2026 Georgia General Election

He served as CEO of the Atlanta ToolBank, where he oversaw an organization that supports hundreds of local nonprofits and generates millions of dollars in community impact each year.

Aaron and his wife raised their two daughters in Fulton County Commission District 4, where they have lived for more than 25 years. That experience shaped his belief that the strength of our county begins in our neighborhoods.

Aaron Sampson Fulton County Commissioner

Aaron A. Sampson Jr. and his wife raised two daughters.

Aaron Sampson is a nonprofit leader, longtime Fulton County resident, and candidate for Fulton County Commission District 4. For nearly 30 years, Aaron has led nonprofit organizations focused on strengthening communities and expanding opportunity.

For nearly 30 years, Aaron has led nonprofit organizations focused on strengthening communities and expanding opportunity.

He served as CEO of the Atlanta ToolBank, where he oversaw an organization that supports hundreds of local nonprofits and generates millions of dollars in community impact each year.

Aaron understands these challenges firsthand. Over the course of his career, he has helped lead and manage youth and adult education programs in communities like Summerhill and other historically underserved neighborhoods. Through that work, he has seen the real barriers families face when access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity are limited.

Aaron has led nonprofit organizations. He served as CEO of the Atlanta ToolBank and has helped lead and manage youth and adult education programs.

Aaron A. Sampson Jr. is a nonprofit executive with the Atlanta Community Tool Bank. He has not run for elected office before.

Fulton Commission District 4 Special Election

Aaron has not run for elected office before.

Fulton Commission District 4 Special Election - The Porch Press

As of July 24, 2026, Aaron A. Sampson Jr’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Years of mismanagement, overcrowding, and neglect have created unsafe and unacceptable conditions. Fulton County is now operating under a federal consent decree that requires major reforms to bring the jail into compliance with constitutional standards.

Aaron believes the focus must be on fixing the system and restoring accountability. The jail must be safe for everyone inside it — including the detention officers and staff who work there every day and the individuals being held in custody.

It’s time to fix it.
As Commissioner, Aaron will push for reforms that include:
Safer conditions for both detention officers and detainees
Reducing overcrowding through smarter case management and diversion programs
Expanded mental health and treatment services
Greater transparency so the public understands how the system is functioning
A justice system that works protects public safety while treating people with dignity and fairness.

The Fulton County Jail for detention officers and people in custody.

- The Fulton County Jail for detention officers and people in custody.

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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Aaron A. Sampson Jr

Facebook

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Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Karen Rene

Karen Rene moved to East Point in 2002 and has described East Point as home. She graduated from Alabama State University with a degree in political science and earned a law degree from Atlanta Law School. She serves as second vice president for the NAACP Atlanta/Fulton County Branch.

Karen Rene previously worked as a Business Community Liaison at the Atlanta Job Corps Center.

Karen was first elected to the East Point City Council in 2014 and was reelected in 2018, serving through 2024. She ran unsuccessfully for Georgia's 13th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024.

As of July 24, 2026, Karen Rene’s website did not contain information on this issue.

An honors graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, she earned her masters’ degrees in Business Administration and Public Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management in Atlanta, Georgia.

Commissioner Natalie Hall Named Commission Vice-Chair

Natalie Hall earned a Bachelor of Science in computer information systems and master’s degrees in business administration and public administration from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Vice Chair Hall previously served Fulton County faithfully for 6 years as the Chief of Staff to the late Fulton County District 4 Commissioner Joan P. Garner, and has over 30 years of management experience in the public and private sectors.

Natalie Hall previously served as chief of staff to Fulton County District 4 Commissioner Joan P. Garner.

Hall served as chief of staff to former County Commissioner Joan Garner for six years. Following Garner’s death, Hall won a six-way special election to fill out the rest of Garner’s term. She won the seat for a full term in 2020.

Three-way race for District 4 Fulton seat full of controversy

Natalie won a special election to fill the remainder of a Fulton County Commission term and won the seat for a full term in 2020.

