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Georgia's 8th Congressional District
Georgia's 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Austin Scott (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Georgia representatives represented an average of 766,091 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 694,826 residents.
Elections
See also: Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2030
General election
The general election will occur on November 5, 2030.
General election for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Robert Allen-Lott (R) is running in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on November 5, 2030.
Candidate | ||
 | Robert Allen-Lott (R)  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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See also: Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2028
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Georgia District 8
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Austin Scott (R) | |
 | James Cooper III (D) | |
 | Kelly Esti (D) | |
 | Justin Laster (D) | |
 | Justin Lucas (D) | |
 | Vinson Watkins (R) | |
 | Roman Coley Davis (Independent) | |
| ||||
| = 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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See also: Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
General election
General election for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Incumbent Austin Scott (R) defeated Darrius Butler (D) in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Scott (R) | 68.9 | 231,547 |
 | Darrius Butler (D) | 31.1 | 104,434 | |
| Total votes: 335,981 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Justin Laster (D)
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Darrius Butler (D) defeated Vinson Watkins (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Darrius Butler | 71.6 | 15,755 |
| | Vinson Watkins | 28.4 | 6,236 | |
| Total votes: 21,991 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Justin Laster (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Incumbent Austin Scott (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Scott | 100.0 | 59,537 |
| Total votes: 59,537 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Incumbent Austin Scott (R) defeated Darrius Butler (D) in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Scott (R) | 68.6 | 178,700 |
| | Darrius Butler (D) | 31.4 | 81,886 | |
| Total votes: 260,586 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michelle Cope (L)
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Darrius Butler (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Darrius Butler | 100.0 | 30,655 |
| Total votes: 30,655 | |||
| = 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
Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Incumbent Austin Scott (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Scott | 100.0 | 90,426 |
| Total votes: 90,426 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Mike Reece (R)
See also: Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Incumbent Austin Scott (R) defeated Lindsay Holliday (D) and James Cooper III (G) in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Scott (R) | 64.5 | 198,701 |
 | Lindsay Holliday (D) | 35.5 | 109,264 | |
| | James Cooper III (G) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 48 | |
| Total votes: 308,013 | |||
| = 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
Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Lindsay Holliday (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lindsay Holliday | 100.0 | 44,493 |
| Total votes: 44,493 | |||
| = 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
Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Incumbent Austin Scott (R) defeated Robert Vance Dean (R) and Daniel Ellyson (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Scott | 89.8 | 73,671 |
| Robert Vance Dean | 5.7 | 4,692 | ||
 | Daniel Ellyson | 4.5 | 3,668 | |
| Total votes: 82,031 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia, 2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Incumbent Austin Scott (R) won election in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Scott (R) | 99.7 | 198,152 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3% | 564 | ||
| Total votes: 198,716 (100% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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
No candidates for U.S. House Georgia District 8 appeared on the ballot for the Democratic primary scheduled for May 22, 2018.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jimmy McInnis (D)
- Fred Swann (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8
Incumbent Austin Scott (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Scott | 100.0 | 41,467 |
| Total votes: 41,467 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Robert Vance Dean (R)
- Daniel Ellyson (R)
District map
Redistricting
2020-2023
On December 8, 2023, Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed revised congressional maps into law. Legislators in the Georgia House of Representatives voted 98-71 to adopt the new congressional map on December 7. The Georgia State Senate voted 32-22 to adopt the congressional map on December 5.[10][11]
On October 26, 2023, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled that the state's congressional and legislative district boundaries violated the Voting Rights Act and enjoined the state from using them for future elections.[12] The court directed the Georgia General Assembly to develop new maps by December 8, 2023.[12]
On December 28, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District upheld the maps enacted on December 8, which were later used in the 2024 elections, and found them in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.[13]
| “ | The Court finds that the General Assembly fully complied with this Court’s order requiring the creation of a majority-Black congressional district in the region of the State where vote dilution was found. The Court further finds that the elimination of 2021 CD 7 did not violate the October 26, 2023 Order. Finally, the Court declines to adjudicate Plaintiffs’ new Section 2 claim based on a coalition of minority voters. Hence, the Court OVERRULES Plaintiffs’ objections ... and HEREBY APPROVES SB 3EX.[14][15] | ” |
The district court's approval of remedial state legislative maps was appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral argument was held on January 23, 2025.[16]
How does redistricting in Georgia work? In Georgia, both congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority in each chamber is required to approve redistricting plans, which are subject to veto by the governor.[17]
The Georgia Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous. There are no similar requirements for congressional districts.[17][18]
Below are the congressional maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Georgia’s 2024 congressional elections.
2020
2024
2010-2011
In 2011, the Georgia State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.
In redistricting, The Hill published a list of the Top Ten House Members who were helped by redistricting.[19] Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. ranked 4th on the list, and neighboring incumbent Austin Scott ranked 5th on the list.[19] The article noted that in the redistricting process, controlled by a Republican legislature, many African Americans voters were moved from Scott's district into Sanford Bishop’s 2nd Congressional District, giving Scott a safe Republican seat, and inadvertently giving Bishop a Democratic boost as well.[19]
On August 22, 2011, Georgia's Republican leadership released their proposed Congressional redistricting map. Due to population growth, Georgia gained a 14th Congressional district following the 2010 census. The new district, according to the plan, is located in the northwestern part of the state.[20] Rep. Tom Graves (R) was drawn into the new district, which left 9th District seat open in 2012. After redistricting, the 9th District leaned Republican.[20] In addition, the plan displaced Rep. John Barrow (D), but Barrow (who had been displaced before) moved into the district in order to remain in the 12th District.[20] Rep. Sanford Bishop's (D) district will become a majority-minority district. Also, Rep. Phil Gingrey's (R) 11th District picked up part of Atlanta. Overall, the plan was expected to bolster the Republican majority in the state's congressional delegation.[20]
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
2026
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+15. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 15 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Georgia's 8th the 71st most Republican district nationally.[21]
2024
Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+16. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 16 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Georgia's 8th the 70th most Republican district nationally.[22]
Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 63.3%-35.7%.[23]
2022
Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+16. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 16 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Georgia's 8th the 73rd most Republican district nationally.[24]
Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 35.7% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 63.3%.[25]
2018
Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+15. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 15 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Georgia's 8th Congressional District the 81st most Republican nationally.[26]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.89. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.89 points toward that party.[27]
See also
- Redistricting in Georgia
- Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
- Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2022
- Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2020
- Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2018
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 12, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Georgia Primary Results," May 24, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Georgia"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ Georgia General Assembly, "Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office - Proposed Plans," accessed December 11, 2023
- ↑ Twitter, "RedistrictNet," December 7, 2023
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Reuters, "US judge orders new congressional map in Georgia, citing harm to Black voters," October 27, 2023
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Federal judge upholds Georgia’s Republican redistricting plan," December 8, 2023
- ↑ United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, "Case 1:21-cv-05339-SCJ, Document 334" December 28, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "11th Circuit Considers Fate of Georgia Maps in High-Stakes Redistricting Case," January 21, 2025
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 All About Redistricting, "Georgia," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Georgia Constitution, "Article 3, Section 2," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 The Hill, "House members most helped by redistricting," accessed April 17, 2012
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Atlanta Journal Constitution, "GOP redistricting plan would tighten grip on congressional delegation," August 22, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
