Election law changes? Our legislation tracker’s got you. Check it out!

Georgia's 12th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge-smaller use.png
U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Congressional special elections • Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • Supreme court • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • All local elections by county • How to run for office
Flag of Georgia.png


← 2024
Georgia's 12th Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 6, 2026
Primary: May 19, 2026
Primary runoff: June 16, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
General runoff: December 1, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Georgia

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Georgia's 12th Congressional District
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th
Georgia elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary takes place on May 19, 2026, in Georgia's 12th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
March 6, 2026
May 19, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Georgia utilizes an open primary system, in which any voter can participate in a political party's primary election regardless of their partisan affiliation. A candidate must win a majority of votes cast in the primary in order to win the election. If no candidate wins an outright majority, a runoff primary is held between the top two vote-getters.[1][2]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Georgia's 12th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 12

Robert Dixon (D), Tracell Peace-Nichols (D), Ceretta Smith (D), Chris Stephens (D), and Brianna Woodson (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 12 on May 19, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Robert Dixon
Robert Dixon
Image of Tracell Peace-Nichols
Tracell Peace-Nichols
Image of Ceretta Smith
Ceretta Smith  Candidate Connection
Image of Chris Stephens
Chris Stephens  Candidate Connection
Image of Brianna Woodson
Brianna Woodson

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = 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.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Ceretta Smith

Image of Ceretta Smith

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Ceretta Smith is a proud U.S. Army Veteran, wife, mother, grandmother, faith leader, small business owner, and dedicated public servant. For the past twenty years, she has called Grovetown home, where she lives with her husband, Retired Sergeant First Class Sterling Vandolph Smith. Her life has been defined by service—first to her country, then to working families, and now to her community. Ceretta served nearly a decade as an Army medic, caring for soldiers in hospitals, clinics, and in the field while stationed in Germany. After her military service, she continued serving the nation for twenty-five years as a federal employee, where she became a strong advocate for labor, civil, and human rights. She rose through leadership ranks in the American Federation of Government Employees—the largest federal government union in the country—serving as Women’s and Fair Practices Coordinator, Chief Steward, Legislative Political Coordinator, Local President, Georgia State Council President, and ultimately National Fair Practices Coordinator. As a Councilwoman in the City of Grovetown, Ceretta has been a hands-on leader who puts people first. She championed a citywide Literacy Initiative, distributing hundreds of books, reading to children about municipal government, and helping an after school program publish a children’s book. She has also completed hundreds of hours of municipal government training, ensuring she is well-prepared to serve her constituents effectively and responsibly"

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

I’m running to restore trust in government by putting people before party. I will work across the aisle to deliver real results that strengthen families, support workers, and build an economy that works for everyone—not just the wealthy few.

The heart of our campaign is economic opportunity—creating good-paying jobs, lowering costs, supporting small businesses and family farmers, and protecting Social Security and Medicare so hardworking Georgians can thrive from paycheck to retirement.

From improving access to affordable healthcare and education to ensuring veterans and rural communities get the resources they deserve, I will fight every day for fairness, opportunity, and dignity for all who call Georgia’s 12th District home.

Chris Stephens

Image of Chris Stephens

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I was born and raised in Loris, South Carolina, where my parents worked hard to provide for me and my sister — my father as a diesel mechanic and my mother as a factory worker who went on to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. Like so many in our district, I grew up in a working-class household that taught me the value of hard work, fairness, and treating people with dignity. At 16, I joined the police explorers program, and by 18, I was serving as an emergency dispatcher. At 21, I became a police officer — a role I held for 15 years. I know what it means to stand on the front lines, to listen when people are at their most vulnerable, and to serve with integrity. Service has always been at the center of my life. I led an LGBTQ+ community center that provided support, resources, and a safe place for people and their families. I also built a small business from the ground up while working full time and earning an associate degree in criminal justice, a bachelor’s in political science, and a master’s in public administration. I’m running for Congress because I believe every person deserves a fair shot — to work, to raise a family, to live with dignity. My campaign is built on three principles: Community, Fairness, and Dignity. Those aren’t just words. They’re the values I’ve lived by my entire life. And that’s the kind of leadership I’ll take to Congress. I’m not a career politician. I’m a career public servant."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Strong communities don’t happen by accident. They are built through safe neighborhoods, good schools, affordable housing, and local businesses that keep our economy moving. They grow when families have access to fresh food, kids have safe places to play, and neighbors have spaces to come together. As your Congressman, I’ll fight to make sure GA-12 gets its fair share of resources and investment.

Fairness is dignity in action — and it’s how we make sure every family in GA-12 gets a fair shot. Fairness means that if you work hard, you ought to be able to support your family. It means our veterans shouldn’t have to fight the VA to get the benefits they’ve earned. It means your zip code shouldn’t determine your access to healthcare, good schools, or job opportunities. As your Congressman, I’ll fight for fairness by: Raising wages and lowering costs I’ll fight for policies that help working families — from raising wages to lowering the cost of prescription drugs and utilities. Tax fairness I’ll work toward a tax system where corporations and the wealthiest pay their share, so working families and small businesses aren’t carrying

Dignity Every person deserves to live with dignity. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what stage of life you’re in, you should be treated with respect and valued for your contribution to our community. For me, dignity means respect in action. It means making sure seniors can retire without fear, veterans get the care they earned, and working families don’t have to sacrifice their health or their children’s future just to get by.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Georgia

Election information in Georgia: May 19, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: April 20, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by April 20, 2026
  • Online: April 20, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: May 8, 2026
  • By mail: Received by May 8, 2026
  • Online: May 8, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: May 19, 2026
  • By mail: Received by May 19, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

April 27, 2026 to May 15, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (ET)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Robert Dixon Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Tracell Peace-Nichols Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Ceretta Smith Democratic Party $3,095 $0 $3,095 As of September 30, 2025
Chris Stephens Democratic Party $4,457 $1,139 $3,318 As of September 30, 2025
Brianna Woodson Democratic Party $5,799 $0 $10,692 As of September 30, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2025_01_03_ga_congressional_district_012.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+7. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 7 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Georgia's 12th the 174th most Republican district nationally.[3]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Georgia's 12th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
43.0%57.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Georgia, 2024

Georgia presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 20 Democratic wins
  • 11 Republican wins
  • 1 other win
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R AI[4] R D D R R D R R R R R R D R
See also: Party control of Georgia state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Georgia's congressional delegation as of January 2026.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Georgia
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 5 7
Republican 0 8 8
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 1 1
Total 2 14 16

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Georgia's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Georgia, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorRepublican Party Brian Kemp
Lieutenant GovernorRepublican Party Burt Jones
Secretary of StateRepublican Party Brad Raffensperger
Attorney GeneralRepublican Party Chris Carr

State legislature

Georgia State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 22
     Republican Party 33
     Other 0
     Vacancies 1
Total 56

Georgia House of Representatives

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 79
     Republican Party 99
     Other 0
     Vacancies 2
Total 180

Trifecta control

Georgia Party Control: 1992-2025
Eleven years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-one years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Georgia in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Georgia, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Georgia U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $5,220 3/6/2026 Source
Georgia U.S. House Unaffiliated 27,992 $5,220 7/14/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-224," accessed September 30, 2025
  2. ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-501," accessed September 30, 2025
  3. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  4. ↑ American Independent Party


Georgia's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Jon Ossoff (D)
Raphael Warnock (D)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
Vacant
Republican Party (8)
Democratic Party (7)
Vacancies (1)


Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Georgia%27s_12th_Congressional_District_election,_2026_(May_19_Democratic_primary)&oldid=10723472"