# U.S. House — District 1 — 2026 Candidates — The GA Files > Where the 2026 candidates for Georgia U.S. House — District 1 stand — bio, prior offices, top donors, positions on DEI, LGBTQ+, abortion, and data centers, plus any scandals. Sourced. *Source: https://thegafiles.com/candidates/us-house-01.html · The GA Files (thegafiles.com)* --- [← 2026 Candidates](https://thegafiles.com/candidates.html) # U.S. House — District 1 D ### Amanda Hollowell Democratic nominee (open seat) A nationally known progressive organizer making her first run for Congress. She is Chief of Campaigns at Color of Change, the country's largest online racial-justice group, and previously led organizing at Michelle Obama's When We All Vote and ran advocacy at the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute and 9to5 Georgia. She won the June 2026 Democratic runoff to compete for the Savannah-based seat Buddy Carter left to run for Senate. #### Previously held - Chief of Campaigns, Color of Change - Organizing director, When We All Vote - Advocate, Georgia Budget & Policy Institute / 9to5 Georgia #### Top contributors A grassroots campaign — the latest FEC filings show about $135,000 raised, overwhelmingly from individuals, with only about $1,000 in PAC money. No insider PAC base. **$135,436** raised · **$18,243** cash on hand — as of **May 27, 2026** (FEC latest filing). Source: [FEC — Amanda Hollowell](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6GA01158/) · [Ballotpedia — Amanda Hollowell](https://ballotpedia.org/Amanda_Hollowell) #### Where they stand Federal spending & debt Frames the budget around everyday affordability — directing federal resources into Southeast Georgia rather than tax cuts she says favor the wealthy; as a first-time candidate she has no voting record. Source: [Amanda Hollowell — campaign](https://www.amandaforga.com/) · [WTOC — Hollowell nomination](https://www.wtoc.com/2026/06/16/griggs-hollowell-compete-georgias-1st-district-democratic-runoff/) Education Wants to fully fund public schools, support teachers, expand universal pre-K, and strengthen apprenticeships and workforce-development programs. Source: [Amanda Hollowell — campaign](https://www.amandaforga.com/) Healthcare Has built campaigns for healthcare access across the South and runs on lowering costs and expanding coverage for the district. Source: [Ballotpedia — Amanda Hollowell](https://ballotpedia.org/Amanda_Hollowell) Social Security reform Runs as a defender of Social Security and Medicare against cuts, consistent with her economic-justice background. Source: [Amanda Hollowell — campaign](https://www.amandaforga.com/) Minimum Wage Campaigns to raise wages, arguing families are priced out by low pay and rising housing costs. Source: [WTOC — Hollowell](https://www.wtoc.com/2026/06/16/griggs-hollowell-compete-georgias-1st-district-democratic-runoff/) Homelessness Wants to expand affordable housing and investment in communities being priced out, tying housing to her affordability message. Source: [WTOC — Hollowell](https://www.wtoc.com/2026/06/16/griggs-hollowell-compete-georgias-1st-district-democratic-runoff/) Veterans Affairs Supports federal investment flowing into the coastal district, which has a large military and veteran population, though she has detailed wages, housing and schools more. Source: [Amanda Hollowell — campaign](https://www.amandaforga.com/) Immigration Aligns with mainstream Democratic support for a path to citizenship and humane reform; she has centered her campaign on economic issues over immigration. Source: [Ballotpedia — Amanda Hollowell](https://ballotpedia.org/Amanda_Hollowell) Gun Control Backs stronger gun-safety measures in line with her progressive organizing record, though it is not the centerpiece of her platform. Source: [Ballotpedia — Amanda Hollowell](https://ballotpedia.org/Amanda_Hollowell) Abortion Supports abortion rights and restoring Roe-era protections, consistent with her racial- and economic-justice advocacy. Source: [Ballotpedia — Amanda Hollowell](https://ballotpedia.org/Amanda_Hollowell) LGBTQ+ Supports LGBTQ+ equality and protections, in keeping with her civil-rights organizing. Source: [Ballotpedia — Amanda Hollowell](https://ballotpedia.org/Amanda_Hollowell) DEI A career racial-justice organizer who