Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Georgia House of Representatives District 97 is represented by Ruwa Romman (D).
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
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] | |
---|---|
Salary | Per diem |
$24,341.64/year | $247/day |
Vacancies
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]
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
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.
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.
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 97
before 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Georgia House of Representatives District 97
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 97
Incumbent Ruwa Romman defeated Michael Corbin in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ruwa Romman (D) | 58.8 | 14,536 |
![]() | Michael Corbin (R) | 41.2 | 10,167 |
Total votes: 24,703 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Incumbent Ruwa Romman advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ruwa Romman | 100.0 | 2,314 |
Total votes: 2,314 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Michael Corbin advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Michael Corbin | 100.0 | 1,534 |
Total votes: 1,534 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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2022
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Ruwa Romman defeated John Chan in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ruwa Romman (D) ![]() | 57.7 | 10,538 |
![]() | John Chan (R) ![]() | 42.3 | 7,729 |
Total votes: 18,267 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Ruwa Romman defeated JT Wu in the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ruwa Romman ![]() | 57.7 | 2,168 |
![]() | JT Wu ![]() | 42.3 | 1,588 |
Total votes: 3,756 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
John Chan advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | John Chan ![]() | 100.0 | 3,305 |
Total votes: 3,305 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Incumbent Bonnie Rich defeated Mary Campbell in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Bonnie Rich (R) | 52.2 | 16,929 | |
![]() | Mary Campbell (D) ![]() | 47.8 | 15,520 |
Total votes: 32,449 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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 97
Mary Campbell advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mary Campbell ![]() | 100.0 | 6,387 |
Total votes: 6,387 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Incumbent Bonnie Rich advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Bonnie Rich | 100.0 | 5,652 |
Total votes: 5,652 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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2018
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Bonnie Rich defeated Aisha Yaqoob in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Bonnie Rich (R) | 55.9 | 13,538 | |
Aisha Yaqoob (D) | 44.1 | 10,696 |
Total votes: 24,234 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Bonnie Rich defeated Kipper Tabb in the Republican primary runoff for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on July 24, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Bonnie Rich | 61.6 | 2,266 | |
Kipper Tabb | 38.4 | 1,411 |
Total votes: 3,677 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
Aisha Yaqoob defeated Wayne Slear in the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Aisha Yaqoob | 71.2 | 1,733 | |
Wayne Slear | 28.8 | 701 |
Total votes: 2,434 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Bonnie Rich | 33.2 | 1,072 | |
✔ | Kipper Tabb | 24.4 | 788 | |
Scott LeCraw | 20.6 | 664 | ||
Indran Krishnan | 9.1 | 295 | ||
Louis Tseng | 8.5 | 273 | ||
![]() | Judson McClure | 4.2 | 135 |
Total votes: 3,227 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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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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 Brooks Coleman ran unopposed in the Georgia House of Representatives District 97 general election.[10][11]
Georgia House of Representatives, District 97 General Election, 2016 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
100.00% | 20,171 | |
Total Votes | 20,171 | |||
Source: Georgia Secretary of State |
Incumbent Brooks Coleman defeated John Marsh in the Georgia House of Representatives District 97 Republican primary.[12][13]
Georgia House of Representatives, District 97 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
79.73% | 1,286 | |
Republican | John Marsh | 20.27% | 327 | |
Total Votes | 1,613 |
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 Brooks P. Coleman defeated Dahlys R. Hamilton and James E. "Jef" Fincher in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[14][15][16]
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 Brooks Coleman, Jr. (R) was unopposed in the general election and defeated Robert J. McClure in the Republican primary.[17][18]
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
100% | 18,000 | |
Total Votes | 18,000 |
Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
---|---|---|
![]() |
70.4% | 3,881 |
Robert J. McClure | 29.6% | 1,634 |
Total Votes | 5,515 |
Campaign contributions
From 2004 to 2024, candidates for Georgia House of Representatives District 97 raised a total of $1,671,131. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $61,894 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
Campaign contributions, Georgia House of Representatives District 97 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
2024 | $305,418 | 2 | $152,709 |
2022 | $329,324 | 3 | $109,775 |
2020 | $283,077 | 2 | $141,539 |
2018 | $375,654 | 8 | $46,957 |
2016 | $103,946 | 2 | $51,973 |
2014 | $109,515 | 3 | $36,505 |
2012 | $56,692 | 2 | $28,346 |
2010 | $21,200 | 1 | $21,200 |
2008 | $14,400 | 1 | $14,400 |
2006 | $15,368 | 1 | $15,368 |
2004 | $56,537 | 2 | $28,269 |
Total | $1,671,131 | 27 | $61,894 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Justia, "Constitution of the State of Georgia," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ Justia, "GA Code § 21-2-8," accessed May 27, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The State of Georgia, "Official Code of Georgia," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 21-2-544)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 All About Redistricting, "Georgia," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Georgia Constitution, "Article 3, Section 2," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "11th Circuit Considers Fate of Georgia Maps in High-Stakes Redistricting Case," January 21, 2025
- ↑ Georgia General Assembly, "Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office - Proposed Plans," accessed December 11, 2023
- ↑ Twitter, "RedistrictNet," December 7, 2023
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General Election results," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 13, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General primary results," accessed May 24, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 10, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "GA - Election Results," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "GA - Election Results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed November 16, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results" accessed November 16, 2012