Georgia State Senate — District 51

Gary St. Lawrence

Democratic nominee · Army veteran, journalist

Gary St. Lawrence, 61, of Blairsville is a 10-year U.S. Army veteran, IT professional and journalist with a bachelor's degree from Ottawa University and a master's in journalism and communications from the University of the Incarnate Word. He calls himself a “fiscal hawk Democrat” and a “truck-driving, gun-owning, church-going” veteran. This is his first run for public office; he was unopposed in the May primary.

Previously held

First run for public office
U.S. Army veteran (10 years)

Top contributors

$23,115 raised; he has spent $14,266 and has $8,850 on hand. His donors are mostly north Georgia individuals and local Democratic groups; some small contributions are reported in aggregate.

$2,500.00Madeline McNeeley (Brookhaven, GA)
$2,695.76Unitemized small donors (reported in aggregate) (Blairsville, GA — two entries)
$1,300.00Melba Gandy (Talking Rock, GA)
$1,250.00Jean-Marie Giradot (Blairsville, GA)
$1,000.00Heather Littlefield (Blairsville, GA)
$1,000.00Rabun County Democrats (Clayton, GA)
$870.00Elect Dave Cooper GA (Clayton, GA)
$750.00Stacy Kavanagh (Atlanta, GA)

$23,116 raised · $8,850 cash on hand — as of Sep 14, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Georgia Ethics Commission (PeachFile) — cycle-to-date, Sept. 14, 2026 · St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site · AccessNorthGA — Blairsville Democrat to seek District 51 State Senate seat · Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence · Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia State Senate election (2024 presidential margins by district)

Where they stand

Education

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He criticizes Georgia's Quality Basic Education funding formula as not updated in more than four decades.

Source: St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site

Healthcare

Calls complete health care “a basic human need” and wants to build or upgrade hospitals and clinics across rural Georgia.

Source: Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Minimum Wage

Supports raising Georgia's minimum wage, plus tax relief for retirees and workers, including eliminating homestead taxes on properties of five acres or less.

Source: Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Homelessness

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He wants more affordable housing in every county.

Source: Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Veterans Affairs

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this. He lists expanding services for veterans and seniors as a priority.

Source: Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Immigration

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site · Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Gun Control

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site · Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Abortion

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site · Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

LGBTQ+

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site · Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

DEI

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site · Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Marijuana

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site · Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Data centers

We reviewed his campaign site and candidate profiles as of September 2026 and found no stated position on this.

Source: St. Lawrence for Senate — campaign site · Ballotpedia — Gary St. Lawrence

Accountability File

None documented.

Campaign site

Will Wade

Republican nominee · state representative, House District 9

Will Wade, a Dawsonville Republican, has represented House District 9 since 2023 and is vice chairman of the House Banks & Banking Committee. He led the three-way May primary with about 43% and won the June 16 runoff over Philip Milam with about 62%.

Previously held

Georgia House of Representatives, District 9 (2023–present)

Top contributors

$303,403 raised plus $25,000 in loans; a primary and runoff consumed $320,821, leaving $2,325. His largest donor is Sen. Steve Gooch's campaign, followed by insurance, banking, Chamber, Realtors and school-choice PACs.

$6,600.00Gooch for Georgia (Dahlonega, GA — Sen. Steve Gooch's committee)
$7,100.00Georgia Association of Realtors PAC (Atlanta, GA — two entries)
$5,100.00American Property Casualty Insurance Association (Chicago, IL)
$4,300.00Apollo Behavior Services LLC (Suwanee, GA)
$4,100.00Georgia Bankers Association PAC (Atlanta, GA)
$3,800.00GeorgiaCAN Action Fund PAC (Atlanta, GA)
$3,800.00Georgia Chamber Free Enterprise Action PAC (Atlanta, GA)
$3,300.00David Davoudpour (Atlanta, GA)
$3,300.00Geoff Cook (Gainesville, GA)

$303,403 raised · $2,325 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 — Will Wade · AccessNorthGA — Will Wade wins Republican State Senate District 51 race (June 2026) · AJC — Georgia Senate Republican leader launches campaign for lieutenant governor · Wikipedia — 2026 Georgia State Senate election (2024 presidential margins by district)