The Ballot Brief
Paulding County, Georgia

Georgia House District 18

See where Smith and Rhudy stand on taxes, public safety and jobs. Names follow official Paulding County election filings.

About this race

Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), Pat Rhudy (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Tyler Paul Smith 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, Tyler Paul Smith, is on the ballot.

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

Georgia › Paulding County › Georgia House District 18

Tyler Paul Smith

Tyler Paul Smith

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Reducing our tax burden
  • Committed to public safety
  • Supporting small business
Biography

Smith practices law in Bremen, Haralson County, and holds a political science degree from The Citadel and a law degree from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, per the campaign site. The site says Smith lives on a family farm in Bremen, was elected to the Georgia State House for District 18 in 2020, and chairs the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Pat Rhudy

Democratic

Biography

Pat Rhudy is seeking the Georgia House District 18 seat for a fifth time, per the Times-Georgian. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Next on your ballotGeorgia House District 19

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Georgia House District 18 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Georgia House District 18, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Tyler Paul Smith and Pat Rhudy. Candidate information follows official Paulding County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on taxes, public safety and jobs.

When is the Georgia House District 18 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 Paulding 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 Paulding County and state election office filings, last verified October 16, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Paulding County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Georgia House District 40Paulding County Commission Post 2Paulding County Commission Post 3See all 14 Paulding County races
Candidate profiles
Tyler Paul Smith, full profilePat Rhudy, full profileOfficial Georgia election office