old Graves is a business developer and former state representative from rural Ranger. Hawkins, a 59-year-old dentist from Gainesville, served in the state Senate.

Graves said he would be at Big Canoe in Pickens County when the polls close tonight.

“I feel very good about today,” he said.

The 9th congressional district is heavily Republican covers 15 counties in north Georgia, including the eastern half of Gordon County.

Check our web site, www.calhountimes.com, for complete results of Tuesday’s runoff election.