Newton County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
15 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 10 Newton County races, led by the Newton County Board of Commissioners District 2 contest.
County offices
Board of Commissioners District 2Tamera Strong (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tamera Strong Democratic
- Improve communication and transparency from county government, including more town halls
- Support infrastructure, public safety staffing and county services keeping pace with growth
- Establish more youth programs, including a long-discussed youth center
Per The Town Square Podcast interview.
About Tamera Strong
Tamera Strong is a lifelong Newton County resident and community advocate who unseated incumbent Demond Mason in the May 19 Democratic primary in County Commission District 2, a result a recount confirmed, per The Covington News. Her campaign, "Your Voice, Our Future," centers on transparency and communication from county government, per an interview on The Town Square Podcast. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Tamera Strong.
Incumbent Demond Mason lost the May 19 Democratic primary to Tamera Strong, 1,862 votes to 1,854, per Newton County's official revised primary results. Mason requested a recount; The Covington News reported the recount confirmed Strong's win by the same 8-vote margin. No Republican qualified, so Strong is unopposed on the November 3 ballot.
Full race pageBoard of Commissioners District 4J.C. Henderson (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
J.C. Henderson Democratic Incumbent
J.C. Henderson is the incumbent Newton County commissioner for District 4, first elected in 1996 and the board's longest-serving member, per the county's official commissioner page. He is a Newton County native and 1976 graduate of Newton County High School who has completed county-commissioner certification through the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for J.C. Henderson.
Incumbent J.C. Henderson finished ahead of Nytravious "Nytro" Smith in the May 19 Democratic primary, 1,640 votes to 1,463, per Newton County's official primary results. No Republican qualified, so Henderson is unopposed on the November 3 ballot.
Full race pageSchool board
Board of Education District 1Trey Bailey (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Trey Bailey Republican Incumbent
Trey Bailey is the incumbent Newton County Board of Education member for District 1 and the board's current chair, serving since 2016, per the district's official board page. He is a business and leadership consultant who previously spent 23 years as executive pastor of Eastridge Church, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Trey Bailey.
Incumbent Trey Bailey ran unopposed in the May 19 Republican primary; no Democrat qualified. He is unopposed on the November 3 ballot, per Newton County's official primary results.
Full race pageBoard of Education District 3Shakila Henderson-Baker (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Shakila Henderson-Baker Democratic Incumbent
Shakila Henderson-Baker is the incumbent Newton County Board of Education member for District 3 and the board's vice chair, serving since 2011, per the district's official board page. She works as a Utilization Management Coordinator after more than 14 years as a mental health clinician and behavioral specialist, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Shakila Henderson-Baker.
Incumbent Shakila Henderson-Baker ran unopposed in the May 19 Democratic primary; no Republican qualified. She is unopposed on the November 3 ballot, per Newton County's official primary results.
Full race pageBoard of Education District 5D. Alan Fowler (R) · Adam A. Phyall III (D)
D. Alan Fowler (Republican) and Adam A. Phyall III (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Newton County Board of Education District 5.
D. Alan Fowler Republican
- Student success: every decision should prioritize students' learning, growth and well-being
- Community collaboration through transparent communication and family involvement
- Responsible leadership: wise use of resources and support for teachers and staff
Per the campaign site.
About D. Alan Fowler
D. Alan Fowler is a band director and educator running for the open Newton County Board of Education District 5 seat. He serves as executive director of the Georgia Music Educators Association and was previously named Teacher of the Year at Eastside High School, per The Covington News. He has lived in Covington for more than 30 years, per his campaign site.
Adam A. Phyall III Democratic
- Access: connect every student to college and career pathways matching their strengths and goals
- Accountability: make school-wide academic progress, budgets and district outcomes transparent to families
- Action: address literacy gaps and teacher retention while keeping students at the center
Per the campaign site.
About Adam A. Phyall III
Adam A. Phyall III is running for the open Newton County Board of Education District 5 seat. He previously served as the district's director of technology and media services from 2016 to 2022 and now works as director of professional learning and leadership for All4Ed, per his campaign site. He holds a Doctor of Education in Digital Transformation and is a lifelong Newton County resident with children in the district.
