By the Numbers: Mass Exodus of Lawmakers Means Big Turnover After 2022 Elections

Between redistricting and retirement, the Georgia legislature has the opportunity for considerable turnover following the 2022 election cycle.

Here’s a look at contested races in the Georgia legislature:

Georgia Senate 

Current Breakdown: 56 State Senators

  • 34 Republicans
  • 22 Democrats
Incumbent Senators Running Unopposed in Primary – 25%
REPUBLICAN Incumbent Senators Running Unopposed in Primary  

17.85% of all State Senators
29.4% of Republican State Senators 

Senator Ben Watson (Republican – 1)
Senator Marty Harbin (Republican – 16)
Senator Blake Tillery (Republican – 19)
Senator Brandon Beach (Republican – 21)
Senator Greg Dolezal (Republican – 27)
Senator Randy Robertson (Republican – 28)
Senator Clint Dixon (Republican – 45)
Senator Bill Cowsert (Republican – 46)
Senator Bo Hatchett (Republican – 50)
Senator John Albers (Republican – 56)

DEMOCRAT Incumbent Senators Running Unopposed in Primary

7.15% of all State Senators
18% of all Democratic State Senators 

Senator Harold Jones (Democrat – 22)
Senator Valencia Seay (Democrat -34)
Senator Sally Harrell (Democrat – 40)
Senator Kim Jackson (Democrat – 41)


Incumbent Senators Running Opposed in Primary – 19.6%
REPUBLICAN Incumbent Senators Running Opposed in Primary 

7.15% of All Senators
11.75% of Republican Senators 

Senator Carden Summers
Senator Brian Strickland
Senator Chuck Hufstetler (Republican – 52)
Senator Chuck Payne (Republican – 54)

DEMOCRAT Incumbent Senators Running Opposed in Primary 

12.5% of all State Senators
32% of all Democratic State Senators 

Senator Sheikh Rahman (Democrat)
Senator Emanuel Jones 
Senator Doc Rhett (33)
Senator Donzella James (35)
Senator Horacena Tate (38)
Senator Gail Davenport (Democrat)
Senator Gloria Butler (Democrat – 55)


Incumbent Senators Running Unopposed in Both Primary & General – 30.3%
REPUBLICAN Incumbent Senators Running Unopposed in Primary & General

19.6% of all State Senators
32.4% of all Republican State Senators 

Senator Billy Hickman (Republican – 4)
Senator Russ Goodman (Republican – 8)
Senator Dean Burke (Republican – 11) 
Senator Larry Walker (Republican – 20) 
Senator Brandon Beach (Republican – 21)
Senator Max Burns (Republican – 23)
Senator Lee Anderson (Republican – 24)
Senator Matt Brass (Republican – 28)
Senator Mike Dugan (Republican – 30)
Senator Jason Aniavitarte (Republican – 31)
Senator Steve Gooch (Republican – 51)

DEMOCRAT Incumbent Senators Running Unopposed in Primary & General

10.7% of all State Senators
27.3% of all Democratic State Senators 

Senator Nicki Merritt (Democrat – 9)
Senator Freddie Powell Sims (Democrat – 12)
Senator Ed Harbison (Democrat – 15)
Senator David Lucas (Democrat – 26)
Senator Sonya Halpern (Democrat – 39)
Senator Elena Parent (Democrat – 42)


REPUBLICAN Incumbent Senators Running Opposed in Both Primary & General

5.4% of all State Senators
8.8% of all Republican State Senators 

Senator John Kennedy (18)
Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican – 32 – Cobb County)
Senator Frank Ginn (Republican – 47)


DEMOCRAT Incumbent Senators Running Opposed in Both Primary & General

3.6% of all State Senators
9% of all Democratic State Senators 

Senator Nan Orrock (Democrat – 36)
Senator Tonya P. Anderson (Democrat – 43)


# of Districts Where No Incumbent Senator Is Running – 10 – 17.8%
(Either because of retirement or reapportionment)


MAX POSSIBLE CHANGE AFTER PRIMARY: 21 Senate seats or 37.5%
MAX POSSIBLE CHANGE AFTER GENERAL: 39 Senate seats or 69.6%


