Nikki Porcher
Democratic nomineeA Southwest Atlanta nonprofit leader, U.S. Air Force veteran and former public-school educator. She founded the Atlanta nonprofit “Buy From A Black Woman,” which funds and promotes Black-woman-owned businesses. She led a five-way primary and won the June 16, 2026 runoff over Michelle “Michi” Sánchez to take on the appointed Republican incumbent.
Previously held
- Founder, Buy From A Black Woman (nonprofit)
- U.S. Air Force veteran
- Former public-school teacher
Top contributors
A grassroots, small-dollar campaign — her single largest line is roughly $16,000 of aggregated small/unitemized donations, and her biggest individual donor maxes out at $5,000, a fraction of her opponent's $8,400 max-out slate. Consistent with her “workers over corporations” pitch. Filed with the Georgia Ethics Commission.
- $5,000.00NANTALE (ATLANTA, GA)
- $4,000.00SCOUT SMITH (ATLANTA, GA)
- $4,000.00TARIQAH MILLS CPA (NEW YORK, NY)
- $1,000.00Defranco, Lindsay (Alpharetta, GA)
- $1,000.00KIP CARR (ATLANTA, GA)
- $1,000.00KRISTINA CHEEK (ATLANTA, GA)
- $500.00Tryba-Cofrin, Christine (Atlanta, GA)
$54,345 raised · $15,066 cash on hand — as of May 29, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).
Source: Ballotpedia — Nikki Porcher · Transparency USA (GA filings)Where they stand
Calls out that Georgia's unemployment benefits are among the shortest and lowest in the country, and says she'd use the office's platform to push the Legislature for larger benefits that last longer — and to make claims easier to access without bureaucratic delays.
Source: Georgia Recorder — 2026 runoff voter guide · Branch — Porcher platformFrames the whole race as putting workers ahead of corporations and supports workers' right to organize and bargain collectively. The commissioner can't repeal Georgia's right-to-work law — that's set by the Legislature — but she pledges to use the post as a bully pulpit for organized labor and frontline workers.
Source: Georgia Recorder — five Democrats challenge appointed commissioner · AJC — labor commissioner primaryNotes Georgia's minimum wage is still on the books at $5.15 an hour and advocates raising it. The commissioner doesn't set the wage, but she says she'd press lawmakers and use the office to make the case for higher pay.
Source: Georgia Recorder — 2026 runoff voter guide · Branch — Porcher platformBacks creating a Georgia state OSHA plan so the state runs and enforces its own workplace-safety program rather than relying solely on federal inspectors — pairing it with a state workplace-harassment law.
Source: Georgia Recorder — 2026 runoff voter guideWants to expand apprenticeships and job training and build stronger pathways into work for veterans and people returning from incarceration, with small businesses as the engine of job growth.
Source: Branch — Porcher platform · Georgia Recorder — 2026 runoff voter guideCenters her platform on safe workplaces and enforcing wage and labor protections, including for younger and vulnerable workers — part of a broader push to make the department actually police labor standards.
Source: Branch — Porcher platformSupports a state harassment law, stronger enforcement of wage protections, and accessible, affordable child care alongside fair pay and safe workplaces — protections she says Georgia workers currently lack.
Source: Georgia Recorder — 2026 runoff voter guide · Branch — Porcher platformPromises to modernize the Department of Labor so people can reach benefits, training and job support quickly and transparently — making the agency efficient and accountable to the workers it serves.
Source: Branch — Porcher platform · Georgia Recorder — 2026 runoff voter guideScandals
None documented.