Fulton sheriff, tax commissioner, county commission races draw ...

January 08, 2024
Commissioner Hall addresses what residents can expect in 2024 from Fulton County and District 4. Hear more from District 4 Commissioner Natalie Hall. I will ensure that as your county commissioner we continue to attract above livable wage paying jobs, help individuals and families who need a place to call home, increase safety in our neighborhoods, increase access to quality health care, increase affordable housing, and provide access to produce to our neighborhoods that are food deserts.

Commissioner Hall 2024 Year Ahead

Plans to attract jobs that pay above a living wage.

- Plans to attract jobs that pay above a living wage.

I will ensure that as your county commissioner we continue to attract above livable wage paying jobs, help individuals and families who need a place to call home, increase safety in our neighborhoods, increase access to quality health care, increase affordable housing, and provide access to produce to our neighborhoods that are food deserts.

I will continue to host my annual youth conferences "CEOs of Tomorrow" which is an innovative youth conference that empowers 8th through 12th graders to talk, think, and take action to overcome the challenges and socioeconomic barriers that they are facing in their lives. We have a full list of initiatives planned for 2024, and as we add to them my team will keep you updated.

Plans to increase access to fresh produce in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh food.

Plans to continue hosting the CEOs of Tomorrow youth conference for students in grades 8–12.

- Plans to increase access to fresh produce in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh food.
- Plans to continue hosting the CEOs of Tomorrow youth conference for students in grades 8–12.

September 28, 2023

Finding solutions and providing information to keep more people in their homes is the focus of this town hall coordinated Commissioner Natalie Hall. Housing advocates say there is an epidemic of people losing their homes due to evictions. The District 4 Commissioner wants to help citizens be able to sustain themselves and have better access to county resources.

Happening in Fulton: Commissioner Hall's Evictions Town Hall

Plans to increase the availability of affordable housing and help individuals and families find homes.

Coordinated a town hall on evictions to provide information and connect residents with county resources to help them remain housed.

- Plans to increase the availability of affordable housing and help individuals and families find homes.
- Coordinated a town hall on evictions to provide information and connect residents with county resources to help them remain housed.

Plans to increase safety in neighborhoods.

- Plans to increase safety in neighborhoods.

As of July 24, 2026, Natalie Hall’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Natalie Hall

Natalie is from Atlanta, Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia, the Keller Graduate School of Management in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania via Caliber Learning Center. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, a master’s degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in public administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management in Atlanta, Georgia, and received executive management certification from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.

Natalie is the Fulton County Commissioner for District 4. She works at the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, where she has been since 2017. She previously served as chief of staff to the District 4 commissioner for six years, worked as vice president of business development at Turnkey Solutions LLC, represented Georgia’s 6th district in the State Senate from 2013 to 2015, and served on the DeKalb County Board of Education from 2009 to 2013.

As of July 24, 2026, Natalie Hall did not have a website or any information online.

Rohit for Fulton County District 4 Commissioner

Rohit Malhotra, a nationally-recognized civic leader raised in Atlanta, has qualified to run as a Democrat in the special election for Fulton County Commissioner in District 4, representing Atlanta, East Point, Hapeville, and College Park.

Rohit for Fulton County

Rohit is the founder of the Center for Civic Innovation, where he has:

Supported over 200 small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs

Advanced community-based solutions to gun violence prevention

Strengthened neighborhood engagement and civic participation systems

About Rohit Malhotra

His experience also includes service as an Ash Innovation Fellow in the Obama Administration and leadership roles with organizations including HouseATL and ProGeorgia.

Rohit is the founder of the Center for Civic Innovation. He has also served as an Ash Innovation Fellow in the Obama Administration and held leadership roles with HouseATL and ProGeorgia.

Malhotra previously ran for Atlanta City Council President, earning nearly 50,000 votes and building a broad coalition across neighborhoods, labor, small business, and civic organizations.

Rohit previously ran for Atlanta City Council President.

