The GA Files · 2026 Candidates

Georgia State Senate — District 27

Jessica Roper (D) vs. Mike Dudgeon (R)

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Jessica Roper

Democratic nominee · mental health therapist

Jessica Roper is a mental health therapist with a master's degree in social work from the University of Georgia. Her candidate profile says she previously worked as women's engagement director for Raphael Warnock. This is her first run for public office; she was unopposed in the May Democratic primary.

Previously held

First run for public office

Top contributors

$21,666 raised (including $1,000 in-kind); she has spent $17,026 and has $3,640 on hand. Her largest donors are individuals from north metro Atlanta.

$3,300.00Kim Jape (Roswell, GA)
$3,300.00Becky Woomer (Suwanee, GA)
$1,000.00Laura Buchwald (New York, NY)
$500.00Lindsey Parrish (Marietta, GA)
$500.00John Eaves (Atlanta, GA)
$500.00Tamara Stevens (Cumming, GA)
$500.00Democratic Party of Georgia (Atlanta, GA)
$500.00Kearston Gill (Marietta, GA)
$350.00Beatrice Polk (Decatur, GA)

$21,666 raised · $3,640 cash on hand — as of Sep 14, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — cycle-to-date, Sept. 14, 2026 · BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide · Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia State Senate election (2024 presidential margins by district)

Where they stand

Education

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

Healthcare

Her profile says she wants to expand access to mental health care, including crisis services and community-based care, and to invest in prevention and early intervention.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile

Minimum Wage

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

Homelessness

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Her profile lists housing affordability and rising everyday costs as priorities.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile

Veterans Affairs

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

Immigration

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

Gun Control

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

Abortion

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

LGBTQ+

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

DEI

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

Marijuana

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

Data centers

We reviewed her candidate profile as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BranchVote — Jessica Roper, 2026 Democratic primary profile · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide

Accountability File

None documented.

Campaign site

Mike Dudgeon

Republican nominee · former state representative

Mike Dudgeon is an engineer and technology entrepreneur with bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech. He served in the Georgia House from 2011 to 2017 and later on the Forsyth County school board. He won the four-way May Republican primary outright with about 55%, avoiding a runoff with Carter Patterson.

Previously held

Georgia House of Representatives (2011–2017)
Forsyth County Board of Education

Top contributors

$150,052 raised plus $200,000 in loans ($175,000 still outstanding); a four-way primary consumed $319,170, leaving $30,882. His largest donors include two $8,400 contributors, Alpharetta businesses and Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte's committee.

$8,400.00Richard Jackson (GA)
$8,400.00JIG-RJ, Inc. (Alpharetta, GA)
$3,300.00Annette Dudgeon (Tuscaloosa, AL)
$3,300.00James Fortuna (Chattanooga, TN)
$3,300.00Kenneth Wyatt (Old Hickory, TN)
$3,300.00Patrick Hunter (Ringgold, GA)
$3,300.00Tier One, Inc. (Alpharetta, GA)
$3,300.00Stewart Chisam (Dawsonville, GA)
$3,300.00Greg Jacobs (Alpharetta, GA)
$3,300.00Committee to Elect Jason Anavitarte (Atlanta, GA — Senate Majority Leader)

$150,052 raised · $30,882 cash on hand — as of Sep 14, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — cycle-to-date, Sept. 14, 2026 · Heritage Forsyth — November 2026 Forsyth general election ballot guide · Wikipedia — Mike Dudgeon · AccessNorthGA — Election recap: Northeast Georgia state legislature primaries (May 2026) · AP — Republican state Sen. Greg Dolezal enters Georgia's lieutenant governor race (Sept. 30, 2025) · Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia State Senate election (2024 presidential margins by district)