The GA Files · 2026 Candidates

Georgia State Senate — District 37

Darcy Castro (D) vs. Ed Setzler (R)

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D

Darcy Castro

Democratic nominee · communications consultant; Air Force spouse

Darcy Castro is a Cobb County communications consultant and TV writer-host with a background in public relations, journalism and nonprofit marketing and a speech-communications degree from Portland State University. A former Mrs. Georgia, she is married to a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and is the mother of four, one of them on a Naval ROTC scholarship. She is an elder at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church and volunteered with the International Rescue Committee helping Afghan refugee families resettle in Georgia. She won the May Democratic primary over Zachary Neville.

Previously held

  • Owner, Darcy Castro Productions (writer and TV host)
  • Former public-relations contractor
  • Former Mrs. Georgia

Top contributors

$73,656 raised — including $16,927 in in-kind support — with $31,400 in the bank. Her largest donors are individuals, several of them in Marietta, plus Sen. Elena Parent and a teachers'-association fund; her own contribution is among the largest.

  • $6,300.00Kevin McNulty (Palmetto, FL)
  • $3,300.00Roy Barnes (Marietta, GA)
  • $3,300.00Darcy Castro (Marietta, GA — the candidate)
  • $3,300.00Bruce M. Gillett, MD (Marietta, GA)
  • $3,016.00Beverly Wynne (Kennesaw, GA — two entries)
  • $2,000.00Elena Parent (Atlanta, GA)
  • $1,500.00Robert Kahn (Atlanta, GA)
  • $1,213.90Tina Sensing (Powder Springs, GA)
  • $1,000.00GAE Fund for Public Education (Tucker, GA)

$73,656 raised · $31,400 cash on hand — as of Sep 14, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — cycle-to-date, Sept. 14, 2026 · Daily Tribune News — Meet the candidates: District 37 Senate Democratic primary (May 15, 2026) · Georgia WIN List — Darcy Castro endorsed for SD 37 · Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia State Senate election (2024 presidential margins by district)

Where they stand

Education

“Protect the HOPE scholarship so every Georgia student has a path to an affordable college education,” and “keep schools safe.”

Source: BallotReady — Darcy Castro
Healthcare

Supports “expanding Medicaid access to give people health care with dignity, protect our rural hospitals from closing,” and pledges to “fight rising premiums and healthcare costs.”

Source: Daily Tribune News — Meet the candidates: District 37 Senate Democratic primary (May 15, 2026) · BallotReady — Darcy Castro
Minimum Wage

We reviewed her campaign platform, candidate profiles and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. She calls affordability the most pressing issue in the district and campaigns on “Affordability for All.”

Source: Daily Tribune News — Meet the candidates: District 37 Senate Democratic primary (May 15, 2026) · BallotReady — Darcy Castro
Homelessness

We reviewed her campaign platform, candidate profiles and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. On housing: “Keep private equity out of our housing market so Georgians can afford to own a home.”

Source: BallotReady — Darcy Castro
Veterans Affairs

We reviewed her campaign platform, candidate profiles and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. She is a military spouse.

Source: Daily Tribune News — Meet the candidates: District 37 Senate Democratic primary (May 15, 2026)
Immigration

We reviewed her campaign platform, candidate profiles and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. She has volunteered helping Afghan refugee families resettle in Georgia.

Source: Georgia WIN List — Darcy Castro endorsed for SD 37
Gun Control

We reviewed her campaign platform, candidate profiles and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BallotReady — Darcy Castro · Daily Tribune News — Meet the candidates: District 37 Senate Democratic primary (May 15, 2026)
Abortion

“Keep the government out of private decisions between patients and their doctors.” The Georgia WIN List endorsed her specifically to defeat the author of Georgia's six-week abortion ban.

Source: BallotReady — Darcy Castro · Georgia WIN List — Darcy Castro endorsed for SD 37
LGBTQ+

We reviewed her campaign platform, candidate profiles and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BallotReady — Darcy Castro · Daily Tribune News — Meet the candidates: District 37 Senate Democratic primary (May 15, 2026)
DEI

We reviewed her campaign platform, candidate profiles and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. On voting, she pledges to “prevent mid-decade redistricting and unfair manipulation of electoral maps.”

Source: BallotReady — Darcy Castro
Marijuana

We reviewed her campaign platform, candidate profiles and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: BallotReady — Darcy Castro
Data centers

“Stop passing the costs of data centers onto families through higher utility bills.”

Source: BallotReady — Darcy Castro

Accountability File

None documented.

R

Ed Setzler

Republican incumbent · author of Georgia's 2019 six-week abortion law

Ed Setzler, an Acworth Republican, served in the Georgia House from 2005 to 2023 — where he wrote HB 481, the 2019 “Heartbeat Bill” that bans most abortions after about six weeks — before winning Senate District 37 in 2022. He co-chairs the Cobb County Senate delegation and was unopposed in the May Republican primary.

Previously held

  • State Senator, District 37 (2023–present)
  • State Representative (2005–2023); author of HB 481 (2019)
  • Co-chair, Cobb County Senate delegation

Top contributors

$53,750 raised and $51,758 in the bank. His largest donors include the Senate Republican caucus committee, Senate President Pro Tem Larry Walker's committee, Sen. Jason Anavitarte's committee, an autism-therapy company and the trial lawyers' Civil Justice PAC.

  • $3,300.00Apollo Behavior (Suwanee, GA)
  • $3,300.00Larry Walker for State Senate (Kathleen, GA — Senate President Pro Tem's committee)
  • $3,300.00Georgia Republican Senatorial Committee (Roswell, GA)
  • $3,300.00Committee to Elect Jason Anavitarte (Atlanta, GA — Sen. Jason Anavitarte's committee)
  • $3,000.00Civil Justice PAC (Atlanta, GA)
  • $2,000.00Aaron Strimban (Woodstock, GA)
  • $2,000.00Drew Ashby (Marietta, GA)
  • $2,000.00Nick Protentis (Sandy Springs, GA)
  • $2,000.00Michael Goldberg (Atlanta, GA)
  • $2,000.00Rob Hammers (Atlanta, GA)

$53,750 raised · $51,758 cash on hand — as of Sep 14, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — cycle-to-date, Sept. 14, 2026 · GA Files fact sheet — Ed Setzler · Wikipedia — Ed Setzler

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 — Ed Setzler
Healthcare

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 428 (2025), the IVF-access bill.

Source: GA Files fact sheet — Ed Setzler · Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes
Minimum Wage

We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He voted YES on HB 111 (2025), accelerating Georgia's income-tax cut.

Source: GA Files fact sheet — Ed Setzler · Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes
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 — Ed Setzler · Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes
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 — Ed Setzler
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 — Ed Setzler
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 — Ed Setzler
Abortion

Wrote HB 481 (2019), Georgia's six-week abortion ban, as a state representative and voted for it. He was recorded excused on HB 428 (2025), the IVF-access bill.

Source: GA Files fact sheet — Ed Setzler · Wikipedia — Ed Setzler
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 — Ed Setzler · Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes
DEI

We reviewed his legislative record and campaign coverage as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: GA Files fact sheet — Ed Setzler
Marijuana

Voted NO on SB 220 (2026), the expansion of Georgia's low-THC medical cannabis program, which passed with bipartisan support.

Source: GA Files fact sheet — Ed Setzler · Georgia General Assembly — Senate roll-call votes
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 — Ed Setzler

Accountability File

None documented.

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.