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Georgia House of Representatives District 46

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Georgia House of Representatives District 46
Incumbent
Assumed office: 2011

Georgia House of Representatives District 46 is represented by John Carson (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Georgia state representatives represented an average of 59,585 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 54,042 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Georgia legislators assume office the second Monday in January.

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Paragraph 3 of Section 2 of Article 3 of the Georgia Constitution states, "At the time of their election, the members of the House of Representatives shall be citizens of the United States, shall be at least 21 years of age, shall have been citizens of this state for at least two years, and shall have been legal residents of the territory embraced within the district from which elected for at least one year."[1]

GA Code § 21-2-8 states that an individual cannot hold public office if they are "not a qualified voter entitled to vote."[2]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[3]
SalaryPer diem
$24,341.64/year$247/day

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Georgia General Assembly, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election. If the vacancy occurs during a legislative session, the governor must declare a special election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happens. If the vacancy occurs after the regular legislative session held during the first year of the term of office for members, the governor may order a special election at any time but no later than 60 days before the November general election. If the vacancy occurs between 60 days before the November general election and the next legislative session, the governor is required to order a special election within 10 days.[4]

The special election must be held no less than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the governor calls for the election. The counties representing the vacant district are responsible for conducting the election.[4]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Georgia Code § 21-2-544


District map

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Georgia

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.[5]

The Georgia Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous. There are no similar requirements for congressional districts.[5][6]

2020-2023

See also: Redistricting in Georgia after the 2020 census

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.[7]

Governor Kemp (R) signed revised legislative maps into law on December 8, 2023. Legislators in the Georgia House of Representatives voted 98-71 to adopt the new state legislative maps on December 5. The Georgia State Senate voted 32-23 to adopt the state legislative maps on December 1. For more information about the enacted legislative maps, click here.[8][9]

Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Georgia’s 2024 state legislative elections.

Georgia House of Representatives District 46
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Georgia House of Representatives District 46
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent John Carson defeated Micheal Garza in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Carson
John Carson (R)
 
58.9
 
21,875
Image of Micheal Garza
Micheal Garza (D)
 
41.1
 
15,274

Total votes: 37,149
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Micheal Garza advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Micheal Garza
Micheal Garza
 
100.0
 
2,622

Total votes: 2,622
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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent John Carson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Carson
John Carson
 
100.0
 
3,748

Total votes: 3,748
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.

2022

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent John Carson defeated Micheal Garza in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Carson
John Carson (R)
 
59.8
 
17,920
Image of Micheal Garza
Micheal Garza (D) Candidate Connection
 
40.2
 
12,057

Total votes: 29,977
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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Micheal Garza advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Micheal Garza
Micheal Garza Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
3,370

Total votes: 3,370
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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent John Carson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Carson
John Carson
 
100.0
 
9,962

Total votes: 9,962
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.

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2020

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent John Carson defeated Caroline Holko in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Carson
John Carson (R)
 
61.5
 
21,712
Caroline Holko (D) Candidate Connection
 
38.5
 
13,615

Total votes: 35,327
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.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Caroline Holko defeated Shirley Ritchie in the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Caroline Holko Candidate Connection
 
54.8
 
3,437
Shirley Ritchie
 
45.2
 
2,830

Total votes: 6,267
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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent John Carson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Carson
John Carson
 
100.0
 
8,011

Total votes: 8,011
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.

2018

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent John Carson defeated Karín Sandiford in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Carson
John Carson (R)
 
61.8
 
17,466
Image of Karín Sandiford
Karín Sandiford (D)
 
38.2
 
10,789

Total votes: 28,255
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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Karín Sandiford advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Karín Sandiford
Karín Sandiford
 
100.0
 
2,384

Total votes: 2,384
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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent John Carson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Carson
John Carson
 
100.0
 
3,823

Total votes: 3,823
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.

2016

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Georgia House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 24, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 11, 2016.

