Two Republican candidates will face off for a congressional seat representing Athens in the general primary July 15.

Barry Fleming of Harlem is leaving his post in the Georgia General Assembly to challenge Rep. Paul Broun of Athens. The two are campaigning for a spot in the 10th Congressional District, which encompasses Athens, Augusta, Evans, Toccoa and Watkinsville.

Broun, the incumbent, has served for 11 months in Congress following the death of the district’s previous representative, Charlie Norwood.

“In a short amount of time he has truly established himself in the hearts of the people as an incumbent,” said Jessica Morris, spokesperson for the Broun campaign.

Fleming has served as majority whip, the second highest ranking officer in the Republican caucus, in the Georgia House of Representatives since 2004.

The main platforms of the Fleming campaign are energy, taxes, child safety and family values, said JD Easley, his communications director.

“He’s got an energy plan that calls for what he considers to be short-term, mid-term and long-term effects,” Easley said.

These include suspending the federal gas tax during summer months, drilling for oil in the U.S. and building nuclear power plants.

Broun is running on the platform “promises made, promises kept,” Morris said.

“The basic points of the campaign are getting the regulatory burden off small businesses and returning tax dollars. He is about lower taxes and less government regulation,” she said.

Following the primary, the winner plans to prepare for the general election in November.

There is only one announced Democratic candidate: Bobby Saxon of Jackson County.

“The July 15 primary is really the big election because the district that we live in is primarily a Republican district. It is expected that the Republican candidate will win the November election,” Morris said.