Who's running in Georgia's 5th 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 · Nikema Williams 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.
Gun violence prevention; she is endorsed by Giffords.
Voting rights, the cause associated with the seat she holds.
Abortion rights and reproductive health care.
Federal investment in Atlanta.
Transportation and infrastructure policy.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 5th District since January 2021, succeeding John Lewis; re-elected in 2024 with 85.7%.
Georgia state senator before Congress.
Chaired the Democratic Party of Georgia from 2019 until March 2025.
Beat Arnetress Beatty in the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
The country's best-known gun violence prevention organisation endorsed her re-election.
— Giffords
Arguments against
She resigned as chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia in March 2025 under pressure from donors, activists and elected officials — including Senator Jon Ossoff — who questioned her leadership after the 2024 election and argued a sitting member of Congress could not raise money for the party effectively because of federal limits. She also faced accusations of mismanaging party funds.
— Democratic Party of Georgia donors, activists and elected officials including Sen. Jon Ossoff, reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WABE
What we couldn’t verify
The fund mismanagement accusations were made by party figures rather than established by any finding; Williams's own account was that she supported the rule change making the chairmanship a full-time job.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Williams for the 2026 cycle could be found, and no criticism of her from John Salvesen's campaign was located.
A second published case for her re-election, beyond the Giffords endorsement, could not be found.
Republican nominee for this district in 2024; lost to Nikema Williams 14% to 86%.
Unopposed for the Republican nomination in the May 19, 2026 primary.
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
Salvesen's policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile covering him was located. The standsFor list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Salvesen by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Nikema Williams's campaign, and against Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBS Atlanta and Decaturish coverage.
His fundraising was not established from sources read; the district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+36.
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 Nikema Williams beat Arnetress Beatty for renomination; Republican John Salvesen was unopposed and is the nominee for the second cycle running, having lost to Williams 86-14 in 2024. The district covers most of central Atlanta and has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+36. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Atlanta Journal-Constitution and CBS Atlanta reporting. Criticism of Salvesen 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.