Benjamin Cairns
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Benjamin Cairns (Republican Party) ran for election to the Georgia House of Representatives to represent District 131. He lost in the Republican primary on May 21, 2024.
Cairns completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Benjamin Cairns was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Cairns served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1998 to 2002. He earned a graduate degree from American Military University in 2012. Cairns' career experience includes working as a professor and business owner.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 131
Rob Clifton defeated Heather White in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 131 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rob Clifton (R)  | 65.1 | 21,351 |
 | Heather White (D) | 34.9 | 11,466 | |
| Total votes: 32,817 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Georgia House of Representatives District 131
Rob Clifton defeated Paul Abbott in the Republican primary runoff for Georgia House of Representatives District 131 on June 18, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rob Clifton | 73.3 | 1,561 |
 | Paul Abbott | 26.7 | 569 | |
| Total votes: 2,130 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 131
Heather White advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 131 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Heather White | 100.0 | 1,266 |
| Total votes: 1,266 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 131
Rob Clifton and Paul Abbott advanced to a runoff. They defeated Russell Wilder, Benjamin Cairns, and David Byrne in the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 131 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rob Clifton | 48.8 | 1,887 |
| ✔ | | Paul Abbott | 18.8 | 728 |
 | Russell Wilder | 17.4 | 674 | |
| Benjamin Cairns | 8.6 | 333 | ||
 | David Byrne | 6.4 | 247 | |
| Total votes: 3,869 | |||
| = 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 did not identify endorsements for Cairns in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Benjamin Cairns completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cairns' 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 Constitutional Conservative in Evans GA, and would like to give back to the community by representing GA house district 131. For the last ten years I have been a college professor at Georgia Military College teaching political science, history, and economics. I am a former Marine, husband, and father. I have three children, and four dogs. My goal is to ensure district 131 has a voice for conservative values in Atlanta.
- I would like to eliminate the GA state income tax, and property taxes by putting in place a sales tax system. Nine other states have moved away from income tax, and Georgia should become the 10th. Using property taxes to fund local governments to include education does not give adequate funding to our poorer communities because property values are depressed. Consumption of products and services within the state and local economy would serve to provide a more reliable revenue source for local governments and schools which would allow for less special local option taxes. Georgia has grown in population, GDP, and wealth because of its tax friendly environment, and we should extend this by moving towards a sales tax state.
- The Georgia Judicial System is in need of reforms. Local District Attorneys have become far to political, and fail to safeguard public safety and uphold equal justice under Georgia law. I would like to see legislation to enable the Georgia Attorney General the authority to recommend to the General Assembly removal of local DA's that have violated public trust. Then the General Assembly can democratically debate the merits and vote on removal if need be. This also protects Georgia residents from special interest funded DA's that are elected on political agendas against political rivals rather than focusing on the sworn duty as public servants.
- Education is at the heart of our society, and one of the most important functions to drive a better Georgia. The preamble of the Georgia Constitution specifically says we are to leave a better Georgia to those we leave behind, i.e. the next generation. I would like to refocus our curriculum within the state on traditional subject like reading, writing, math, science, technology, civics, and history. The social and cultural movements that seem to drive our school curriculum are not helping out literacy rates. Graduation rates are not the only important factor in education. We should also encourage school choice, voucher programs, and leverage competition to create the best educated Georgian's ever.
Economic policy is my favorite aspect of public policy. Without a sound economy that is thriving, not much else matters. If people cannot afford to live, eat, or get to work everything else become a mute point. With low taxation, reasonable regulations, and a more efficient government, there is more private economic growth and prosperity. Taxes and regulations are a burden on society, necessary, but always a burden. We must continue to create expansionary economic policies that encourage small business growth, wage growth, low cost of living, and therefore a higher standard of living for all Georgian's.
I look up to George Washington. He stepped down from being president after two terms in office not because the electorate did not want him to serve again, but rather because he felt is was time for someone new. I would like to have the character to make the same decision.