Georgia House

Current Breakdown: 180 State Reps

  • 103 Republicans
  • 77 Democrats
Incumbent Representatives Running Unopposed in Primary – 44 Reps – 24.4%
REPUBLICAN Incumbent Reps Running Unopposed in Primary  

29 Representatives
16.1% of all State Reps
28.2% of Republican Reps

Rep. Matt Barton (5)
Rep. Stan Gunter (8)
Rep. Rick Jasperse (11)
Rep. Tyler Paul Smith (18)
Rep. Joseph Gullett (19)
Rep. Todd Jones (25)
Rep. Lauren McDonald (26)
Rep. Matt Dubnik (29)
Rep. Chris Erwin
Rep. Ginny Ehrhart
Rep. Don Parsons
Rep. John Carson (Marietta – 46)
Rep. J. Collins
Rep. Josh Bonner
Rep. Chuck Efstration (Gwinnett)
Rep. Bruce Williamson (HD-112/Walton)
Rep. Clint Crowe (HD-118/Jackson)
Rep. Houston Gaines (HD-120/Athens)
Rep. Marcus Wiedower (HD-121/Watkinsville)
Rep. Trey Rhodes (HD-124/Greensboro)
Rep. David Knight
Rep. Shaw Blackmon
Rep. Mike Cheokas (HD 151-Americus)
Rep. Gerald Greene
Rep. Leesa Hagan
Rep. Butch Parrish (Swainsboro)
Rep. Bill Hitchens (Rincon)
Rep. Clay Pirkle
Rep. Darlene Taylor (Thomasville)

DEMOCRATIC Incumbent Reps Unopposed in Primary

15 Representatives
8.33% of all State Reps
19.5% of Democrat Reps

Rep. Mary Frances Williams
Rep. Michael Smith
Rep. Shea Roberts
Rep. Betsy Holland
Rep. Scott Holcombe
Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver
Rep. Becky Evans
Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick
Rep. Pedro Marin
Rep. Greg Kennard
Rep. Sam Park (HD-107/Gwinnett)
Rep. Jasmine Clark (HD-108/Lilburn)
Rep El Mahdi Holly (HD-116/Stockbridge)
Rep. Gloria Frazier (HD-126/Hepzibah)
Rep. Debbie Buckner


Incumbent Representatives Running Opposed in Primary – 35 – 19.5%
REPUBLICAN Incumbent Reps Running Opposed in Primary  

21 Reps
11.7% of all State Reps
20.3% of all Republican Reps

Rep. Mike Cameron (1)
Rep. Steve Tarvin (2)
Rep. Kasey Carpenter (4)
Rep. Jason Ridley (6)
Rep. Will Wade (9)
Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12)
Rep. Katie Dempsey (13)
Rep. Trey Kelley (16)
Rep. Charlice Byrd (20)
Rep. Mandi Ballinger (23)
Rep. Emory Dunahoo
Rep. Alan Powell
Rep. Devan Seabaugh
Rep. Mary Robichaux
Rep. Beth Camp
Rep. David Jenkins
Rep. John LaHood (HD 175 Valdosta)
Rep. Steven Meeks (HD 178 – Screven)
Rep. Steven Sainz (HD 180-ST. Marys)
Rep. James Pruitt (pitted against in Rep. Danny Mathis HD-149)
Rep. Danny Mathis (pitted against in Rep. James Pruitt HD-149)

DEMOCRATIC Incumbent Reps Opposed in Primary

14 Representatives
7.8% of all State Reps
18.2% of Democrat Reps

Rep. Miesha Manor
Rep. Park Cannon
Rep. Sheila Jones
Rep. Roger Bruce
Rep. Debra Bazemore
Rep. Demetrius Douglas
Rep. Karla Drenner
Rep. Angela Moore
Rep. Rhonda Taylor
Rep. Doreen Carter
Rep. Sharon Henderson (HD-113)
Rep. Brian Prince (HD 132-Augusta)
Rep. Carl Gilliard (HD 162)
Rep. Al Williams (HD 166/Hinesville)


