Republican businessman Shane Cowan unseated incumbent Rhonda Wallace 6,098 votes to 5,601 in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, per wrganews.com's report on the primary results (also reported by the Rome News-Tribune, northwestgeorgianews.com). No Democrat qualified for Post 1, so Cowan is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot.
Shane Cowan (Republican)
Shane Cowan is a Floyd County business leader and lifelong county resident who unseated incumbent Rhonda Wallace in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary in County Commission Post 1, per Coosa Valley News and wrganews.com. He faces no Democratic opponent in November. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Shane Cowan.
Incumbent David Thornton won a three-way Republican primary on May 19, 2026 with 7,286 votes (about 63%), defeating Tonya Eden Shepard (2,906) and Bryon Eugene Benefield (1,418), per wrganews.com's primary-results report. He faces Democrat Fred Adams, who qualified unopposed for the Democratic nomination, on the November 3 ballot, per the Rome News-Tribune's qualifying-period coverage.
David Thornton (Republican)Incumbent
David Thornton is a Floyd County business owner and longtime volunteer chaplain for the Floyd County Sheriff's Office who became the office's full-time chaplain in 2019, per the Rome News-Tribune. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for David Thornton.
Priorities: Being "fair, caring, and always willing to listen" to constituents' concerns · Community growth through responsible stewardship of tax dollars and a business-friendly environment for good-paying jobs · Enhancing the overall quality of life for Floyd County residents (per the Rome News-Tribune (northwestgeorgianews.com))
Fred Adams (Democratic)
Fred Adams appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Floyd County Commission Post 4, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Fred Adams.
This open seat (Commissioner Scotty Hancock did not seek re-election) drew a Republican primary among Cleve Jackson, Ronnie Kilgo and Tonya Eden Shepard; Jackson won on May 19, 2026 with 5,906 votes to Kilgo's 5,545, per wrganews.com. He faces Democrat Shonna Bailey, the first Democrat to run for this seat, on the November 3 ballot, per the Rome News-Tribune.
Cleve Jackson (Republican)
Cleve Jackson is a Cave Spring farmer who operates Jackson Farms and works as a district sales manager for an animal-health company serving poultry producers, per the Rome News-Tribune. A University of Georgia agribusiness graduate, he has held Floyd County agricultural leadership roles for more than 15 years. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Cleve Jackson.
Priorities: Responsible growth, fiscal responsibility and careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars · Support for law enforcement and first responders · Preserving Floyd County's rural character while making county government work effectively for residents (per the Rome News-Tribune (northwestgeorgianews.com))
Shonna Bailey (Democratic)
Shonna Bailey is a Floyd County businesswoman and community advocate who has served on the Parent Advisory & Information Committee for the Floyd County Health Department and as a mentor specialist for Rejuvenate Hope and Southeast Elementary School, per the Rome News-Tribune. She has also held leadership roles with the United Steelworkers. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Shonna Bailey.
Priorities: "Smart development throughout Floyd County" including improved infrastructure and housing to handle growth, per Rome News-Tribune (northwestgeorgianews.com), candidate's own words · Safeguarding the education system from school closures, per Rome News-Tribune (northwestgeorgianews.com), candidate's own words · Support for seniors, disabled residents and those facing mental health challenges, per Rome News-Tribune (northwestgeorgianews.com), candidate's own words
Incumbent Steve Turrentine qualified without a Republican primary opponent and faces Democrat Sonja Johnson Law on the November 3 ballot, per the Rome News-Tribune's qualifying-period coverage.
Steve Turrentine (Republican)Incumbent
Steve Turrentine spent 26 years as a teacher, coach and principal in Floyd County Schools, including as principal of Model Middle School and Armuchee Middle School, per the Rome News-Tribune. He now works as a driver for The Spires at Berry College and is seeking election to the District 1 school board seat he was appointed to in 2025. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Steve Turrentine.
Sonja Johnson Law (Democratic)
Sonja Johnson Law is an advocate for children and families who has drawn on her own experience as a single mother who navigated the Floyd County school system, per the Rome News-Tribune. She qualified as the Democratic candidate for the District 1 school board seat. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Sonja Johnson Law.