The Declaration of Independence is my go to philosophy. Governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. When anything becomes destructive to these ends it is the duty abolish or change it. We are a representative society based on foundational rules, to which everyone is held accountable for regardless of status or favor. The Bill Of Rights would be another foundational area of my philosophy. Governments do not grant rights, but their only legitimate power is to protect them. The Federalist Papers would be another read to help understand where I stand. The writers of our Constitution described what each clause in the Constitution meant by the people that actually wrote it. Constitutions, federal or state, are contracts between the government and the people to which should not be changed without consent of the government. Judges to not interpret law, they apply law. Legislators create law within their just powers in the Constitution, and executives put just law into practice. This is the sum of a good government. To this point reading Davy Crockett's "not yours to give" is fundamental to my views. If it is not in the contract, you cannot do it. You tax and spend beyond your authority unless the public votes to grant such additional authority to do so.
Politicians must be sincere, honest, and humble. Self interest, special interest, and lobbying should not negate the constituency one serves. All elected officials need to remember that they are public servants, which means they are there to serve the public. Politicians that have served their time honorably and have little left to offer the public should honorable step aside to allow the next generation of leaders to serve. Incumbents hold on to their positions for far to long. This is why there are calls for term limits, because elected officials often refuse to leave office on their own terms. A good elected official wants to be challenged, and should want the next generation to take their place. This is how our laws stay current with the times, and how trust in public institutions stays in tact.
I am a college professor, so I do posses a certain level of communication skills needed to hold office. Additionally I have a graduate degree in Political Science, and understand the federal and state constitutions. I understand federalism and its importance to our shared governance within the country.
The most important thing any elected official should do is follow their oath, and listen to the constituents. This does not mean that ones' party is not important, or ones' core values are not important, but first and foremost you are a public servant.
I would like to be remembered as someone who put others before self, and left Georgia better than I found it.
I vividly remember the space shuttle challenger explosion. I believe I was nine at the time that happened.
Wendy's. I worked fast food for my junior year in high school. This was back when they had the super bar.
Common Sense, but Thomas Paine. Paine understood the people, and how to get them to understand the need for freedom in a language they understood. I believe we need more common sense in politics today.
Thor. The idea of Thor seems to be a pretty neat character to be.
Rich men north of Richmond. I cannot seem to stop listening to the song. It fits the times.
I have always struggles with procrastination, which is why I am just now seeking office at 47. This is something I am working hard to change.
The Governor needs to be working with the state legislature, however a good governor should also not be a rubber stamp. There needs to be accountability between the three branches of government.
Shifting voter demographics due to urbanization. Georgia must attract a young generation of Republican voters by showing how conservatism is far more diverse and allow for far more freedom that progressivism. We need to look at how the states electoral votes are allocated, possibly split the state into regions to ensure rural votes are not marginalized by becoming a minority within the state.
I believe that experience is important, but not the overriding factor for elections. Everyone must get experience at some point. There will always be learning curves for new legislators, however there is always experience within the legislative body to act as a teacher.
Any legislator, federal or state, is one of many. No one member can accomplish anything. Relationship are key, understanding limits and compromise are also important. When something violates foundational principles, the constitution, or one's constituents there will be a limit to compromise. There must be reasonable good faith debate that works for the betterment of all. This can be done by appealing to common shared interests, even with the other party. All of Georgia needs the necessities, or basics to live. If we focus on what we all have in common we go along way towards a brighter future. We can debate differences after we take care of the basics.
The current GA house district 131 representative Jodi Lott has shown grit and character when needed, but also a spirit to work with others. Knowing your district, your limits, and working to solve issues in a productive way is what a real leader does. I would like to model my candidacy after those traits.
I have no long term goals, or expectations other than to serve the GA house district 131 to the best of my ability. If the voters of the district approve of the job that I do they will let me know if it is time for me to seek a higher office. My goal is not climb a ladder, unless the voters tell me it is time to take the next step.
I have not been on the campaign trail very long, however there are interactions with voters that stand out. One of the issues that seems to be vital to house district 131 is education. The topic of books in school and public libraries is a hot topic. A voter told me about a book that her young student brought home that outraged her. She contacted the school librarian, and was told that the librarian has immunity. No public school official should have immunity when it comes to a parents right to know what their kids are being exposed to.
