Democratic U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (center) gets voting instructions from Billie Roberts, an election official, in DeKalb County. Ms. McKinney was seeking her sixth term in Congress. W.A. HAREWOOD/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Denise Majette, a former state judge who marketed herself as a quiet alternative, defeated Ms. McKinney, who has held the seat for 10 years.

Ms. Majette, a Yale graduate, tried to capitalize on criticism of the incumbent's outspoken views on the Middle East and the war on terrorism. With 75 percent of precincts reporting, Ms. Majette had 55,029 votes, or 60 percent, and Ms. McKinney had 37,016 votes, or 40 percent.

Ms. Majette didn't claim victory, but the diminutive candidate danced at her headquarters and stood on a platform so she could see over the podium.

"I may only be 5-foot-1, but tonight, I am 10 feet tall," she said.

On a busy primary day, the race involving Ms. McKinney grabbed the most attention. Ms. Majette is expected to win easily in November.

Ms. Majette was a political unknown when she announced her campaign to unseat Ms. McKinney early this year, but mounted the most serious bid to end Ms. McKinney's run in Congress.

The race generated real fireworks when Ms. McKinney surprised even fellow Democrats by suggesting the Bush administration had ignored warnings about Sept. 11 and the president's big-business allies have benefited from the war on terrorism.

Ms. McKinney, a single mother and former college professor first elected to Congress in 1992, also said she would have accepted a Saudi prince's $10 million check for Sept. 11 victims. The check was rejected by New York officials after the prince suggested U.S. policies toward the Mideast were partly to blame for the attacks.

Middle East politics played an unlikely role in the race. Ms. McKinney drew campaign financing from out of state, including money from pro-Arab groups, while Jewish groups helped fund Ms. Majette's campaign.

The 47-year-old Ms. McKinney and the 46-year-old Ms. Majette are both black and the incumbent had expected to draw most of the black vote. But Ms. Majette attracted support from Republicans, who are allowed to vote in the Democratic race under the state's open primary.

The 4th District includes most of suburban DeKalb County and parts of Gwinnett County. About half the voters in the district are black.