6 candidates are tracked across 3 Catoosa County races for the 2026 election, led by the Georgia Senate District 53 contest. Preview your Catoosa County, Georgia sample ballot for 2026: browse tracked local races, then enter your ZIP code to confirm which districts and offices appear on your exact ballot.
These race previews show candidates we’re tracking now. A ZIP code shows your statewide and congressional races; a street address adds county and city contests.
Enter your ZIP code at theballotbrief.com to see your exact 2026 ballot.
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Local Snapshot
Election DayNov. 3, 2026
StateGeorgia
Races Listed3
Profiles6
Catoosa County Sample Ballot 2026: Races We’re Tracking
Local races are address-specific. This guide previews tracked contests, while the lookup tool narrows the list to a voter’s exact address. Tap any name to see the race, full candidate profiles, and everything else on your exact ballot. Georgia nominees were set by the May 19 primary and June 16 runoffs; unopposed nominees still print on November 3, and any November race without a majority winner goes to a December 1 runoff, per state law.
Lanny Thomas (Republican), John Bentley "Jack" Zibluk (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Lanny Thomas is the sitting member, per the Secretary of State's certified list. Party nominees were chosen at the May 19 primary and June 16 runoff (majority rule); independents qualified by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's certified November 2026 candidate list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Lanny Thomas · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Lanny Thomas spent 35 years working in public education in Northwest Georgia schools before entering local government as mayor of Trion, per his official Senate biography. He was elected to the Georgia Senate to represent District 53 after serving as mayor until November 2025, per his official Senate biography. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
John Bentley "Jack" Zibluk is the Democratic candidate for Georgia Senate District 53 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Steve Tarvin (Republican), Whitney Echenique (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Steve Tarvin is the sitting member, per the Secretary of State's certified list. Party nominees were chosen at the May 19 primary and June 16 runoff (majority rule); independents qualified by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's certified November 2026 candidate list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Steve Tarvin · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Steve Tarvin is a business owner who previously served as a Chickamauga City Councilman and school board member before his 2014 election to the Georgia House, per his campaign site. He represents House District 2, covering parts of Walker, Catoosa and Whitfield counties, per his campaign site.
Priorities: Reduce the state income tax and deliver property tax relief · Oppose wasteful spending and favor balanced budgets (per the campaign site)
Whitney Echenique is a working mother, small business owner and transportation and logistics professional with more than 15 years of experience, per her campaign site. She was raised in rural Tennessee and now lives in Dalton, Georgia.
Priorities: Expanding healthcare access, including Medicaid access and support for rural hospitals · Property tax relief, childcare support and small-business assistance · Public school funding and career and technical education (per the campaign site)
Mitchell Horner (Republican), Margaret Spear (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Mitchell Horner is the sitting member, per the Secretary of State's certified list. Party nominees were chosen at the May 19 primary and June 16 runoff (majority rule); independents qualified by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's certified November 2026 candidate list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Mitchell Horner · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Mitchell Horner is the Republican candidate for Georgia House District 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list.
Margaret Spear is the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list.
Note: Use address lookup for your exact ballot; local pages preview tracked races.Profiles: Hand-verified profiles are added race by race; always confirm with the official election office linked above.
Lanny Thomas spent 35 years working in public education in Northwest Georgia schools before entering local government as mayor of Trion, per his official Senate biography. He was elected to the Georgia Senate to represent District 53 after serving as mayor until November 2025, per his official Senate biography. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
