Houston Gaines: Delivering Conservative Results | Candidate Conversations — Episode 88

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In Episode 88 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall continue the Candidate Conversations series with State Representative Houston Gaines, candidate for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District.

Gaines currently serves in the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 120, which includes portions of Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, and Oconee counties. He has served in the State House since 2019 and is now running for the open GA-10 congressional seat currently held by Congressman Mike Collins, who is running for U.S. Senate. Gaines’ official campaign biography describes him as an Athens native, an eighth-generation northeast Georgian, and a small-business professional with Carter Engineering. 

The conversation began with a reminder of why the primary matters. Georgia’s 10th Congressional District is a large, heavily Republican district, and for many voters, the primary may play a major role in determining who ultimately represents the district in Congress. Early voting is already underway, and primary election day is May 19.

Gaines talked about the size and scope of the district, noting that it includes 20 counties and has already required significant time on the road. He said that while running for Congress, he has continued serving in the State House because he believes when someone signs up for a job, they should finish the job.

Much of the conversation centered on what drew Gaines into public service and what has kept him there. He pointed to the influence of his grandfather, Superior Court Judge Joseph Gaines, and said he believes politics can be a place where people get meaningful things done when they are in it for the right reasons.

Gaines said his record in the Georgia House includes more than 20 bills he authored that were signed by the governor. He emphasized that these were not symbolic measures, but substantive bills touching issues such as public safety, tax relief, cutting red tape, recovery support, domestic violence, human trafficking, and immigration enforcement.

One of the most personal examples Gaines discussed was the Baker-Coleman Act, legislation that created a cold case unit within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The bill was inspired by the families of Tara Baker and Rhonda Sue Coleman, both murder victims whose cases remained unsolved for years. Gaines described receiving calls from the governor, first lady, and GBI director after a suspect was identified in Tara Baker’s case. He later watched a Dateline episode about the case alongside Tara’s family.

For Gaines, that legislation represented what public service can accomplish when it moves beyond talking points. He said the law not only helped one family move closer to justice, but also created a structure that could help hundreds of families across Georgia whose loved ones’ cases remain unsolved.

The conversation then moved to party, ideology, and representation. Gaines acknowledged that he has clear conservative convictions and that not every voter will agree with him. But he also said constituent service should not depend on party affiliation. If someone contacts his office needing help, he said, he does not ask whether they are Republican or Democrat. He tries to respond and help.

Gaines described constituent service as one of the most important responsibilities of any elected official. Whether the issue involves state government, a health concern, or even something as unexpected as a cable bill, he said accessibility and responsiveness matter.

When asked why now was the right time to run for Congress, Gaines said he and his wife had considered the timing carefully. After Congressman Mike Collins announced his run for Senate, Gaines began calling people across the district. He said the support felt real, doors opened quickly, and the decision felt right both politically and personally.

He also discussed the early momentum of his campaign, including support from Republican state legislators in the district, sheriffs across the 20 counties, and significant fundraising in the first 24 hours after his announcement.

On fiscal policy, Gaines said Congress could learn from Georgia’s requirement to pass a balanced budget each year. He argued that Washington must address waste, fraud, and abuse while having difficult conversations about long-term debt and spending. He called the national debt a generational burden and a national security issue.

Public safety was another major theme. Gaines discussed his work on illegal immigration enforcement following the killing of Laken Riley in Athens. He said he supported legislation requiring greater cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities when someone in custody is found to be in the country illegally.

Gaines also discussed legislation creating oversight for district attorneys, arguing that prosecutors should be accountable when they refuse to enforce the law or misuse their office. He described Georgia’s Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission as a way for citizens to hold district attorneys accountable.

The episode also covered cashless bail, law enforcement funding, and the “defund the police” movement. Gaines said he took action after Athens-Clarke County considered a proposal that would have significantly cut police funding. He argued that public safety requires consistent support for law enforcement.

On affordability, Gaines said housing costs are one of the most pressing issues facing younger adults and families. He described housing affordability as a supply-and-demand challenge and pointed to property taxes, regulation, and red tape as factors that increase the cost of homeownership.

He highlighted state-level tax relief efforts, including income tax cuts, gas tax savings, property tax relief, and direct rebates. Gaines said government should return taxpayer money when the state has the ability to do so while still balancing the budget.

The conversation then shifted to jobs, small businesses, and economic development. Gaines said his private-sector work at Carter Engineering gives him a daily view of how permitting delays, regulation, and government bureaucracy can slow business growth. As an example, he discussed legislation he helped pass to simplify permitting for food trucks by creating a statewide process instead of requiring operators to repeat the same inspection and fee process in every county.

Agriculture also received significant attention. Gaines called agriculture the number one industry in Georgia and in the 10th District. He framed food production as a national security issue, arguing that the United States must maintain its own food supply rather than becoming dependent on other countries.

He also discussed the impact of weather events, including Hurricane Helene and recent wildfires, on Georgia farmers. Gaines said the state stepped in with more than a billion dollars to help farmers recover when federal aid was slow to arrive.

As the discussion moved toward how Gaines would represent such a large district, he said the key is showing up. The 10th District includes 20 counties, and Gaines said he has visited all of them multiple times during the campaign. He said that if elected, he would continue visiting every county regularly and would remain accessible to constituents.

The episode also addressed endorsements, including President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Gaines. Gaines described the call from Trump as meaningful and said the former president emphasized the importance of Georgia and the importance of the race. Gaines also encouraged undecided voters to watch the Atlanta Press Club debate featuring the candidates in the race.

Near the end of the episode, Trey described the kind of representative he wants: someone with “the tenacity of a lion, but the decorum of a statesman.” Gaines responded by pointing again to his legislative record, saying he believes he has shown that he can fight for conservative policy while also doing the work required to pass legislation.

Gabriel closed the interview with the “magic bullhorn” question, asking Gaines what one message he would want everyone in the town square to hear. Gaines said many people in politics like to talk, but he wants to get things done. He pointed back to his original State House campaign slogan: “Gaines gets it done.”

For voters in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, this episode offers a direct look at Houston Gaines’ background, record, priorities, and approach to public service as the May 19 primary approaches.

Houston Gaines Contact Information

Website: HoustonGaines.com

Email: info@HoustonGaines.com

Facebook: Houston Gaines

X/Twitter: @HoustonGaines

Episode Sponsors

SCB Construction Group

This episode is sponsored in part by SCB Construction Group, a locally owned and community-driven commercial contractor serving Georgia and beyond. SCB specializes in turnkey design-build, design-bid, and commercial contracting services, including manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, churches, sports complexes, offices, and retail spaces. Learn more at SCBcg.com.

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