Effingham County, Georgia

Georgia House District 159

See where Burns stand on schools, growth and jobs. Names follow official Effingham County election filings.

About this race

Jon G. Burns (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Jon G. Burns 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.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Jon G. Burns, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Georgia › Effingham County › Georgia House District 159

Jon G. Burns

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

Education
Agriculture and forestry
Economic development

Biography

Burns grew up on a family farm in Effingham County, raising livestock, growing crops and harvesting timber, per the campaign site. The site says Burns earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Georgia Southern College and a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School, per the campaign site. The site describes Burns as Georgia's 75th Speaker of the House, elected to that post in January 2023 and first elected to the House in 2004, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotGeorgia House District 161

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Georgia House District 159 in 2026?

One candidate is tracked for Georgia House District 159, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Jon G. Burns. Candidate information follows official Effingham County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on schools, growth and jobs.

When is the Georgia House District 159 election in Georgia?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Georgia are on the Georgia election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Effingham County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Effingham County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Georgia election office, or see the full Effingham County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Effingham County ballot

3 tracked races in Effingham County, Georgia. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Georgia Senate District 4 See all 3 Effingham County races

Candidate profiles

Jon G. Burns, full profile Official Georgia election office