By the time all the votes were counted in Fayette and Coweta counties, it was clear the blue tide sweeping the country stopped before it hit two of the southern suburbs of Atlanta.

In Fayette, 56 percent of the county’s registered voters went to the polls Tuesday, while 48 percent of Coweta’s voters cast ballots. Both counties’ residents overwhelmingly cast their ballots for anybody with an R after their name.

In the race for the U.S. House District 3 post, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland captured 66 percent of the vote in Fayette, but did even better in challenger Mike McGraw’s home county of Coweta by receiving 70 percent of the vote.

The County Commissions in both counties also remained in Republican control. In Fayette, Jack Smith defeated Democrat Rod Mack by a 24,008-10,549 total. In an e-mail after his defeat, Mack was pleased at the high turnout.

“When all is said and done, it will not matter who won or lost any election. What did matter was the 33,917 cast in our great county. The loyalty and support from my 10,163 votes showed strength and fortitude and I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. I believe that Jack Smith will do a good job in the face of overwhelming odds that we both faced at one time or another.

”I am grateful for my support and making a difference in my community a place called Fayette County Georgia. I had so much fun meeting citizens all over the county,” he wrote.

In Coweta County, Republican Tim Lasseter defeated Democrat Jett Smith by a 3,275 count in the District 2 race, while Republican Randolph Collins bested Democrat Willie Boyd by a 4,719-2,007 tally.

The only contested race in Fayette for the state House saw incumbent and Republican Dan Lakly defeat Democrat Kevin Madden by a 12,159-4,825 margin.

Coweta County also had two non-partisan school board races on the ballot. In the District 3 race, former school board chairman Harry Mullins defeated long-time member Smith Pass by a narrow margin of 2,949-2,824, while incumbent Mike Sumner staved off a challenge from Tommy Godfrey by a 13,291-11,208 margin for the District 1 at-large seat.

More than 36,000 residents voted in Fayette, while Coweta had just over 28,000 votes cast.