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Sam Watson
2023 - Present
2027
2
Sam Watson (Republican Party) is a member of the Georgia State Senate, representing District 11. He assumed office on February 6, 2023. His current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Watson (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Georgia State Senate to represent District 11. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Sam Watson was born in and lives in Moultrie, Georgia. Watson graduated from Colquitt County High School. He earned his associate degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, majoring in agricultural education. His professional experience includes working as a farmer and agri-businessman.[1]
Watson's community involvement includes serving as president of the UGA Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Alumni Board and as a member of the Georgia Agribusiness Council and the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.[2]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Watson was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee
- Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee
- Government Oversight Committee
- Senate Science and Technology Committee
- State and Local Governmental Operations Committee
2021-2022
Watson was assigned to the following committees:
- House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee
- House Appropriations Committee
- Natural Resources and Environment Committee
- House Retirement Committee, Secretary
- Special Rules Committee
- House Transportation Committee
- Ways and Means Committee
2019-2020
Watson was assigned to the following committees:
- House Appropriations Committee, Chairman of Subcommittee
- House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee
- Natural Resources and Environment Committee
- House Retirement Committee, Secretary
- House Transportation Committee
- Ways and Means Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Consumer Affairs |
| • Natural Resources and Environment, Vice chair |
| • Retirement |
| • Special Rules, Vice chair |
| • Transportation, Vice chair |
| • Ways and Means |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Watson served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Consumer Affairs |
| • Juvenile Justice |
| • Natural Resources and Environment |
| • Special Rules, Vice chair |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Watson served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Consumer Affairs |
| • Juvenile Justice |
| • Transportation |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Georgia State Senate District 11
Incumbent Sam Watson won election in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 11 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sam Watson (R) | 100.0 | 65,156 |
| Total votes: 65,156 | |||
 = 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 11
Incumbent Sam Watson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 11 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sam Watson | 100.0 | 13,619 |
| Total votes: 13,619 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Watson in this election.
2023
See also: Georgia state legislative special elections, 2023
General election
Special general election for Georgia State Senate District 11
Sam Watson defeated Mary Weaver-Anderson and John Monds in the special general election for Georgia State Senate District 11 on January 31, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sam Watson (R) | 76.0 | 10,099 |
| Mary Weaver-Anderson (D) | 22.9 | 3,048 | ||
 | John Monds (L) | 1.0 | 135 | |
| Total votes: 13,282 | |||
| = 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 172
Incumbent Sam Watson won election in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 172 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sam Watson (R) | 100.0 | 14,574 |
| Total votes: 14,574 | |||
| = 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 172
Incumbent Sam Watson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 172 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sam Watson | 100.0 | 6,956 |
| Total votes: 6,956 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 172
Incumbent Sam Watson won election in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 172 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sam Watson (R) | 100.0 | 15,556 |
| Total votes: 15,556 | |||
| = 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 172
Incumbent Sam Watson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 172 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sam Watson | 100.0 | 5,270 |
| Total votes: 5,270 | |||
| = 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
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 172
Incumbent Sam Watson won election in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 172 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sam Watson (R) | 100.0 | 12,046 |
| Total votes: 12,046 | |||
| = 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 172
Incumbent Sam Watson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 172 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sam Watson | 100.0 | 2,744 |
| Total votes: 2,744 | |||
| = 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
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 Sam Watson ran unopposed in the Georgia House of Representatives District 172 general election.[3][4]
| Georgia House of Representatives, District 172 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Sam Watson Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 12,898 | |
| Total Votes | 12,898 | |||
| Source: Georgia Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Sam Watson ran unopposed in the Georgia House of Representatives District 172 Republican primary.[5][6]
| Georgia House of Representatives, District 172 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Sam Watson Incumbent (unopposed) | |
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 Samuel L. "Sam" Watson was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8][9]
2012
Watson ran in the 2012 election for Georgia House of Representatives District 172. Watson ran unopposed in the Republican primary on July 31, 2012. He was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[10][11]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sam Watson |
100% | 11,978 | |
| Total Votes | 11,978 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sam Watson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2023
Sam Watson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Sam Watson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Sam Watson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Georgia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 28.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 9 to March 29.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 10 to April 4.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 11 to March 31.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 to June 26. The session was suspended from March 13 through June 11.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 14 through April 2.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 29.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through March 31.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 11 through March 24.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 12 through April 2.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 21.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 21.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Georgia State Senate District 11 |
Officeholder Georgia State Senate District 11 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Georgia House of Representatives, “Representative Sam Watson” accessed December 9, 2019
- ↑ Georgia House of Representatives, “Representative Sam Watson” accessed December 9, 2019
- ↑ 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, "Official primary election results," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed May 29, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results" accessed November 16, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dean Burke (R) |
Georgia State Senate District 11 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Georgia House of Representatives District 172 2013-2022 |
Succeeded by Charles Cannon (R) |
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