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.
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.
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.
Georgia › Effingham County › Georgia House District 159
Republican Incumbent
Jon G. Burns represents Georgia House District 159 and serves as the 75th Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, first elected to the House in 2004 and elected Speaker in 2023, per the Georgia House of Representatives. He is a graduate of Georgia Southern College and John Marshall Law School and runs a family farm and agribusiness company in Effingham County, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
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.
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.
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.
3 tracked races in Effingham County, Georgia. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.