Every citizen is represented at three levels of government:

• Federal Government — National issues

• State Government — Georgia laws and services

• Local Government — Newton County and city services

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

United States Senate - Represents the entire state of Georgia

Georgia has two U.S. Senators, and every voter in Georgia votes for both.

Current U.S. Senators:

• Jon Ossoff

• Rev. Raphael Warnock

Term Length: 6 years

Responsibilities:

• Passing federal laws

• Confirming federal judges

• Approving federal budgets

• Representing Georgia at the national level

---------------------------------------------

United States House of Representatives - Represents geographic districts within the state

Newton County includes:

• District 10 — Mike Collins

• District 13 — David Scott

Term Length: 2 years

Responsibilities:

• Introducing legislation

• Voting on federal laws

• Helping constituents with federal agencies

• Representing district residents in Washington, D.C.

(Click links above for map of Congressional districts.)

The Georgia “General Assembly” is the state-equivalent to what we call “Congress” at the Federal level.

The Georgia General Assembly creates laws that affect residents across the state.

Georgia has two legislative chambers:

• Georgia Senate

• Georgia House of Representatives

---------------------------------------------

Georgia State Senate

• District 42 — Brian Strickland

• District 43 — Tonya Anderson

 Term Length: 2 years

---------------------------------------------

Georgia House of Representatives

• District 113 — Sharon Henderson (suspended)

• District 114 — Tim Fleming

• District 118 — Clint Crowe

Term Length: 2 years

 (Click links above to view GA Senate and GA House district maps.)

The Georgia General Assembly meets once each year during the Legislative Session. 

Typical timeframe: January through late March or early April

The session lasts: 40 legislative days

The final day of the session is called: Sine Die.
This is the last day new laws can pass for the year.

You can follow legislation, bills, and committee meetings at:

https://www.legis.ga.gov

The three primary governing & taxing agencies in Newton County are:
Board of Commissioners (BOC), Board of Education (BOE), and municipality (city) leadership such as Mayors and City Councils of Covington, Oxford, Porterdale, Mansfield, and Newborn. 

The Board of Commissioners manages county services such as:

• Roads and infrastructure

• Public safety services

• Planning and zoning

• County taxes and budgets

• Parks and recreation

Current elected members:

• Board Chair — Linda Hays (appointed interim)

• District 1 — Stan Edwards

• District 2 — Demond Mason

• District 3 — Andre Cooper (appointed interim)

• District 4 — JC Henderson

• District 5 — LeAnne Long

 Term Length: 4 years

 --------------------------------------------

The Board of Education sets policies and budgets for Newton County Schools. Their responsibilities include:

• School system governance

• Budget approval

• Hiring/firing the Superintendent

• Setting district policies

• Academic planning and oversight

Current elected member:

• District 1 — Trey Bailey

• District 2 — Eddie Johnson

• District 3 — Shakila Henderson-Baker

• District 4 — Anderson Bailey

• District 5 — Abigail Coggin

 Term Length: 4 years

(Click on this link to see the Newton County district map. BOC and BOE districts are the same.)

---------------------------------------------

Municipal Government

Each city has:

• Mayor

• City Council

These leaders make decisions about:

• Police and fire services

• City roads

• Utilities

• Zoning and development

• Community planning

For more information on each city and their elected officials, see individual city web pages:

• City of Covington

• City of Oxford

• City of Porterdale

• Town of Newborn

• City of Mansfield

Early Voting Begins:

Monday, April 27

Primary Election Day:

Tuesday, May 19

General Election (this is sometimes called “the midterms”):

Tuesday, November 3

UNDERSTANDING PRIMARY VS GENERAL ELECTIONS

Primary Election

A primary election is when voters choose which candidate will represent their party in the general election.

General Election

A general election is when voters select the final winner for each office.

***Why Voting in the Primary Matters***

• Many local elections are effectively decided during the primary.

• Fewer people vote in primaries.

• Some districts strongly favor one party.

• The primary winner often becomes the final winner.

That means:

Your vote in the primary can have more impact than your vote in the general election.

This is one of our most favorite tools! Use the Georgia My Voter Page (MVP):

https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

(It is so easy to use. Simply put your first initial, last name, birthdate, and your county.)

This tool allows you to:

• View your sample ballot

• Find your polling location

• See your districts and elected officials

• Request an absentee ballot

• Check your voter participation history

Here is a list of the candidates who are running for each office connected to Newton County.

If more than one person is listed in each race from the same party affiliation (Democrat or Republican) then you must choose one of them in the Primary on May 19. [THIS is why the Primary is so important.]

FEDERAL

US Senator (GA)

• Jon Ossoff (D)

• Derek Dooley (R)

• Buddy Carter (R)

• John Coyne (R)

• Jonathan McColumn (R)

• Mike Collins (R)

US House of Representatives (GA)

District 10

• Houston Gaines (R)

• Jeff Baker (R)

• Ryan Millsap (R)

• Lexy Doherty (D)

• John Dority (D)

• Pam Delancy (D)

District 13

• David Scott (D)

• Emanuel Jones (D)

• Everton Blair (D)

• Heavenly Kimes (D)

• Jasmine Clark (D)

• Jeffree Fauntleroy (D)

• Joe Lester (D)

• Jonathan Chavez (R)

STATE

[Statewide Offices]

Governor

• Amanda Duffy (D)

• Derrick Jackson (D)

• Geoff Duncan (D)

• Jason Esteves (D)

• Keisha Lance Bottoms (D)

• Mike Thurmond (D)

• Olu Brown (D)

• Brad Raffensperer (R)

• Burt Jones (R)

• Chris Carr (R)

• Clark Dean (R)

• Gregg Kirkpatrick (R)

• Ken Yasger (R)

• Rick Jackson (R)

• Thomas Williams (R)

Lt. Governor

• Josh McLaurin (D)

• Nabilah Parkes (D)

• Richard Wright (D)

• Brenda Nelson-Porter (R)

• David Clark (R)

• Greg Dolezal (R)

• John Kennedy (R)

• Blake Tillery (R)

• Steve Gooch (R)

• Takosh Swan (R)

Attorney General

• Bob Trammell (D)

• Tanya Miller (D)

• Brian Strickland (R)

• Bill Cowsert (R)

Secretary of State

• Adrian Consonery (D)

• Cam Ashling (D)

• Dana Barrett (D)

• Penny Reynolds (D)

• Ted Metz (R)

• Kelvin King (R)

• Rob Sterling (R)

• Tim Fleming (R)

• Vernon Jones (R)

State School Superintendent

• Anton Anthony (D)

• Lydia Powell (D)

• Otha Thornton (D)

• Bubba Longgraer (R)

• Mesha Mainor (R)

• Nelva Lee (R)

• Randell Trammell (R)

• Richard Woods (R)

[Districtwide Offices that cover parts of Newton]

Georgia Senate

District 42

• Rev. Eric Lee (D)

• Bret Dunn (R)

District 43

• Tonya Anderson (D)

• Sharon Henderson (D)

• Donald Ferguson (D)

Georgia House

District 113

• Don Scarbrough (R)

• Alana Sanders (D)

• Karla Hooper (D)

District 114

• Brett Mauldin (R)

• Wendell McNeal (R)

• Michael Caw (D)

District 118

• Clint Crowe (R)

• Jodi Lewis (D)

• Sharonda Bell (D)

LOCAL

Board of Commissioners

District