The Ballot Brief
Paulding County, Georgia

Georgia House District 16

2 candidates are tracked for Georgia House District 16, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Trey Kelley and Diana Spangler. Candidate information follows official Paulding County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Trey Kelley (Republican), Diana Spangler (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Trey Kelley 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, Trey Kelley, is on the ballot.

Georgia › Paulding County › Georgia House District 16

Trey Kelley

Trey Kelley

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • supports limited government and lower taxes
  • supports Second Amendment rights, including constitutional carry
  • supports parental rights in education

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Trey Kelley was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2012, according to his campaign website. He grew up in Cedartown, Georgia, the son of two educators, per the same site. Kelley represents Georgia House District 16.

Diana Spangler

Democratic

Top priorities

  • Strengthening public education
  • Expanding access to affordable healthcare
  • Fostering more responsive government

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Diana Spangler is the Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. Spangler is a child advocate and community volunteer and a long-time Paulding County resident who has worked on literacy initiatives supporting struggling readers and families dealing with dyslexia, per Paulding County Democrats.

Next on your ballotGeorgia House District 17

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Georgia House District 16 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Georgia House District 16, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Trey Kelley and Diana Spangler. Candidate information follows official Paulding County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Georgia House District 16 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 September 25, 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 18Georgia House District 19Georgia House District 40See all 14 Paulding County races
Candidate profiles
Trey Kelley, full profileDiana Spangler, full profileOfficial Georgia election office