# Georgia State Senate — District 15 — 2026 Candidates — The GA Files > Where the 2026 candidates for Georgia State Senate — District 15 stand — bio, prior offices, top donors, positions on DEI, LGBTQ+, abortion, and data centers, plus any scandals. Sourced. *Source: https://thegafiles.com/candidates/senate-district-15.html · The GA Files (thegafiles.com)* --- [← 2026 Candidates](https://thegafiles.com/candidates.html) # Georgia State Senate — District 15 D ### Teddy Reese Democratic nominee · state representative, House District 140 Tremaine “Teddy” Reese is a Columbus lawyer who has represented House District 140 since 2022, succeeding longtime Rep. Calvin Smyre. He sits on the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committees and grew up in Gordon, Georgia. He won the May Democratic primary with 58%, over Harbison's son Edward Harbison and Alyssa Nia Williams. #### Previously held - Georgia House of Representatives, District 140 (2023–present) #### Top contributors $94,068 raised; he has spent $72,148 and has $20,920 on hand. His largest donors are individuals from Columbus and metro Atlanta, plus a film-workers PAC. - $3,300.00 — Shani Forte (Columbus, GA) - $2,500.00 — David Krugler (Atlanta, GA) - $1,500.00 — Alex Chan (Columbus, GA) - $1,000.00 — Andrew Childers (Decatur, GA) - $1,000.00 — Andrew Goldner (Atlanta, GA) - $1,000.00 — Ashley Mitchell (Atlanta, GA) - $1,000.00 — Bethaney Embry Jones (Douglasville, GA) - $1,000.00 — Film Workers PAC (Atlanta, GA) - $1,000.00 — 200 AMP'D LLC (Atlanta, GA) - $1,000.00 — Tromix Inc (Columbus, GA) **$94,068** raised · **$20,920** cash on hand — as of **Sep 14, 2026** (GA Ethics latest filing). Source: [Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — cycle-to-date, Sept. 14, 2026](https://peachfile.ethics.ga.gov/) · [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) · [Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia State Senate election (2024 presidential margins by district)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Georgia_State_Senate_election) #### Where they stand Education Lists public education as a priority: “A 12 billion dollar cut in public education is not acceptable.” Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Healthcare We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He lists affordable health care among his priorities. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Minimum Wage We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) Homelessness We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) Veterans Affairs We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He lists support for veterans among his priorities. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Immigration We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) Gun Control We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) Abortion We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) LGBTQ+ We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) DEI We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) Marijuana We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) Data centers We reviewed his campaign coverage and legislative record as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [GA Files fact sheet — Teddy Reese](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) #### Accountability File None documented. [GA Files fact sheet](https://thegafiles.com/TeddyReese.html) R ### Chuck Hand Republican nominee · Butler, Taylor County Chuck Hand was born in Columbus and grew up in Geneva and Butler, the Taylor County seat. He and his wife, Mandy, have three adult children and four grandchildren. He won the Republican primary and is campaigning on jobs, lower taxes and safer communities, saying he will “concentrate on the south side of Columbus, which often gets neglected.” #### Previously held - First run for the General Assembly #### Top contributors $1,200 raised from two donors, all of it spent; $0 on hand. - $1,000.00 — Robert Jeter (Byromville, GA) - $200.00 — David Theiss (Ellaville, GA) **$1,200** 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](https://peachfile.ethics.ga.gov/) · [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) · [Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia State Senate election (2024 presidential margins by district)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Georgia_State_Senate_election) #### Where they stand Education We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Healthcare We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Minimum Wage We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He lists creating jobs and lowering taxes as priorities. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Homelessness We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Veterans Affairs We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Immigration We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Gun Control We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He lists “building safer communities” as a priority. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Abortion We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) LGBTQ+ We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) DEI We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Marijuana We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) Data centers We reviewed his campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Now Georgia — Reese tops Democratic challengers in GA Senate District 15 race (May 2026)](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) #### Accountability File None documented. [Now Georgia — primary results](https://nowgeorgia.com/reese-tops-democratic-challengers-in-ga-senate-district-15-race) [⬇ Share image](https://thegafiles.com/share/candidates/senate-district-15.png) [⬇ Download for offline](https://thegafiles.com/candidates/senate-district-15.offline.html) 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.