I am not huge into comedy, however I do like the here's your sign jokes from Bill Engval. It refers to the idea that stupid people should come with signs as to warn you before you have any dealings with them. He tells a joke about having a flat tire and pulling into a gas station only to have the owner ask him he has a flat tire. Obviously he could see the tire was flat so Bill replied, nope the other three just swelled right up. Here's your sign.
The legislature should absolutely oversee the use of emergency powers. If the pandemic taught us anything is to not allow to much authority in the executive branch. The legislative branch is the most directly connected to the voter, and therefor the most responsive to the will of the people.
To allow the Georgia Attorney General the authority to refer local DA's to the General Assembly to be removed by a simple majority vote. The qualifications for referral will be failure to uphold their oath of office. Endangering public safety for political or social justice reasons, and giving any indication of a conflict of interest.
I am interested in all committees dealing with taxation, budgets, and regulatory reform.
All public spending should be transparent. It is not the governments money, it is the people. Prosperity is not created by government, but rather the people. Governments can only create the environment to which prosperity comes from. At no point in time should a state government not be transparent, and rarely at the federal level only because of national security.
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
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 15, 2024
Current members of the Georgia House of Representatives
Leadership
Minority Leader:Carolyn Hugley
Representatives
District 1
Mike Cameron (R)
District 2
Steve Tarvin (R)
District 3
Mitchell Horner (R)
District 4
Kasey Carpenter (R)
District 5
Matt Barton (R)
District 6
Jason Ridley (R)
District 7
Johnny Chastain (R)
District 8
Stan Gunter (R)
District 9
Will Wade (R)
District 10
Victor Anderson (R)
District 11
Rick Jasperse (R)
District 12
Eddie Lumsden (R)
District 13
Katie Dempsey (R)
District 14
District 15
Matthew Gambill (R)
District 16
Trey Kelley (R)
District 17
Martin Momtahan (R)
District 18
Tyler Smith (R)
District 19
Joseph Gullett (R)
District 20
Charlice Byrd (R)
District 21
Brad Thomas (R)
District 22
Jordan Ridley (R)
District 23
Mandi Ballinger (R)
District 24
Carter Barrett (R)
District 25
Todd Jones (R)
District 26
Lauren McDonald (R)
District 27
Lee Hawkins (R)
District 28
Brent Cox (R)
District 29
Matt Dubnik (R)
District 30
Derrick McCollum (R)
District 31
Emory Dunahoo (R)
District 32
Chris Erwin (R)
District 33
Alan Powell (R)
District 34
Devan Seabaugh (R)
District 35
Lisa Campbell (D)
District 36
Ginny Ehrhart (R)
District 37
District 38
David Wilkerson (D)
District 39
Terry Cummings (D)
District 40
Kimberly New (R)
District 41
Michael Smith (D)
District 42
Gabriel Sanchez (D)
District 43
Solomon Adesanya (D)
District 44
Don Parsons (R)
District 45
Sharon Cooper (R)
District 46
John Carson (R)
District 47
Jan Jones (R)
District 48
Scott Hilton (R)
District 49
Charles Martin (R)
District 50
Michelle Au (D)
District 51
Esther Panitch (D)
District 52
Shea Roberts (D)
District 53
Deborah Silcox (R)
District 54
Betsy Holland (D)
District 55
Inga Willis (D)
District 56
Bryce Berry (D)
District 57
Stacey Evans (D)
District 58
Park Cannon (D)
District 59
Phil Olaleye (D)
District 60
Sheila Jones (D)
District 61
Mekyah McQueen (D)
District 62
Tanya Miller (D)
District 63
