Georgia candidate once beat Palin

ATLANTA – A woman who was once a beauty pageant rival of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is running for a seat in the Georgia state House.

Maryline Blackburn, a Democrat, qualified Thursday for the House District 34 election in the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna. She hopes to challenge incumbent Rep. Rich Golick, a Republican.

Blackburn won Miss Alaska in 1984, beating second runner-up Palin. Blackburn is a recording artist who has been nominated twice for a Grammy.

Georgia’s primary is July 20, and the general election is Nov. 2.