Joe Lester (Georgia)
Joe Lester (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Georgia's 13th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Lester completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Joe Lester was born in Hawkinsville, Georgia. He earned a high school diploma from Hawkinsville High School, a bachelor's degree from Fort Valley State College in 1981, and a degree from the from the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in 1984. His career experience includes working as a dentist. As of 2025, Lester was affiliated with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.[1][2]
Elections
2026
See also: Georgia's 13th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Georgia District 13
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 13 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | David Scott (D) | |
 | Everton Blair Jr. (D) | |
 | Jonathan Bonner (D)  | |
 | Jasmine Clark (D) | |
 | Jeffree Fauntleroy Sr. (D) | |
 | Emanuel Jones (D) | |
 | Heavenly Kimes (D) | |
 | Joe Lester (D) | |
 | Ronald McKenzie (D) | |
 | Carlos Moore (D) | |
 | Pierre Whatley (D) | |
 | Peter Bourne (R) | |
 | Simeon Nunnally (R) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Georgia State Senate District 43
Incumbent Tonya Anderson defeated Melanie Williams in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 43 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tonya Anderson (D) | 75.1 | 51,534 |
 | Melanie Williams (R) | 24.9 | 17,128 | |
| Total votes: 68,662 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 43
Incumbent Tonya Anderson defeated Joe Lester in the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 43 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tonya Anderson | 87.8 | 18,681 |
| Joe Lester | 12.2 | 2,587 | |
| Total votes: 21,268 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 43
Melanie Williams advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 43 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melanie Williams | 100.0 | 7,997 |
| Total votes: 7,997 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joe Lester completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lester's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a proud graduate of Fort Valley State University, home of the mighty Wildcats. My wife, Kimberly, and I have been married for 45 years. We are both FVSU alumni, as are all four of our daughters. We hope our seven grandchildren will continue the tradition. In 1984, I earned my dental degree from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, launching a journey of service that has now spanned four decades.
In 1990, I became the first African American dentist to establish a practice in Conyers, Georgia, where I have lived and worked for more than 33 years. I have served people from all walks of life with dignity and compassion, and I believe leadership means stepping up when it matters most.
Now, I feel called to serve in a different way: by stepping into the arena to defend our democracy and push back against the forces that seek to undermine it. I’m running to protect the hard-won gains of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. I’m running to resist attacks on voting rights and to stand up for truth, equity, and inclusion.- The United States faces a critical internal crisis threatening the foundation of our democracy. This isn’t a war with weapons, but a battle against those in power who undermine the Constitution through manipulation and disregard for democratic principles. The balance of power is being eroded, and minority rights ignored. Our freedoms are at risk—not from foreign enemies, but from within. We must speak out, hold leaders accountable, and defend the rule of law. Democracy survives only when the people actively protect it. Now is the time to rise, not with anger, but with conviction, unity, and unwavering civic responsibility.
- The Social Security Act, signed by FDR in 1935, was created to support Americans facing hardship and has helped millions. Now, it is under threat from an administration that favors the wealthy over the poor, undermining fairness and democracy.
We must stand against those who abandon the vulnerable. I am ready, guided by God, to lead the fight for justice and equality.
Medicare and Medicaid are also at risk. These programs provide essential health care for the elderly and low-income Americans. Protecting them is urgent. As Reverend Jesse Jackson said, “keep hope alive.” Together, we will fight to keep our people healthy and safe. - I believe there should be a legal pathway for people to enter this country, and that immigration laws must be enforced fairly and equally—not weaponized against the vulnerable while allowing exceptions for the wealthy. We are a country of immigrants, and we should be proud of that heritage. We are strong because of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Unfortunately, Democrats are allowing Republicans to wage war on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and immigration, even though we know these values are right. Corporate leaders often back off from standing up against these attacks instead of pushing back, despite knowing it is the morally right thing to do. We also know immigration drives our economy, and there is great
For 11 years, I served as a prison dentist within the Department of Corrections. After that, I spent nearly 20 years working for the Department of Juvenile Justice, delivering hope and health to young minds who had been disregarded and too often forgotten.
I attended college on a National Health Corps scholarship, and after graduating from dental school, I honored that commitment by serving in an underserved area—caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
I don’t want to be remembered for how much money I made or the possessions I acquired, but by the number of people I was able to help. My goal is to leave the community better than I found it.
I’m not someone who stands around talking about what happened—I’m someone who makes things happen, for the betterment of others and the good of humanity.
I am truly a person who is not afraid to dream—and not afraid to take on new challenges.
My first paid job was working as a salesman and cleanup person at a local department store, where I earned about $1.10 an hour. Later, in college, I worked as a dishwasher and then as a cook at a Shoney’s restaurant, making around $1.20 an hour. I can’t remember exactly, but back then, that was serious money.
It is a chronicle of my family's life growing up in the South, holding firm to the belief that we could beat the odds through prayer, faith, and hard work. It’s a testament to resilience, hope, and the unshakable conviction that no challenge is greater than the human spirit guided by purpose.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Joe Lester completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lester's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Also I am a graduate of Meharry Medical College-School Of Dentistry, which has allowed me to serve the public for the last 38 years. I have enjoyed every minute serving people from all walks of life.
- Education Reform
- Economic Empowerment
- Medicaid Expansion
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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