With none of the four candidates earning more than 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s special election, the race for state House District 21 will head to a runoff between Republicans Scot Turner of Holly Springs and Brian Laurens of Hickory Flat.

Turner received 46 percent of votes in Tuesday’s special election, while Laurens earned 30 percent, according to unofficial results from the Cherokee County Elections Office.

With voter turnout at 3,232 according to preliminary numbers, Turner received 1,496 votes, with Laurens receiving 971 votes.

Democrat Natalie Bergeron earned 21 percent and Republican Kenneth Mimbs 2 percent of votes.

The runoff between Turner and Laurens will be Feb. 5.

Turner congratulated Laurens on making it to the runoff and said he will spend the next month continuing to campaign.

“We came very, very close to winning this thing outright. I think now the debate needs to become about character, professionalism, who has the ability to lead this district,” Turner said, saying he would like to have a public debate with Laurens.

Turner said he wanted to thank those who supported and publicly endorsed him, including 40 volunteers that worked with his campaign.

Laurens said he will use the next month to continue to grow his campaign and encourage supporters to show up at the polls again.

“My opponent has had a year to plan and prepare for this. His organization is a year old, and mine is 33 days old,” he said Tuesday night. “The fact I’ve been able to garner this much support, I think, is telling.”

Laurens said he has been “humbled” by the support he has received and will be “calling as many voters as possible” between now and Feb. 5.

Bergeron and Mimbs could not be reached for comment by press time.

Jerguson vacated the House seat in December to run for the state Senate District 21 seat resigned by Chip Rogers. Jerguson was defeated by Beach in the special election for the post, also held Tuesday.

Voter turnout Tuesday was nearly 10 percent, a higher percentage than anticipated.

“It’s better than I thought. Always, weather plays a big part,” said Cherokee County Elections Supervisor Janet Munda. “The candidates are out and visible, and that gets the voters out.”