The GA Files · 2026 Candidates

Public Service Commission — District 5

Shelia Edwards (D) vs. Josh Tolbert (R)

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D

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

R

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

Every entry is drawn from published reporting, official records, or the candidate's own statements, with sources on each item. Policy summaries are condensed and reflect stated positions; allegations or unresolved matters are labeled as such, and inclusion is not a finding of guilt. Last updated 2026-06-17.