Floyd County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
17 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 10 Floyd County races, led by the Floyd County Commission Post 1 contest.
County offices
Commission Post 1Shane Cowan (R)
Unopposed: still on your 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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Shane Cowan.
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.
Full race pageCommission Post 4David Thornton (R) · Fred Adams (D)
David Thornton Republican Incumbent
- 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 campaign site.
About David Thornton
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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for David Thornton.
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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Fred Adams.
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.
Full race pageCommission Post 5Cleve Jackson (R) · Shonna Bailey (D)
Cleve Jackson Republican
- 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 campaign site.
About Cleve Jackson
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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Cleve Jackson.
Shonna Bailey Democratic
- "Smart development throughout Floyd County" including improved infrastructure and housing to handle growth
- Safeguarding the education system from school closures
- Support for seniors, disabled residents and those facing mental health challenges
Per the campaign site.
About Shonna Bailey
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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Shonna Bailey.
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.
Full race pageSchool board
Board of Education District 1Steve Turrentine (R) · Sonja Johnson Law (D)
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 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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Sonja Johnson Law.
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.
Full race pageBoard of Education District 4Matthew Todd Wheeler (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Matthew Todd Wheeler Republican
- Understanding the school system's budget and finding ways to cut costs without hurting academic progress
- Meeting with principals and school leaders to determine each school's specific needs
- Using his 25 years of classroom experience to help improve schools across the district
Per the campaign site.
About Matthew Todd Wheeler
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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Matthew Todd Wheeler.
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.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Floyd County is split across 5 Georgia Senate and House districts.
Find your districts by addressGeorgia Senate: 2 districtsDistricts 52, 53
Georgia Senate District 52Chuck Hufstetler (R)
Unopposed: still 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 was found as of September 7, 2026.
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.
Full race pageGeorgia Senate District 53Lanny Thomas (R) · John Bentley "Jack" Zibluk (D)
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 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 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.
Full race pageGeorgia House: 3 districtsDistricts 5, 12, 13
Georgia House District 5Matt Barton (R) · Rasmus Jensen (D)
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 was found as of September 7, 2026.
Rasmus Jensen Democratic
- 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.
About Rasmus Jensen
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.
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.
Full race pageGeorgia House District 12Eddie Lumsden (R) · Holly Chaney (D)
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 was found as of September 7, 2026.
Holly Chaney Democratic
- 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).
About Holly Chaney
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 was found as of September 7, 2026.
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.
Full race pageGeorgia House District 13Katie Dempsey (R) · Vincent Mendes (D)
Katie Dempsey Republican Incumbent
- Protect Georgians' tax dollars and keep the state affordable
- Increase the Child Tax Credit and state standard deduction
Per the campaign site.
About Katie Dempsey
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.
Vincent Mendes Democratic
Vincent Mendes is a Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 13 in Rome and Floyd County, per his campaign site. A chiropractor who came to Rome as a freshman at Berry College, he has served as chair of the county Democratic Party, per his campaign site.
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.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
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.
Who is on the ballot in Floyd County, Georgia on November 3, 2026?
Floyd County sample ballot 2026: see where the commission post 4, commission post 5 and board of education candidates stand on growth, the budget and schools. 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 →
Georgia statewide racesEvery Georgia race on this county's ballot.All Georgia ballot measures3 statewide ballot measuresCandidate roster last updated Sep 25, 2026 from official election sources.