Public Service Commission — District 5

Shelia Edwards

Democratic nominee

A South Cobb community advocate and small-business owner, and a veteran of Atlanta city government and Democratic politics who once worked for the late Rep. David Scott. She won the District 5 Democratic primary outright — her second PSC primary win after a 2022 race the courts postponed.

Previously held

Community advocate; small-business owner
Atlanta city government; Democratic campaigns
Staff to the late Rep. David Scott

Top contributors

A true shoestring campaign — her PSC committee reports only about $11,000, led by a single $3,050 donor and otherwise small individual checks, with no utility or industry-PAC money among her contributors.

$3,050.00Cummings, Terry (Mableton, GA)
$1,000.00Lee, Rock (FORTSON, GA)
$505.00JRDL Services, LLC (Fortson, GA)
$500.00Beverly, James (Macon, GA)
$300.00Kang, Michelle (Suwanee, GA)
$250.00Owens, Reshaun (Hampton, GA)
$250.00Blount, Sorretinia (Mableton, GA)

$10,906 raised · $25 cash on hand — as of Jun 18, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Ballotpedia · Transparency USA (GA filings)

Where they stand

Data centers

Runs on “people before profits”; she has not published a detailed data-center plan but, like other Democrats in these races, frames the fight as keeping data-center costs off ordinary ratepayers.

Source: Georgia Recorder — ten candidates, two seats

Georgia Power rates & bills

Campaigns squarely on lowering Georgia Power's monthly bills.

Source: AJC — Edwards wins Democratic PSC primary

Solar & renewables

Wants the PSC to push Georgia Power to add more clean energy to the grid.

Source: AJC — Edwards wins Democratic PSC primary

Energy mix (coal, gas, nuclear)

Favors a cleaner generation mix; her focus is affordability and environmental justice over fossil expansion.

Source: Shelia Edwards campaign

Plant Vogtle & cost overruns

Has not detailed a Plant Vogtle position; she frames the office around consumer protection and accountability.

Source: Ballotpedia

Utility profits & accountability

Built her campaign on bringing accountability back to utility regulation — “people before profits.”

Source: Shelia Edwards campaign

Energy affordability & low-income

Centers her campaign on utility affordability for everyday families, drawing on work in housing affordability and environmental justice.

Source: Shelia Edwards campaign

Climate & environment

An environmental-justice advocate who wants more clean energy on the grid.

Source: Shelia Edwards campaign

Scandals

None documented.

Campaign site · Ballotpedia

Josh Tolbert

Republican nominee

A small-business owner and professional engineer — four engineering degrees including a PhD, more than 15 years in power generation, and a former nuclear-energy-company CTO. He won the June 2026 Republican runoff pitching himself as “an engineer at the table.”

Previously held

Professional engineer (PhD, mechanical engineering)
CTO / VP Engineering, nuclear-energy company
15+ years in power generation & energy infrastructure

Top contributors

Funded mostly by a few large donors — the Drummond Charitable Trust and Mark Lynn (and his firm) — plus family and small contributions; itemized donors are filed with the Georgia Ethics Commission.

$13,200.00Drummond Charitable Trust (Miami Beach, FL)
$8,400.00Lynn, Mark (Nashville, TN)
$8,400.00Mark Lynn & Associates (Nashville, TN)
$2,000.00Tolbert, Robertt (Wilsonville, AL)
$1,000.00Styles, Parker (Watkinsville, GA)
$1,000.00Butler, Stephen (Atlanta, GA)
$643.49Tolbert, Joshua (Smyrna, GA)

$36,993 raised · $64,716 cash on hand — as of Jun 15, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Ballotpedia · Transparency USA (GA filings)

Where they stand

Data centers

An engineer who raises concerns about who bears data-center costs and whether they land on ordinary ratepayers, signaling support for measures targeting large energy users.

Source: Decaturish — candidates talk data centers

Georgia Power rates & bills

Pitches himself as the “engineer at the table” to scrutinize utility plans and defend ratepayers on affordability.

Source: GPB — candidates converge on affordability

Solar & renewables

Frames the debate around affordability and reliability rather than a renewables push.

Source: AJC — power bills, data centers dominate GOP debate

Energy mix (coal, gas, nuclear)

Pro-nuclear but cost-conscious — would back new nuclear only with strict cost controls, with overruns falling on private investors, not ratepayers; argues grid reliability must sometimes outweigh a blanket anti-rate-hike stance.

Source: Factually — who is Josh Tolbert

Plant Vogtle & cost overruns

Says nuclear's cost problem is federal regulation, not something the PSC can fix; supports future nuclear only if overruns hit private investors rather than ratepayers.

Source: Factually — who is Josh Tolbert

Utility profits & accountability

Casts the PSC as a technical, non-partisan watchdog — “whether you're red or blue… green is what matters.”

Source: Factually — who is Josh Tolbert

Energy affordability & low-income

Makes affordability a cornerstone, paired with grid reliability.

Source: GPB — candidates converge on affordability

Climate & environment

Frames the issue technocratically around cost and reliability rather than climate goals.

Source: AJC — power bills, data centers dominate GOP debate

Scandals

None documented.

Campaign site · Ballotpedia

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Every entry is drawn from published reporting, official records, or the candidate's own statements, with sources on each item. Policy summaries are condensed from that reporting and reflect the candidate's stated positions; where a matter is an allegation or unresolved, that is noted, and inclusion is not a finding of guilt. Contributor figures are early/partial where the official itemized filings (Georgia Ethics Commission) are still being compiled. Corrections welcome via the contact link in the footer. Last updated 2026-06-17.