The Ballot Brief
Polk 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 Polk 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 › Polk County › Georgia House District 16

Trey Kelley

Trey Kelley

Republican Incumbent

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 Senate District 31

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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 Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Polk County ballot

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

See all 2 Polk County races
Candidate profiles
Trey Kelley, full profileDiana Spangler, full profileOfficial Georgia election office