Rohit previously lost the 2025 race for Atlanta City Council President.

As County Commissioner, I will focus on:
Protecting and strengthening local democracy and elections

Strengthening healthcare, justice, and public safety systems (Grady Hospital + mental health services)

Expanding opportunity through libraries, workforce development, and entrepreneurship 
Supporting small businesses and nonprofits through County partnerships

Increasing transparency and fairness in the County’s $1.5B budget and the tax system

Plans to support small businesses and nonprofits through county partnerships.

Plans to increase transparency and fairness in the county budget and tax system.

- Plans to support small businesses and nonprofits through county partnerships.
- Plans to increase transparency and fairness in the county budget and tax system.

Still, access is uneven. Affordable child care is scarce, housing costs are displacing families, and too many neighborhoods lack safe parks, sidewalks, and consistent health services. We can do better by putting children and families at the center of every policy decision. That means expanding affordable housing connected to quality schools and child care, investing in universal access to early childhood and afterschool programs, and ensuring safe routes to schools and parks.

Candidate Responses - CoA - GEEARS

The Fulton County Commission manages elections, hospitals, the justice system, libraries, art and culture programs, and many additional public services for over 1 million residents in Georgia.

As County Commissioner, I will focus on:
Protecting and strengthening local democracy and elections

Strengthening healthcare, justice, and public safety systems (Grady Hospital + mental health services)

Expanding opportunity through libraries, workforce development, and entrepreneurship 
Supporting small businesses and nonprofits through County partnerships

Increasing transparency and fairness in the County’s $1.5B budget and the tax system

Advocates universal early-childhood and afterschool programs and safe routes to schools and parks.

Plans to expand opportunity through libraries, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.

- Advocates universal early-childhood and afterschool programs and safe routes to schools and parks.
- Plans to expand opportunity through libraries, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.

Gentrification remains an issue for many historic neighborhoods and the longtime homeowners living there. What is your solution to reviving neighborhoods without losing these legacy residents?

Atlanta’s neighborhoods are the soul of our city. The definition of gentrification is “the process of making something more refined, polite, or respectable.” Every neighborhood wants and deserves that. But revitalization cannot mean displacement. So I believe we should invest in better infrastructure, sidewalks and greenspaces in historic neighborhoods, but we should also make sure that the people who are already in those neighborhoods today can see themselves in those neighborhoods tomorrow.

My solution is to expand tools that help longtime residents stay—like property tax relief for seniors, stronger protections for renters, and investments in affordable housing on publicly owned land. We must also prioritize community land trusts, down-payment assistance for first-time buyers, and home repair programs for legacy residents.

Atlanta mayoral and council candidates' responses - Rough Draft Atlanta

My solution is to expand tools that help longtime residents stay—like property tax relief for seniors, stronger protections for renters, and investments in affordable housing on publicly owned land. We must also prioritize community land trusts, down-payment assistance for first-time buyers, and home repair programs for legacy residents. Reviving neighborhoods should mean strengthening them, not pushing out the people who built them.

Proposes property-tax relief for seniors, renter protections, affordable housing on public land, community land trusts, down-payment assistance, and home-repair programs to prevent displacement.

- Proposes property-tax relief for seniors, renter protections, affordable housing on public land, community land trusts, down-payment assistance, and home-repair programs to prevent displacement.

What immediate actions can the City Council take to aid in curbing gun violence in Atlanta?

Gun violence in a public health crisis–– and it needs to be treated exactly like that. Immediately, the City Council must: (1) Invest in community-based violence interruption and prevention programs. In Atlanta–– like many other cities–– there are existing organizations on the ground that are trained in violence interruption when there are escalating instances that often result in gun violence.

This model, called CBVI (Community-Based Violence Intervention) is used in peer cities that have seen significant reductions in gun violence over the past few years. (2) We need to partner and work directly with Grady Memorial Hospital.

