The Ballot Brief
Pickens County, Georgia

Georgia Senate District 51

2 candidates are tracked for Georgia Senate District 51, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Will Wade and Gary St. Lawrence. Candidate information follows official Pickens County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Will Wade (Republican), Gary St. Lawrence (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Sen. Steve Gooch (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.

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.

Georgia › Pickens County › Georgia Senate District 51

Will Wade

Republican

Top priorities
  • Restricting certain school sports eligibility to biological sex
  • Reducing tax burdens on Georgia taxpayers
  • Supporting stricter immigration enforcement

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Will Wade is a sitting Georgia State Representative and community banker running for the State Senate District 51 seat being vacated by Majority Leader Steve Gooch, per his campaign site. He has served in the state House since 2021 and is a Floor Leader for Governor Kemp, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Gary St. Lawrence

Democratic

Biography

Gary St. Lawrence is a Democratic candidate for Georgia Senate District 51. He is an Army veteran and former journalist, per the Dawson County News. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Georgia Senate District 51 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Georgia Senate District 51, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Will Wade and Gary St. Lawrence. Candidate information follows official Pickens County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Georgia Senate District 51 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 Pickens 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 Pickens 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 Pickens County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Pickens County ballot

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

See all 2 Pickens County races
Candidate profiles
Will Wade, full profileGary St. Lawrence, full profileOfficial Georgia election office