US: Applications taken for 1 day to replace Rep Lewis on ballot

Georgia Democrats will gar Monday to decide a replacement on vember's ballot for U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who died Friday after serving for more than 30 years in Congress.

seat will remain empty until Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp schedules a special election. Republican goverr has given indication when he will hold an election with just over six months left in Lewis' term.

State law allows Democratic Party to replace Lewis on ballot in 5th Congressional District, but decision has to be me quickly for district that includes much of city of Atlanta.

Democratic Party of Georgia is accepting applications for mination online until 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

A special seven-member committee of Democrats - including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, 2018 gubernatorial minee Stacey Abrams and 2014 gubernatorial minee Jason Carter - will choose between three and five candidates from applicant pool.

state party's executive committee will n meet Monday, choose a minee and submit name to Georgia Secretary of State by 4 p.m. Monday.

minee will face Republican Angela Stanton-King in vember. Stanton-King is a reality TV personality and was pardoned earlier this year by President Donald Trump for her role in a stolen car ring, after serving six months of home confinement in 2007.

Lewis won more than 84% of vote when he last faced a Republican opponent in district in 2016.

State law allows goverr to call a special election to fill seat as long as he gives 30 days for candidates to register and campaign. But that would leave at most less than five months before winner of general election is sworn into office in January.

Funeral plans for Lewis have t been anunced. Lewis, 80, died Friday, several months after he was diagsed with vanced pancreatic cancer.

Kemp declared flags in Georgia will be at half-staff until sunset of day of Lewis' funeral.