2026 Georgia Primary Election

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Republican

2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

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James D. Burchett earned a bachelor's degree in construction management from Georgia Southern University and a law degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law. He lives with his wife, Misty, and their two children in Millwood, Georgia, and attends Indian Mound Baptist Church,

James is a partner at Burchett & Kemp, LLC and the chief operating officer and a founding partner of The Burchett Company, LLC. He previously served as an attorney for J.D. Burchett Law, the chief building inspector for Ware County, and the owner of J.D. Burchett Construction.

James Burchett - Ballotpedia

James currently serves as the District 176 representative of the Georgia House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2019 and is serving his third full term.

Promises to protect the district's farmers, timber growers, and landowners because "they provide the jobs, food, and resources our families depend on."

Plans to cut property taxes and reduce regulations.

Plans to invest in rural broadband, roads, and small businesses to help grow the district's economy.

- Promises to protect the district's farmers, timber growers, and landowners because "they provide the jobs, food, and resources our families depend on."
- Plans to cut property taxes and reduce regulations.
- Plans to invest in rural broadband, roads, and small businesses to help grow the district's economy.

Economy

As of March 11, 2026, James D. Burchett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Supports law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders.

- Supports law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders.

Public Safety

Wants to develop a strong workforce by focusing on technical schools, apprenticeships, and job training programs.

- Wants to develop a strong workforce by focusing on technical schools, apprenticeships, and job training programs.

Education

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James D. Burchett

As of March 11, 2026, James D Burchett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

James D Burchett

Isaac Brickman

Rafael Perez

Walter Ley

Michael Dockery is from Douglas, Georgia. He has a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. He also has a graduate degree from Valdosta State University. He and his wife, Monica, have a daughter.

Georgia House of Representatives District 176 - Ballotpedia

Michael Dockery is from Douglas. He has a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree from the Citadel, along with another graduate degree from Valdosta State University. He and his wife, Monica, have a daughter.

Michael is a teacher. He served in the US Army Reserve from 2006 to 2015.

Michael Dockery is running for election to the Georgia House of Representatives to represent District 176.

Teacher Turns Candidate: Michael Dockery Steps Up to Represent Georgia’s District 176

Michael's campaign to represent District 176 in the Georgia House of Representatives is his first run for public office.

Said, "Our farmers and loggers are facing rising costs, shrinking markets, unpredictable weather, and mill closures that hit families hard. As State Representative, I’ll fight for policies that strengthen our supply chains, protect our landowners, and keep decisions in the hands of the people who actually work the land. That means cutting useless regulations, fixing broken programs, improving rural infrastructure, and opening new markets for Georgia-grown products. South Georgia feeds and fuels this state — and it’s time Atlanta started treating us like the priority we are."

Says, "I'll fight for policies that strengthen our supply chains, protect our landowners, and keep decisions in the hands of the people who actually work the land. That means cutting useless regulations, fixing broken programs, improving rural infrastructure, and opening new markets for Georgia-grown products."

Supports common-sense policies to lower everyday costs for families, including increased competition in the utility market, transparency in local fees, support for small businesses, and tax relief.

Wants to lower everyday costs for families by increasing competition in the utility market, making local fees more transparent, supporting small businesses, and working to bring about tax relief.

- Says, "I'll fight for policies that strengthen our supply chains, protect our landowners, and keep decisions in the hands of the people who actually work the land. That means cutting useless regulations, fixing broken programs, improving rural infrastructure, and opening new markets for Georgia-grown products."
- Wants to lower everyday costs for families by increasing competition in the utility market, making local fees more transparent, supporting small businesses, and working to bring about tax relief.

Believes that agriculture and timber are "not just an industry, but a way of life" in South Georgia, noting that farmers are facing rising costs and unpredictable weather that make their jobs harder.

- Believes that agriculture and timber are "not just an industry, but a way of life" in South Georgia, noting that farmers are facing rising costs and unpredictable weather that make their jobs harder.

Said, "No family in South Georgia should have to drive an hour or more just to see a doctor or get basic treatment. Rural hospitals and clinics are closing their doors because the system is stacked against them. I’ll fight for smart, conservative healthcare solutions that help local providers stay open — expanding telehealth, improving rural reimbursement rates, supporting EMS coverage, and cutting red tape that hurts patients. Healthcare shouldn’t be a privilege of big cities. Our families deserve quality care close to home, and I’ll make sure rural voices are heard loud and clear in Atlanta."

Supports helping rural hospitals and clinics by expanding telehealth, improving rural reimbursement rates, supporting EMS coverage, and cutting red tape.

- Supports helping rural hospitals and clinics by expanding telehealth, improving rural reimbursement rates, supporting EMS coverage, and cutting red tape.

Michael Dockery Pledges to Support Congressional Term Limits

Supports strengthening voter registration integrity by implementing safeguards to prevent unauthorized cancellations and addressing vulnerabilities in the online portal system.

Wants to strengthen voter registration integrity by implementing safeguards to prevent unauthorized cancellations and addressing vulnerabilities in the online portal system.

Supports enhancing election certification processes by establishing clear guidelines for timely and transparent certification of election results to ensure public confidence.

Supports improving ballot security and accessibility, including measures for absentee and early voting, and ensuring equal access for all eligible voters, including those experiencing homelessness.

Aims to improve ballot security and accessibility, including measures for absentee and early voting, and to ensure equal access for all eligible voters, including those experiencing homelessness.

- Wants to strengthen voter registration integrity by implementing safeguards to prevent unauthorized cancellations and addressing vulnerabilities in the online portal system.
- Supports enhancing election certification processes by establishing clear guidelines for timely and transparent certification of election results to ensure public confidence.
- Aims to improve ballot security and accessibility, including measures for absentee and early voting, and to ensure equal access for all eligible voters, including those experiencing homelessness.
- Supports congressional term limits.

Supports law enforcement and first responders, advocating for stronger penalties for violent crime, better mental health support, and increased funding for recruitment and retention of officers.

- Supports law enforcement and first responders, advocating for stronger penalties for violent crime, better mental health support, and increased funding for recruitment and retention of officers.

Advocates for fair funding, safer campuses, stronger reading and math programs, and support for teachers, while emphasizing the need to keep politics out of the classroom and ensure every child has access to a quality education.

- Advocates for fair funding, safer campuses, stronger reading and math programs, and support for teachers, while emphasizing the need to keep politics out of the classroom and ensure every child has access to a quality education.

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Michael R. Dockery

Michael R Dockery

- Wants to strengthen voter registration integrity by implementing safeguards to prevent unauthorized cancellations and addressing vulnerabilities in the online portal system.
- Supports enhancing election certification processes by establishing clear guidelines for timely and transparent certification of election results to ensure public confidence.
- Aims to improve ballot security and accessibility, including measures for absentee and early voting, and to ensure equal access for all eligible voters, including those experiencing homelessness.

As of March 11, 2026, Michael R Dockery’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Sam Scruby

Says he "would prioritize legislation to enhance election administration, ensuring both security and accessibility."

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Georgia State House of Representatives.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. All bills dealing with the state budget originate in the Georgia House of Representatives.
- The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 180 members of the Georgia House of Representatives, each representing a single district.
- State Representatives are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342. They only serve in the role part-time.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Georgia House of Representatives

Georgia State Representative, District 176, Republican Primary

Election results

Candidates (2)