Who's running in Georgia's 2nd 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.
2 candidates · ballot order · Sanford Bishop currently holds this seat
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.
Agriculture and rural development funding, as a senior appropriator.
Federal investment in south-west Georgia's farms, military bases and hospitals.
Abortion rights; he is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Civil rights; he is endorsed by the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund.
Bipartisan legislating in a rural, conservative district.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative since January 1993; re-elected in 2024 with 56.3%, a wider margin than his 2022 result.
Senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.
Lawyer and former Georgia state legislator from Albany.
Unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the May 19, 2026 primary.
The House Ethics Committee closed its investigation of his campaign spending in December 2024, finding no evidence of intentional misuse of funds.
Arguments in favor
Abortion rights and civil rights organisations endorsed his re-election, unusual backing for a Democrat holding a rural, conservative southern seat.
— Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund
Arguments against
The Office of Congressional Ethics referred a complaint alleging he improperly spent more than $90,000 in official and campaign funds on personal expenses including fuel, golf club charges, meals, travel, tuition and entertainment. The House Ethics Committee reviewed it for four years and closed the matter in December 2024, finding no evidence of intentional misuse.
— Office of Congressional Ethics referral, February 2020
He was reported to have awarded three Congressional Black Caucus Foundation scholarships to his stepdaughter and his wife's niece; his spokesman said the awards predated 2008, before the caucus foundation restricted such awards.
— Reporting on Congressional Black Caucus Foundation scholarships
What we couldn’t verify
Both criticisms predate this cycle. The ethics matter was formally closed in his favour, and the scholarship awards predate the rule that would have barred them; both are recorded with those outcomes attached.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Bishop for the 2026 cycle could be found, and no criticism of him by name from Matt Day was located.
His campaign website returned an access error when checked; the address given is the one listed in public records.
Manufacturing and agriculture as the basis of the district's economy.
Decriminalising marijuana except in cases of driving under the influence.
Opposition to abortion.
Removing what he calls woke ideology from schools and teaching practical skills such as budgeting and business basics.
Limiting solar development to about 1,000 acres per county and opposing large solar farms.
Criminal justice reform through a tiered work rehabilitation system, and lowering health costs by targeting pharmacy benefit managers.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Businessman; has not held elected office.
Won the Republican nomination for the 2nd District in the May 19, 2026 primary.
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 Day by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', with 'opponent', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Sanford Bishop's campaign, and against Albany Herald, Americus Times-Recorder and AJC coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either.
No campaign website for him could be located.
His endorsements and fundraising were not established from sources read.
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.
Georgia held its primary on May 19, 2026, with runoffs on June 16. Democratic incumbent Sanford Bishop was unopposed for renomination and is seeking an eighteenth term; Republican businessman Matt Day is the challenger. The district covers south-west Georgia, including Albany, Americus and parts of Columbus and Macon, and is largely rural and agricultural. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting. Criticism of Day by name could not be found, so his 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.