One hundred plus apply to Georgia Democratic Party to fill House seat of late-Rep. John Lewis

The Georgia Democratic Party has reportedly received more that 130 applications to fill the House seat left open by the death Friday of Rep. John Lewis.

Lewis died from complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 80.

A special, seven-member committee of Democrats  –  including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, 2018 gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams and 2014 gubernatorial nominee Jason Carter — will reportedly choose by Monday afternoon three to five candidates from the applicant pool.

Under Georgia law, the party also by Monday must inform the Georgia secretary of state’s office whether it intends to appoint a replacement, then inform the office shortly thereafter who its replacement nominee is, Georgia Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs told CNN.

The seat will remain empty until Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp schedules a special election. 

Whoever wins will face Republican Angela Stanton-King in November.

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

During a news conference alongside family members on Sunday, John Lewis’ youngest brother, Henry Grant Lewis, remembered the congressman and civil rights icon as “a great man and public servant, and even greater father, husband, brother and son.”