Incumbent Representatives Running Unopposed in Primary & General Election – 47 – 26.11%
REPUBLICAN Incumbent Reps Running Unopposed in Primary  & General Election

25 Reps
13.9% of all State Reps
24.3% of all Republican Reps

Rep. Victor Anderson (10)
Speaker David Ralson (7)
Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (14)
Rep. Matthew Gambill (15)
Rep. Brad Thomas (21)
Rep. Lee Hawkins
Rep. Jan Jones
Rep. Rob Leverett (HD 123-Elberton)
Rep. Barry Fleming (HD-125/Evans)
Rep. Mark Newton (HD-127/Augusta)
Rep. Jodi Lott (HD 131-Evans)
Rep. Vance Smith (HD-138)
Rep. Richard Smith (HD-139)
Rep. Robert Dickey (HD-145/Musella)
Rep. Noel Williams
Rep. Bill Yearta
Rep. Matt Hatchett
Rep. Bill Werkheiser (Glennville)
Rep. Jon Burns (Newington)
Rep. Buddy DeLoach (Savannah)
Rep. Penny Houston
Rep. Joe Campbell (HD 171- Camilla)
Rep. Sam Watson (HD 172-Moultrie)
Rep. John Corbett (HD 174 – Lake Park)
Rep. James Burchett

DEMOCRATIC Incumbent Reps Unopposed in Primary & General Election

22 Representatives
12.2% of all State Reps
28.6% of Democrat Reps

Rep. David Wilkerson
Rep. Teri Anuelwicz
Rep. Stacey Evans
Rep. Kim Schofield
Rep. Kimberly Alexander
Rep. Sandra Scott
Rep. Rhonda Burnough
Rep. Yasmin Neal
Rep. Viola Davis
Rep. Karen Bennett
Rep. Marvin Lim
Rep. Dewey McClain (HD-109/Lilburn)
Rep. Regina Lewis-Ward (HD-115/Mcdonough)
Rep. Spencer Frye (HD 122-Athens)
Rep. Mack Jackson (HD-128)
Rep. Henry Wayne Howard (HD-129)
Rep. Carolyn Hugley (Columbus)
Rep. Miriam Paris
Rep. James Beverly (HD-143/Macon)
Rep. Patty Bentley (HD 150-Butler)
Rep. Edna Jackson (HD 165-Savannah)
Rep. Dexter Sharper


Incumbent Representatives Running Opposed in Primary & General Election – 15 – 8.3%
REPUBLICAN Incumbent Reps Running Opposed in Primary  & General Election

10 Reps
5.6% of all State Reps
9.7% of all Republican Reps

Rep. Martin Momtahan (Paulding County – 17)
Rep. Sherri Gilligan (Forsyth -24)
Rep. Shaoon Cooper (East Cobb)
Rep. Chuck Martin (Alpharetta – 49)
Rep. Lynn Smith
Rep. Karen Mathiak
Rep. David Clark* *pitted against each other in HD 100
Rep. Bonnie Rich* *pitted against each other in HD 100
Rep. Dale Washburn
Rep. Ron Stephens (HD 164-Savannah)


DEMOCRATIC Incumbent Reps Opposed in Primary & General Election

5 Representatives
2.8% of all State Reps
6.5% of Democrat Reps

Rep. Marie Metze (55)
Rep. Mike Glanton
Rep. Billy Mitchell
Rep. Shelley Hutchison *pitted against Mitchell (106)
Rep. Rebecca Mitchell *pitted against Hutchison (106)


# of Districts Where No Incumbent Rep Is Running – 42 – 23.3%
(Either because of retirement or reapportionment)


MAX POSSIBLE CHANGE AFTER PRIMARY: 77 House seats or 42.7%
MAX POSSIBLE CHANGE AFTER GENERAL: 133 House seats or 73.9%

Jessica Szilagyi

Jessica Szilagyi is Publisher of TGV News. She focuses primarily on state and local politics as well as issues in law enforcement and corrections. She has a background in Political Science with a focus in local government and has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia.

Jessica is a "Like It Or Not" contributor for Fox5 in Atlanta and co-creator of the Peabody Award-nominated podcast 'Prison Town.'

Sign up for her weekly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gzYAZT

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