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Georgia State Senate District 56

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Georgia State Senate District 56
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 10, 2011

Georgia State Senate District 56 is represented by John Albers (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Georgia state senators represented an average of 191,523 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 173,707 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Georgia State Senate 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 Senate shall be citizens of the United States, shall be at least 25 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 State Senate District 56
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Georgia State Senate District 56
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Georgia State Senate District 56

Incumbent John Albers defeated JD Jordan in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 56 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Albers
John Albers (R)
 
61.2
 
72,392
Image of JD Jordan
JD Jordan (D) Candidate Connection
 
38.8
 
45,836

Total votes: 118,228
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 56

JD Jordan advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 56 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of JD Jordan
JD Jordan Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
7,925

Total votes: 7,925
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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 56

Incumbent John Albers advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 56 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Albers
John Albers
 
100.0
 
12,551

Total votes: 12,551
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 State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Georgia State Senate District 56

Incumbent John Albers defeated Patrick Thompson in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 56 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Albers
John Albers (R)
 
61.6
 
58,121
Image of Patrick Thompson
Patrick Thompson (D)
 
38.4
 
36,156

Total votes: 94,277
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 State Senate District 56

Patrick Thompson advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 56 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Patrick Thompson
Patrick Thompson
 
100.0
 
10,604

Total votes: 10,604
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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 56

Incumbent John Albers advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 56 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Albers
John Albers
 
100.0
 
31,495

Total votes: 31,495
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Georgia State Senate District 56

Incumbent John Albers defeated Sarah Beeson in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 56 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Albers
John Albers (R)
 
51.1
 
51,476
Image of Sarah Beeson
Sarah Beeson (D) Candidate Connection
 
48.9
 
49,284

Total votes: 100,760
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 56

Sarah Beeson advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 56 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sarah Beeson
Sarah Beeson Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
19,339

Total votes: 19,339
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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 56

Incumbent John Albers advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 56 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Albers
John Albers
 
100.0
 
13,639

Total votes: 13,639
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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2018

See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Georgia State Senate District 56

Incumbent John Albers defeated Ellyn Jeager in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 56 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Albers
John Albers (R)
 
52.5
 
41,874
Image of Ellyn Jeager
Ellyn Jeager (D)
 
47.5
 
37,902

Total votes: 79,776
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 State Senate District 56

Ellyn Jeager defeated Patrick Thompson and Jim Guess Jr. in the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 56 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ellyn Jeager
Ellyn Jeager
 
64.2
 
5,393
Image of Patrick Thompson
Patrick Thompson
 
23.8
 
1,999
Jim Guess Jr.
 
12.0
 
1,006

Total votes: 8,398
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 State Senate District 56

Incumbent John Albers advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 56 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Albers
John Albers
 
100.0
 
9,508

Total votes: 9,508
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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2016

See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Georgia State Senate 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 Albers defeated Patrick Thompson in the Georgia State Senate District 56 general election.[10][11]

Georgia State Senate, District 56 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png John Albers Incumbent 59.88% 49,202
     Democratic Patrick Thompson 40.12% 32,969
Total Votes 82,171
Source: Georgia Secretary of State


Patrick Thompson defeated Akhtar Sadiq in the Georgia State Senate District 56 Democratic primary.[12][13]

Georgia State Senate, District 56 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Patrick Thompson 53.04% 1,507
     Democratic Akhtar Sadiq 46.96% 1,334
Total Votes 2,841


Incumbent John Albers ran unopposed in the Georgia State Senate District 56 Republican primary.[12][13]

Georgia State Senate, District 56 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png John Albers Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Georgia State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014, with a runoff election 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. Akhtar Sadiq was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent John E. Albers was unopposed in the Republican primary. Sadig was defeated by Albers in the general election.[14][15][16]

Georgia State Senate, District 56 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Albers 69.7% 34,734
     Democratic Akhtar Sadiq 30.3% 15,087
Total Votes 49,821

2012

See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Georgia State Senate 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 Albers (R) defeated Akhtar Sadiq (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[17][18] A total of $148,963 was raised by 2012 candidates in the district, with Albers outraising Sadiq by a margin of $139,174 to $9,789.[19]

Georgia State Senate, District 56, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Albers Incumbent 67.3% 48,145
     Democratic Akhtar Sadiq 32.7% 23,438
Total Votes 71,583

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Georgia State Senate District 56 raised a total of $2,349,819. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $97,909 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Georgia State Senate District 56
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $432,144 2 $216,072
2022 $174,978 2 $87,489
2020 $165,278 1 $165,278
2018 $241,537 3 $80,512
2016 $140,596 3 $46,865
2014 $116,151 2 $58,076
2012 $148,963 2 $74,482
2010 $444,085 3 $148,028
2008 $-70,749 2 $-35,375
2006 $221,607 1 $221,607
2004 $94,930 1 $94,930
2002 $188,955 1 $188,955
2000 $51,344 1 $51,344
Total $2,349,819 24 $97,909


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Justia, "Constitution of the State of Georgia," accessed March 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. 12.0 12.1 Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 13, 2016
  13. 13.0 13.1 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
  19. followthemoney.org, "Georgia 2012 Senate Candidates," accessed November 26, 2013


Current members of the Georgia State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Jason Anavitarte
Minority Leader:Harold Jones
Senators
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
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
Vacant
District 22
District 23
Max Burns (R)
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
Vacant
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (22)
Vacancies (2)