# Georgia State Senate — District 16 — 2026 Candidates — The GA Files > Where the 2026 candidates for Georgia State Senate — District 16 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-16.html · The GA Files (thegafiles.com)* --- [← 2026 Candidates](https://thegafiles.com/candidates.html) # Georgia State Senate — District 16 D ### Sonya Wimberly-Hawkins Democratic nominee · community advocate Sonya Wimberly-Hawkins is a community advocate who has lived in Fayetteville for 26 years and is married to a Desert Storm veteran. Her campaign centers on maternal health — a cause she ties to a near-fatal childbirth experience — along with voting rights, public education and small business. She won the May Democratic primary with 72.6% over Pauline Henley. Her campaign says it takes no special-interest money. #### Previously held - Community advocate; 26-year Fayetteville resident #### Top contributors $15,152 raised — $5,252 in cash contributions and $9,900 in in-kind support — with $5,252 in the bank. Her largest donors are two individuals and the Democratic Party of Georgia. - $5,600.00 — Shenika Maddox (Fayetteville / Johns Creek, GA — two entries) - $3,300.00 — Kelvis Cumming (Mableton, GA) - $1,800.00 — Democratic Party of Georgia (Atlanta, GA — two entries) - $550.00 — Campaign to Elect Sonya Wimberly (Fayetteville, GA — an earlier committee in her name) - $200.00 — Felita Robinson (McDonough, GA) - $200.00 — Alicia McMullen (Stockbridge, GA) - $200.00 — Melinda Stallworth (Chicago, IL) - $150.00 — Tami Karim (Douglasville, GA) **$15,152** raised · **$5,252** 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/) · [xPlisset — The Georgia race that stopped looking local](https://www.xplisset.com/p/sonya-wimberly-hawkins-georgia-senate-16) · [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 her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. She lists strengthening public education as a priority without specifics. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) Healthcare Lists improving maternal health as a central priority. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) · [xPlisset — The Georgia race that stopped looking local](https://www.xplisset.com/p/sonya-wimberly-hawkins-georgia-senate-16) Minimum Wage We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. She lists small-business support and local economic development. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) Homelessness We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) Veterans Affairs We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. She is married to a Desert Storm veteran. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) Immigration We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) Gun Control We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) Abortion We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) LGBTQ+ We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) DEI We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. She lists protecting voting rights as a priority. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) Marijuana We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) Data centers We reviewed her campaign site and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Sonya Wimberly Hawkins for Senate District 16 — campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) #### Accountability File None documented. [Campaign site](https://campaigntoelectsonyawimberly.com/) R ### Marty Harbin Republican incumbent · Tyrone businessman Marty Harbin, a Tyrone businessman, has represented Senate District 16 since 2015 and is one of the chamber's most outspoken social conservatives, running on “faith, family, and freedom.” He sponsored Georgia's 2025 religious-freedom law. He was re-elected in 2024 with 71,842 votes to Democrat Amili Blake's 37,388. #### Previously held - State Senator, District 16 (2015–present) - Sponsor, Georgia's 2025 religious-freedom law (SB 36) #### Top contributors $23,625 raised and $15,393 in the bank, after about $26,000 in spending. His largest donors are Senate President Pro Tem Larry Walker's committee and the Senate Republican caucus committee, followed by insurance, land-development, gaming and industry PACs. - $3,300.00 — Larry Walker for State Senate (Perry, GA — Senate President Pro Tem's committee) - $3,300.00 — Georgia Republican Senatorial Committee (Toccoa, GA) - $1,500.00 — Joseph Gebbia (Austin, TX) - $1,500.00 — Georgia IFAPAC (Suwanee, GA) - $1,000.00 — Ruppenthal Law Firm PC (Fayetteville, GA) - $1,000.00 — Committee to Expand the Middle Class (San Rafael, CA) - $1,000.00 — Georgia Residential Land Development PAC (Atlanta, GA) - $1,000.00 — PCI Gaming Authority (Atmore, AL — Poarch Creek tribal gaming) - $1,000.00 — IIA of GA, Inc (Alpharetta, GA) - $1,000.00 — SFA PAC Inc (Atlanta, GA) **$23,625** raised · **$15,393** 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/) · [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) · [xPlisset — The Georgia race that stopped looking local](https://www.xplisset.com/p/sonya-wimberly-hawkins-georgia-senate-16) #### Where they stand Education We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) Healthcare We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He voted YES on HB 428 (2025), the state IVF-access right. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) · [Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes](https://www.legis.ga.gov/votes/senate) Minimum Wage We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He was recorded excused on HB 111 (2025), the income-tax cut, and voted YES on SB 33 (2026), homestead tax relief. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) · [Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes](https://www.legis.ga.gov/votes/senate) Homelessness Voted YES on HB 295 (2026), which restricts unsanctioned public camping and sleeping and pushes local governments toward enforcement. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) · [Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes](https://www.legis.ga.gov/votes/senate) Veterans Affairs We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) Immigration We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) Gun Control We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) Abortion Voted YES on HB 481 (2019), Georgia's six-week abortion ban, and YES on HB 428 (2025), protecting IVF access. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) · [Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes](https://www.legis.ga.gov/votes/senate) LGBTQ+ Voted YES on SB 1 (2025), barring transgender women and girls from female school and college sports teams; YES on SB 140 (2023), banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors; and YES on SB 39 (2025), which would have barred state funds from paying for gender-affirming care for state employees and prisoners. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) · [Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes](https://www.legis.ga.gov/votes/senate) DEI We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He sponsored Georgia's 2025 religious-freedom law, SB 36. Source: [xPlisset — The Georgia race that stopped looking local](https://www.xplisset.com/p/sonya-wimberly-hawkins-georgia-senate-16) · [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) Marijuana Was recorded excused on SB 220 (2026), the expansion of Georgia's low-THC medical cannabis program. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) · [Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes](https://www.legis.ga.gov/votes/senate) Data centers We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [GA Files fact sheet — Marty Harbin](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) #### Accountability File None documented. [Full legislator fact sheet](https://thegafiles.com/MartyHarbin.html) · [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Harbin) [⬇ Share image](https://thegafiles.com/share/candidates/senate-district-16.png) [⬇ Download for offline](https://thegafiles.com/candidates/senate-district-16.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.