Incumbent State Representative Mike Sparks held off a challenge from Smyrna Town Councilman Tim Morrell in the Republican primary in State House District 49, winning by just 95 votes.

Sparks received nearly 51-percent of the vote (2,430) to Morrell's 49-percent (2,335). The race was back and forth all night, with Morrell actually holding a lead of a handful of vote after early voting. But in the end, the incumbent held off Morrell in his third contested primary for State House since being elected:

Sparks drew criticism during the campaign over remarks made during the session about teacher pay transparency. Facts he says were "fake news put out by his opponent":



Sparks will face Democratic nominee Chris Mayor, who turned back Richard C. Petty, in the November state general election.