By Julie Rose, WFAE.org
Tuesday's Republican primary in the 8th Congressional District came up too close to call. Tim D'Annunzio and Harold Johnson will face a run-off election on June 22nd. The outcome for Democrats in the district was more predictable, but still held a surprise.
Going into the Republican Primary, Tim D'Annunzio spent five times as much money on his campaign as any of his competitors. So Âé¶¹APPpolitical scientist Michael Bitzer says D'Annunzio was bound to do well.
D'Annunzio's opponent in the Republican run-off will be Harold Johnson. He spent just $150,000 to D'Annunzio's $1 million. But Johnson had the advantage of name recognition as a veteran TV sportscaster.
Bitzer says Johnson and D'Annunzio split the district's votes right down the middle. Johnson won basically the western half of the district - every county where his former TV station WSOC broadcasts. D'annunzio won the eastern part of the district.
"It's gonna be a tight primary," says Bitzer.
RELATED CONTENT: