Georgia State House — District 140

Marquese Averett

Democratic nominee · Columbus community activist

Marquese “Skinny” Averett is a Columbus community activist. He had qualified to run for Columbus City Council District 7, then switched to this race on the final day of qualifying, March 6, after Rep. Teddy Reese announced his Senate bid — without him, the Republican would have been unopposed. He was unopposed in the May Democratic primary. “I'm not going to Atlanta to be a show horse. I'm going to be a workhorse,” he said.

Previously held

First run for the General Assembly

Top contributors

His committee reports $0 raised and $0 on hand as of September 14, 2026.

$0 raised · $0 cash on hand — as of Sep 14, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — cycle-to-date, Sept. 14, 2026 · WTVM — Marquese Averett qualifies for Georgia House District 140 seat (March 9, 2026) · Courier News — Marquese “Skinny” Averett explains his decision to shift from City Council District 7 to State House District 140 (March 10, 2026) · Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia House of Representatives election (primary results; 2024 presidential margins by district)

Where they stand

Education

Wants to expand early childhood education.

Source: WTVM — Marquese Averett qualifies for Georgia House District 140 seat (March 9, 2026)

Healthcare

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: WTVM — Marquese Averett qualifies for Georgia House District 140 seat (March 9, 2026) · Courier News — Marquese “Skinny” Averett explains his decision to shift from City Council District 7 to State House District 140 (March 10, 2026)

Minimum Wage

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He lists economic opportunity, “stronger support for families” and equitable infrastructure investment as priorities.

Homelessness

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Veterans Affairs

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Immigration

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Gun Control

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He lists “safe neighborhoods” as a priority.

Source: Courier News — Marquese “Skinny” Averett explains his decision to shift from City Council District 7 to State House District 140 (March 10, 2026)

Abortion

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

LGBTQ+

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

DEI

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Marijuana

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Data centers

We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Accountability File

None documented.

WTVM — qualifying story

Edward Kvietkus Jr.

Republican nominee · Columbus pastor

Edward Kvietkus Jr. is pastor of Rose Hill Baptist Church in Columbus and is making his first run for public office. He was unopposed in the May Republican primary. BranchVote reported in March 2026 that he had no campaign website or other information online.

Previously held

First run for public office

Top contributors

$1,000 raised — all of it from the Georgia House Republican Trust, partly in-kind — and $600 on hand.

$1,000.00Georgia House Republican Trust, Inc. (Acworth, GA)

$1,000 raised · $600 cash on hand — as of Sep 14, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — cycle-to-date, Sept. 14, 2026 · BranchVote — Edward Kvietkus Jr., 2026 Republican primary profile · Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia House of Representatives election (primary results; 2024 presidential margins by district)