Kim Schofield (D)
District 64
Sylvia Wayfer (D)
District 65
Robert Dawson (D)
District 66
District 67
Lydia Glaize (D)
District 68
Derrick Jackson (D)
District 69
Debra Bazemore (D)
District 70
Lynn Smith (R)
District 71
Justin Howard (R)
District 72
David Huddleston (R)
District 73
Josh Bonner (R)
District 74
Robert Flournoy (D)
District 75
Eric Bell (D)
District 76
Sandra Scott (D)
District 77
Rhonda Burnough (D)
District 78
District 79
Yasmin Neal (D)
District 80
Long Tran (D)
District 81
Noelle Kahaian (R)
District 82
Karen Mathiak (R)
District 83
Karen Lupton (D)
District 84
Mary Oliver (D)
District 85
Karla Drenner (D)
District 86
Imani Barnes (D)
District 87
Viola Davis (D)
District 88
Billy Mitchell (D)
District 89
Omari Crawford (D)
District 90
Saira Draper (D)
District 91
Angela Moore (D)
District 92
Rhonda Taylor (D)
District 93
Doreen Carter (D)
District 94
Karen Bennett (D)
District 95
District 96
Arlene Beckles (D)
District 97
Ruwa Romman (D)
District 98
Marvin Lim (D)
District 99
Matt Reeves (R)
District 100
David Clark (R)
District 101
Scott Holcomb (D)
District 102
Gabe Okoye (D)
District 103
Soo Hong (R)
District 104
Chuck Efstration (R)
District 105
Sandy Donatucci (R)
District 106
Vacant
District 107
Samuel Park (D)
District 108
Jasmine Clark (D)
District 109
Dewey McClain (D)
District 110
Segun Adeyina (D)
District 111
Rey Martinez (R)
District 112
Bruce Williamson (R)
District 113
Sharon Henderson (D)
District 114
Tim Fleming (R)
District 115
District 116
El-Mahdi Holly (D)
District 117
Mary Santos (D)
District 118
Clint Crowe (R)
District 119
Holt Persinger (R)
District 120
Houston Gaines (R)
District 121
Marcus Wiedower (R)
District 122
Spencer Frye (D)
District 123
Rob Leverett (R)
District 124
Trey Rhodes (R)
District 125
Gary Richardson (R)
District 126
L.C. Myles (D)
District 127
Mark Newton (R)
District 128
Mack Jackson (D)
District 129
Karlton Howard (D)
District 130
Lynn Gladney (D)
District 131
Rob Clifton (R)
District 132
Brian Prince (D)
District 133
Danny Mathis (R)
District 134
Robert Dickey (R)
District 135
Beth Camp (R)
District 136
David Jenkins (R)
District 137
Debbie Buckner (D)
District 138
Vance Smith (R)
District 139
Carmen Rice (R)
District 140
Teddy Reese (D)
District 141
Carolyn Hugley (D)
District 142
Miriam Paris (D)
District 143
Anissa Jones (D)
District 144
Dale Washburn (R)
District 145
Herring (D)
District 146
Shaw Blackmon (R)
District 147
Bethany Ballard (R)
District 148
Noel Williams (R)
District 149
Floyd Griffin (D)
District 150
Patty Stinson (D)
District 151
Mike Cheokas (R)
District 152
Bill Yearta (R)
District 153
David Sampson (D)
District 154
Gerald Greene (R)
District 155
Matt Hatchett (R)
District 156
Leesa Hagan (R)
District 157
Bill Werkheiser (R)
District 158
Larry Parrish (R)
District 159
Jon Burns (R)
District 160
Lehman Franklin (R)
District 161
Bill Hitchens (R)
District 162
Carl Gilliard (D)
District 163
Anne Westbrook (D)
District 164
Ron Stephens (R)
District 165
Edna Jackson (D)
District 166
Jesse Petrea (R)
District 167
Buddy DeLoach (R)
District 168
Al Williams (D)
District 169
Angie O'Steen (R)
District 170
Jaclyn Ford (R)
District 171
Joe Campbell (R)
District 172
Charles Cannon (R)
District 173
Darlene Taylor (R)
District 174
John Corbett (R)
District 175
John LaHood (R)
District 176
James Burchett (R)
District 177
Dexter Sharper (D)
District 178
Steven Meeks (R)
District 179
Rick Townsend (R)
District 180
Steven Sainz (R)
Republican Party (100)
Democratic Party (79)
Vacancies (1)
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