This open seat (Board member Tony Daniel did not seek re-election) drew a two-way Republican primary; Matthew Todd Wheeler finished ahead of Carmen Dempsey Jones 6,110 votes to 2,301 (about 73%) on May 19, 2026, per wrganews.com and the Rome News-Tribune. No Democrat qualified, so Wheeler is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot.
Matthew Todd Wheeler (Republican)
Matthew Todd Wheeler is a longtime Floyd County teacher with 25 years of classroom experience who has worked in every school in the district, per the Rome News-Tribune. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Matthew Todd Wheeler.
Priorities: Understanding the school system's budget and finding ways to cut costs without hurting academic progress, per Rome News-Tribune (northwestgeorgianews.com), candidate's own words · Meeting with principals and school leaders to determine each school's specific needs, per Rome News-Tribune (northwestgeorgianews.com), candidate's own words · Using his 25 years of classroom experience to help improve schools across the district, per Rome News-Tribune (northwestgeorgianews.com), candidate's own words
Chuck Hufstetler (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Chuck Hufstetler 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.
Chuck Hufstetler (Republican)Incumbent
Chuck Hufstetler works as an anesthesia provider at Redmond Regional Hospital in Rome and holds a Master of Medical Science in Anesthesiology from Emory University, per his official Senate biography. He has represented Senate District 52 since 2012, chairs the Senate Finance Committee, and previously served on the Floyd County Commission, per his official Senate biography. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
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 (Republican)Incumbent
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 (Democratic)
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.
Matt Barton (Republican), Rasmus Jensen (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Matt Barton 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.
Matt Barton (Republican)Incumbent
Matt Barton has owned a local courier business in Gordon County for 31 years and previously served on the Calhoun City Council and the Calhoun City Schools board, per his official House biography. He represents House District 5 and serves as Vice Chairman of the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee, per his official House biography. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Rasmus Jensen (Democratic)
Rasmus Jensen is the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. Jensen is a multi-industry consultant in Northwest Georgia, per his campaign site. He says he is running to hold PFAS polluters accountable and to address the gap between wages and the cost of living, per his campaign site.
Priorities: Hold PFAS polluters accountable and pursue justice for affected residents · Oppose policies that widen the gap between income and cost of living · Strengthen funding and planning for public education and public health (per the campaign site)
Eddie Lumsden (Republican), Holly Chaney (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Eddie Lumsden 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.
Eddie Lumsden (Republican)Incumbent
Eddie Lumsden is a retired Georgia State Patrol master trooper with a 27-year career and co-owns Teresa Lumsden Insurance Agency with his wife, per his official House biography. He previously served two terms on the Floyd County Commission, including as chairman, and has represented House District 12 since 2012, per his official House biography. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Holly Chaney (Democratic)
Holly Chaney is the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. Chaney is a community advocate and preservationist with a background in historical restoration, per AM 1180 Radio. She is campaigning on the cost of living, healthcare access and support for public education across Chattooga and Floyd counties. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Priorities: Protecting local communities from environmental harm and preserving community identity · Directing public funds toward working families rather than large corporate subsidies · Workforce training programs and attracting employers that pay wages families can live on (per the AM 1180 Radio (Chattooga County))
Katie Dempsey (Republican), Vincent Mendes (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Katie Dempsey 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.
Katie Dempsey (Republican)Incumbent
Katie Dempsey has served in the Georgia House of Representatives since 2006, working across nearly twenty legislative committees covering education, transportation and family issues, per her campaign site. She represents House District 13 in North Georgia, per her campaign site.
Priorities: Protect Georgians' tax dollars and keep the state affordable · Increase the Child Tax Credit and state standard deduction (per the campaign site)
Vincent Mendes (Democratic)
Vincent Mendes is the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 13 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. Mendes is a healthcare worker and small business owner in Rome and a Berry College graduate who has lived and worked in Rome for about 15 years, per the Northwest Georgia News. He says local and state leadership matters to Rome and Floyd County's economy, per the same report. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
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. 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.
Floyd County 2026 election questions
Who is on the ballot in Floyd County, Georgia on November 3, 2026?
Floyd County, Georgia sample ballot for November 3, 2026: Commission Post 1 and 9 more races, 17 candidates with bios and priorities. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Georgia?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Georgia are listed on the Georgia election hub. Georgia election hub →
How do I see my exact Floyd County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
