Who's running in Georgia's 1st congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Conservative leadership in the mould of the district's long Republican representation.
The Republican legislative agenda in Congress.
Coastal Georgia's port and military economy.
Border security and immigration enforcement.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary with 52.7% of more than 70,000 votes, avoiding a runoff in a fourteen-candidate field.
Son of former U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, who held this seat from 1993 to 2015.
Endorsed by President Trump in April 2026.
Says he raised more than any open-seat candidate in the race.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
President Trump endorsed him in the primary, and he won it outright against thirteen opponents.
— President Donald Trump
Arguments against
The regional non-profit newsroom covering coastal Georgia reported that his campaign said he attended the University of Georgia when university officials confirmed he did not graduate, and described the campaign as carefully curated to avoid unscripted moments and side-by-side appearances with his rivals.
— The Current, May 2026
What we couldn’t verify
His campaign also makes a case for him based on his own experience and seniority — his campaign says he raised more money than any other open-seat candidate in the race, which it presents as evidence of the breadth of his support in coastal Georgia — but that is the candidate describing himself rather than an argument made by anyone else, so it is recorded here and in his record rather than presented alongside the criticism of him.
Kingston's response to The Current's reporting on the University of Georgia claim was not established from sources read.
No criticism of him by name from Amanda Hollowell's campaign or from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was located.
His detailed federal policy positions beyond general conservative themes were not established from sources read.
Voting rights and civic participation, the field she has worked in professionally.
Economic policy aimed at working families, drawing on her work with the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and 9to5 Georgia.
Racial justice, drawing on her role at Color of Change.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Chief of campaigns at Color of Change; previously worked at When We All Vote, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and 9to5 Georgia.
B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Won the June 16, 2026 Democratic runoff against Joyce Marie Griggs.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Hollowell by name could be found. Searched: her name with 'criticism', with 'opponent', against National Republican Congressional Committee material, against Jim Kingston's campaign, and against Savannah Morning News, WTOC, The Current and AJC coverage. Because no case against her exists on the record, no case for her is presented either.
Her endorsements and fundraising were not established from sources read.
The district is rated solidly Republican; how she intends to change that was not established.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
This is an open seat: Republican incumbent Buddy Carter is running for the U.S. Senate instead. Georgia held its primary on May 19, 2026, with runoffs on June 16 where nobody cleared 50%. Jim Kingston won a fourteen-candidate Republican primary outright with 52.7%; Amanda Hollowell won the Democratic runoff against Joyce Marie Griggs. The district covers the south-east corner of the state including Savannah and is rated solidly Republican. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WTOC and The Current reporting. Criticism of Hollowell by name could not be found, so her entry carries no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Georgia ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.