Some of the best CBVI work happens through Hospital-Based Violence Intervention (HAVI), where the hospital works with city officials, county officials, service providers, alternative programs, and nonprofits to create an ecosystem approach to solving gun violence and (3) we must create a dedicated funding source to support the underlying propellants and the rippling impacts of gun violence.

Some of the best CBVI work happens through Hospital-Based Violence Intervention (HAVI), where the hospital works with city officials, county officials, service providers, alternative programs, and nonprofits to create an ecosystem approach to solving gun violence and (3) we must create a dedicated funding source to support the underlying propellants and the rippling impacts of gun violence.

This means investing in programs that divert young people from harmful, violent activity and provide an alternative pathway to economic and social wellbeing. Additionally, it means making sure families who are impacted by gun violence directly have the financial resources to get support–– from funeral services to therapy to access to legal counsel.

Calls for community-based and hospital-based violence-intervention programs and dedicated funding for services addressing gun violence and its effects.

Plans to strengthen county healthcare, justice, and public-safety systems, including Grady Hospital and mental-health services.

- Calls for community-based and hospital-based violence-intervention programs and dedicated funding for services addressing gun violence and its effects.
- Plans to strengthen county healthcare, justice, and public-safety systems, including Grady Hospital and mental-health services.

Atlanta’s streets continue to be filled with potholes and plates. With more growth and hundreds of thousands of visitors expected for the FIFA World Cup, what is your solution to fixing our streets?

The money exists—we just aren’t spending it wisely. Atlanta voters have approved multiple infrastructure bonds and sales tax initiatives, but residents don’t see results quickly enough. My solution is to streamline project delivery, require accountability dashboards so the public can track repairs, and prioritize coordination between utilities and the City so streets aren’t constantly being reopened.

After last year’s catastrophic water main breaks, what can the city council do to make sure the estimated $2 billion in water infrastructure replacements and repairs is expedited as quickly as possible?

Last year’s water crisis showed us what happens when we underinvest and delay. City Council must move from reacting to emergencies to executing a clear, transparent plan. First, we need to establish a dedicated project management office to oversee water infrastructure upgrades, with strict timelines and quarterly progress reports to the public. Second, we must align bond dollars and federal infrastructure funds so projects aren’t stalled for lack of coordination.

Calls for committing existing Beltline Tax Allocation District and Moving Atlanta Forward funds to specific transit corridors and for advancing a segment through design and procurement.

Proposes streamlining street-repair delivery, public repair-tracking dashboards, and coordination between utilities and the city.

Proposes a project-management office with public progress reports and coordination of bond and federal funding for water-infrastructure upgrades.

Wants a project-management office with public progress reports and coordination of bond and federal funding for water-infrastructure upgrades.

- Proposes streamlining street-repair delivery, public repair-tracking dashboards, and coordination between utilities and the city.
- Wants a project-management office with public progress reports and coordination of bond and federal funding for water-infrastructure upgrades.

As of July 24, 2026, Rohit Malhotra’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Rohit Malhotra

- Plans to expand opportunity through libraries, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.

- Plans to strengthen county healthcare, justice, and public-safety systems, including Grady Hospital and mental-health services.

Rohit Malhotra was raised in Atlanta. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy, anthropology and religion from Emory University and a master's degree in public policy, business and government from Harvard University.

Rohit Malhotra is the founder of the Center for Civic Innovation. His experience includes serving as an Ash Innovation Fellow in the Obama administration and holding leadership roles with HouseATL and ProGeorgia.

Rohit is the founder of the Center for Civic Innovation, where he has supported over 200 small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs, advanced community-based solutions to gun violence prevention, and strengthened neighborhood engagement and civic participation systems. He previously served as an Ash Innovation Fellow in the Obama Administration and held leadership roles with organizations including HouseATL and ProGeorgia. 

Rohit previously ran for Atlanta City Council President, earning nearly 50,000 votes and building a broad coalition across neighborhoods, labor, small business, and civic organizations.

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property and sales taxes, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms in staggered years. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county

Fulton County Commissioner, District 4

Candidates (4)