Open seat; sitting District 5 representative Abigail Coggin did not seek re-election. D. Alan Fowler ran unopposed in the May 19 Republican primary and Adam A. Phyall III ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, per Newton County's official primary results. They meet in the November 3 general election.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Newton County is split across 5 Georgia Senate and House districts.
Find your districts by addressGeorgia Senate: 2 districtsDistricts 42, 43
Georgia Senate District 42Bret A. Dunn (R) · Eric W. Lee, Sr. (D)
Bret A. Dunn Republican
- Parental rights in education
- Supporting law enforcement
- Reducing government spending and opposing a state income tax
Per the campaign site.
About Bret A. Dunn
Bret Dunn is a Marine Corps veteran who served as a Judge Advocate defending Marines in courts-martial, per his campaign site. He is now a partner at the Strauss & Dunn law firm and a Newton County native, per the Covington News.
Eric W. Lee, Sr. Democratic
- Incentivizing job-creating businesses and infrastructure investment
- Rural hospital funding and Medicaid expansion
- Closing educational funding gaps
Per the campaign site.
About Eric W. Lee, Sr.
Eric Lee is a pastor at Springfield Baptist Church and a married father of five, per a branch.vote voter guide profile. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Bret A. Dunn (Republican), Eric W. Lee, Sr. (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Sen. Brian Strickland (Republican), the sitting member per the General Assembly's roster, is not on the November ballot. 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 43Tonya P Anderson (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tonya P Anderson Democratic Incumbent
Tonya Anderson retired from the United States Air Force Reserve in 2012 after more than 21 years of service and previously served as mayor of Lithonia and as a state representative before her election to the Georgia Senate, per her official Senate biography. She has represented Senate District 43 since 2016 and authored a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, Senate Bill 288, per her official Senate biography. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Tonya P Anderson (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Tonya P Anderson 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 113, 114, 118
Georgia House District 113Don Scarbrough (R) · Karla Daniels Hooper (D)
Don Scarbrough Republican
Don Scarbrough is the Republican candidate for Georgia House District 113 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.
Karla Daniels Hooper Democratic
- Safer neighborhoods
- Controlled community development
- Expanded parks and recreation facilities
Per the campaign site.
About Karla Daniels Hooper
Karla Daniels Hooper has lived in Covington, Georgia for more than two decades and previously worked as a grant writer and as executive director of the Diabetes Association of Atlanta, per the Covington News. She has served on the Newton County Comprehensive Planning Commission and the Newton County Animal Services Board, per her campaign site.
Don Scarbrough (Republican), Karla Daniels Hooper (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Sharon Henderson (Democratic), the sitting member per the General Assembly's roster, is not on the November ballot. 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 114Brett Mauldin (R) · Michael Caw (D)
Brett Mauldin Republican
- Growing small businesses and reducing the state income tax
- Protecting Second Amendment rights
- Supporting law enforcement and public safety
Per the campaign site.
About Brett Mauldin
Brett Mauldin is a second-generation small business owner who leads his family's construction company, per his campaign site. He is a past president of the Lake Oconee Builders Association and serves on a national board of the National Association of Home Builders.
Michael Caw Democratic
Michael Caw is the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 114 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. Caw is a retired research and development technician, community volunteer and resident of Newborn, Georgia, per his campaign site.
Brett Mauldin (Republican), Michael Caw (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Tim Fleming (Republican), the sitting member per the General Assembly's roster, is not on the November ballot. 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 118Clint Crowe (R) · Sharonda Bell (D)
Clint Crowe Republican Incumbent
- Support small business growth and Georgia's business-friendly environment
- Preserve private property rights
- Support law enforcement and public safety
Per the campaign site.
About Clint Crowe
Clint Crowe is a small business owner, real estate agent and former law enforcement officer who has served on the Butts County Planning and Zoning Commission and Development Authority, per his campaign site. He represents House District 118, per his campaign site.
Sharonda Bell Democratic
Sharonda Bell is the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 118 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.
Clint Crowe (Republican), Sharonda Bell (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Clint Crowe 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 Newton County, Georgia on November 3, 2026?
Newton County sample ballot 2026: see where the board of education, board of commissioners and georgia senate candidates stand on public safety and growth. 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 Newton 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.