# Georgia State Senate — District 46 — 2026 Candidates — The GA Files > Where the 2026 candidates for Georgia State Senate — District 46 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-46.html · The GA Files (thegafiles.com)* --- [← 2026 Candidates](https://thegafiles.com/candidates.html) # Georgia State Senate — District 46 D ### Ray Smith Democratic nominee · software engineer Ray Smith, 34, is a software engineer from Oconee County with a computer science degree from the University of Georgia. He is second vice chair of the Oconee County Democrats, holds leadership roles with Indivisible Georgia District 10 and the Unitarian Universalist Georgia Legislative Action Network, and co-founded the nonprofit Community Works Oconee. He lives in Oconee County with his wife and young son, and won the May Democratic primary over William Gaulden. He is endorsed by Georgia Equality and the Georgia Association of Educators. #### Previously held - First run for the General Assembly #### Top contributors $41,698 raised (including $1,400 in-kind); he has spent $24,297 and has $16,002 on hand. His largest donors include a Macon donor, family members named Smith, and the teachers' association fund. - $6,600.00 — Danielle Tehrani (Macon, GA) - $6,600.00 — Raymond Smith (Macon, GA — two entries) - $3,300.00 — Jaime Smith (Watkinsville, GA) - $2,800.00 — Madison S. Levine (Charlotte, NC) - $2,500.00 — GAE Fund for Public Education (Tucker, GA) - $1,000.00 — Democratic Party of Georgia (Atlanta, GA) - $850.00 — Linda Gilbert (Athens, GA) - $750.00 — Robert Herndon (Decatur, GA) **$41,698** raised · **$16,002** 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/) · [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) · [Classic City News — Oconee County businessman launches campaign for state senate](https://www.classiccitynews.com/post/athens-businessman-launches-campaign-for-state-senate) · [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 site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Healthcare Supports Medicaid expansion, in part to keep rural hospitals open, and expanded health-care access. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Minimum Wage We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. On cost of living (“I'll fight to keep more in your pocket”), he backs utility rate oversight and protecting workers' right to organize. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Homelessness We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He wants to address corporate landlords driving up housing costs. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Veterans Affairs We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Immigration We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Gun Control We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Abortion We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) LGBTQ+ We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He is endorsed by Georgia Equality, the state's LGBTQ+ advocacy group. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) DEI We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Marijuana We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) Data centers We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Ray Smith for Ga Senate 46 — campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) #### Accountability File None documented. [Campaign site](https://voteraysmith.com/) R ### Marc McMain Republican nominee · Walton County GOP chairman Marc McMain is a Monroe entrepreneur who owns Town Values magazine, has worked as a real estate agent since 2003, and chairs the Walton County Republican Party. He and his wife, Liliana, have two sons. He won the June 16 Republican runoff over former state Rep. Doug McKillip with 64.5%. He is endorsed by former Rep. Jody Hice and the Walton, Oconee and Barrow county sheriffs. #### Previously held - Chairman, Walton County Republican Party #### Top contributors $332,394 raised plus $100,000 in loans; a primary and runoff consumed $447,083, leaving $124,111. His largest donors are individuals and businesses around Athens, Bogart, Braselton and Loganville, including a fiber-optic contractor. - $5,300.00 — Steve Middlebrooks (Athens, GA) - $5,100.00 — Cindy Scott (Bogart, GA) - $5,100.00 — Billy Ray Jones (Braselton, GA) - $5,100.00 — Fiber Optic Construction LLC (Hoschton, GA) - $5,100.00 — David Kernall (Bogart, GA) - $3,864.00 — Michael Jansen (Athens, GA) - $3,800.00 — John Jessup (Loganville, GA) - $3,800.00 — Joe P. Crump (Loganville, GA) - $3,541.25 — Matthew Whitley (Monroe, GA) **$332,394** raised · **$124,111** 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/) · [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) · [AccessNorthGA — McMain defeats McKillip in GOP State Senate 46 runoff (June 2026)](https://accessnorthga.com/news/mcmain-defeats-mckillip-in-gop-state-senate-46-runoff) · [Georgia Recorder — Republican state Sen. Bill Cowsert enters race to become Georgia's next attorney general](https://georgiarecorder.com/briefs/republican-state-sen-bill-cowsert-enters-race-to-become-georgias-next-attorney-general/) · [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 “I'll defend parents' rights and fight to put education back in the hands of families. That means supporting school choice, financial literacy…” Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Healthcare We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Minimum Wage We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He wants to “end the state income tax” and backs Lt. Gov. Burt Jones' DOGE initiative. Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Homelessness We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Veterans Affairs We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Immigration Supports “tough laws to crack down on gangs, illegal immigration, and the deadly flow of fentanyl.” Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Gun Control Opposes gun restrictions: “I'm proudly pro-life and pro-Second Amendment.” Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Abortion Opposes abortion rights: “I'm proudly pro-life.” Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) LGBTQ+ We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) DEI We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Marijuana We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) Data centers We reviewed his campaign site as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. Source: [Marc McMain for Georgia — campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) #### Accountability File None documented. [Campaign site](https://www.marcforgeorgia.com/) [⬇ Share image](https://thegafiles.com/share/candidates/senate-district-46.png) [⬇ Download for offline](https://thegafiles.com/candidates/senate-district-46.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.