The Ballot Brief
Gwinnett County, Georgia

Georgia Senate District 9

See where Johnson and Merritt stand on taxes, growth and jobs. Names follow official Gwinnett County election filings.

About this race

Michael Johnson (Republican), Nikki Merritt (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Nikki Merritt 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, Nikki Merritt, is on the ballot.

Georgia › Gwinnett County › Georgia Senate District 9

Michael Johnson

Republican

Biography

Michael Johnson is the Republican candidate for Georgia Senate District 9 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Nikki Merritt

Nikki Merritt

DemocraticIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Strengthening worker protections and collective bargaining rights for public employees
  • Supporting equitable economic growth, including tax relief measures and homestead exemptions

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Nikki Merritt spent 23 years in a service career in telecommunications before her election to the Georgia State Senate, according to her official Georgia Senate biography. She was elected in 2020 to represent District 9 in Gwinnett County. She serves as chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and previously chaired the Gwinnett County Senate Delegation, per the same source.

Next on your ballotGeorgia Senate District 40

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Georgia Senate District 9 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Georgia Senate District 9, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Michael Johnson and Nikki Merritt. Candidate information follows official Gwinnett County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on taxes, growth and jobs.

When is the Georgia Senate District 9 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 Gwinnett 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 Gwinnett County and state election office filings, last verified October 13, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Gwinnett County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Georgia Senate District 43Georgia Senate District 45Georgia Senate District 46See all 34 Gwinnett County races
Candidate profiles
Michael Johnson, full profileNikki Merritt, full profileOfficial Georgia election office