Incumbent John Carson ran unopposed in the Georgia House of Representatives District 46 general election.[10][11]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 46 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png John Carson Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 24,736
Total Votes 24,736
Source: Georgia Secretary of State


Incumbent John Carson ran unopposed in the Georgia House of Representatives District 46 Republican primary.[12][13]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 46 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png John Carson Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Georgia House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014, with runoff elections taking place where necessary on July 22, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Incumbent John K. Carson was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[14][15][16]

2012

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Georgia House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on July 31, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 25, 2012. Incumbent John Carson (R) defeated Kevin Westphal (D) in the general election. Carson defeated Martin L. Hawley in the Republican primary. Westphal was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[17][18]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 46, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Carson Incumbent 73.7% 19,941
     Democratic Kevin Westphal 26.3% 7,132
Total Votes 27,073
Georgia House of Representatives District 46 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Carson Incumbent 67.9% 5,650
Martin L. Hawley 32.1% 2,673
Total Votes 8,323

Campaign contributions

From 2004 to 2024, candidates for Georgia House of Representatives District 46 raised a total of $1,316,321. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $69,280 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Georgia House of Representatives District 46
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $243,680 2 $121,840
2022 $216,473 2 $108,237
2020 $152,137 3 $50,712
2018 $42,598 1 $42,598
2016 $71,925 1 $71,925
2014 $61,333 1 $61,333
2012 $117,737 3 $39,246
2010 $227,270 2 $113,635
2008 $66,469 1 $66,469
2006 $84,755 2 $42,378
2004 $31,943 1 $31,943
Total $1,316,321 19 $69,280


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Justia, "Constitution of the State of Georgia," accessed May 21, 2025
  2. Justia, "GA Code § 21-2-8," accessed May 27, 2025
  3. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  4. 4.0 4.1 The State of Georgia, "Official Code of Georgia," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 21-2-544)
  5. 5.0 5.1 All About Redistricting, "Georgia," accessed April 23, 2015
  6. Georgia Constitution, "Article 3, Section 2," accessed April 23, 2015
  7. Democracy Docket, "11th Circuit Considers Fate of Georgia Maps in High-Stakes Redistricting Case," January 21, 2025
  8. Georgia General Assembly, "Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office - Proposed Plans," accessed December 11, 2023
  9. Twitter, "RedistrictNet," December 7, 2023
  10. Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed August 17, 2016
  11. Georgia Secretary of State, "General Election results," accessed November 23, 2016
  12. Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 13, 2016
  13. Georgia Secretary of State, "General primary results," accessed May 24, 2016
  14. Georgia Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 10, 2014
  15. Georgia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 28, 2014
  16. Georgia Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
  17. Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed November 16, 2012
  18. Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results" accessed November 16, 2012


Current members of the Georgia House of Representatives
Leadership
Minority Leader:Carolyn Hugley
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Will Wade (R)
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
Brent Cox (R)
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
Jan Jones (R)
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
Eric Bell (D)
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
Long Tran (D)
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
District 101
District 102
District 103
Soo Hong (R)
District 104
District 105
District 106
District 107
District 108
District 109
District 110
District 111
District 112
District 113
District 114
District 115
District 116
District 117
District 118
District 119
District 120
District 121
District 122
District 123
District 124
District 125
District 126
District 127
District 128
District 129
District 130
District 131
District 132
District 133
District 134
District 135
Beth Camp (R)
District 136
District 137
District 138
District 139
District 140
District 141
District 142
District 143
District 144
District 145
District 146
District 147
District 148
District 149
District 150
District 151
District 152
District 153
District 154
District 155
District 156
District 157
District 158
District 159
Jon Burns (R)
District 160
District 161
District 162
District 163
District 164
District 165
District 166
District 167
District 168
District 169
District 170
District 171
District 172
District 173
District 174
District 175
District 176
District 177
District 178
District 179
District 180
Republican Party (100)
Democratic Party (80)