defends diversity and equity programs as core to opportunity. Source: [Amanda Hollowell — campaign](https://www.amandaforga.com/) Marijuana Has not made marijuana a centerpiece; her criminal-justice and racial-equity record points toward support for reform. Source: [Ballotpedia — Amanda Hollowell](https://ballotpedia.org/Amanda_Hollowell) Data centers & AI Has not staked out a specific position on AI or data centers; her focus is wages, housing and public investment. Source: [Amanda Hollowell — campaign](https://www.amandaforga.com/) #### Scandals None documented. R ### Jim Kingston Republican nominee (open seat) An insurance agent and son of former U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, who held this coastal seat for two decades. Trump-endorsed and backed by the Club for Growth, he won the May 2026 GOP primary with about 53% and is the heavy favorite in a district no Democrat has won since his father's first race in 1992. #### Previously held - Insurance agent / businessman - Son of former U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston (GA-01, 1993–2015) - Trump- and Club for Growth-endorsed #### Top contributors Raised roughly $1.9 million — heavy individual money plus about $181,000 in PAC checks led by the insurance industry he works in: the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, InsurPAC, and United Health Services PAC (the same hospital PAC backing GOP statewide candidates), alongside auto dealers and a payday lender. Filed with the FEC. - $10,000.00 — Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers PAC (insurance) - $5,000.00 — United Health Services PAC Inc (hospital PAC) - $5,000.00 — Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers (InsurPAC) (insurance) - $5,000.00 — National Automobile Dealers Assn PAC (auto dealers) - $5,000.00 — Marsh & McLennan Companies PAC (insurance brokerage) - $5,000.00 — CCFI Companies PAC (consumer lending)Source: [FEC — James Kingston](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6GA01109/) #### Where they stand Federal spending & debt Calls rising costs the district's top issue and runs on cutting taxes and reining in federal spending; a Club for Growth-backed fiscal conservative. Source: [The Current — Kingston wins GOP primary](https://thecurrentga.org/2026/05/20/victorious-jim-kingston-awaits-november-opponent/) · [Club for Growth — Jim Kingston](https://www.clubforgrowth.org/candidates/jim-kingston/) Education Backs school choice and local control and opposes federal mandates, in line with his Trump-aligned, Club for Growth platform. Source: [Club for Growth — Jim Kingston](https://www.clubforgrowth.org/candidates/jim-kingston/) Healthcare Favors market-based healthcare and opposes expanded federal programs; an insurance agent by trade, he frames affordability through competition. Source: [The Current — Kingston](https://thecurrentga.org/2026/05/20/victorious-jim-kingston-awaits-november-opponent/) Social Security reform Has not detailed a Social Security plan; campaigns broadly on protecting benefits for seniors while cutting other spending. Source: [Ballotpedia — James Kingston](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Kingston_(Georgia)) Minimum Wage Opposes a higher federal minimum wage, favoring market wages and lower taxes as the path to higher pay. Source: [Club for Growth — Jim Kingston](https://www.clubforgrowth.org/candidates/jim-kingston/) Homelessness Has not made housing or homelessness a focus; emphasizes economic growth and lower costs. Source: [Ballotpedia — James Kingston](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Kingston_(Georgia)) Veterans Affairs Pledges to support the coastal district's large military and veteran community and its key defense installations. Source: [The Current — Kingston](https://thecurrentga.org/2026/05/20/victorious-jim-kingston-awaits-november-opponent/) Immigration Runs as a border hardliner aligned with Trump — more enforcement, finish the wall, and oppose amnesty. Source: [Club for Growth — Jim Kingston](https://www.clubforgrowth.org/candidates/jim-kingston/) Gun Control A Second Amendment absolutist who opposes new gun restrictions. Source: [Ballotpedia — James Kingston](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Kingston_(Georgia)) Abortion Anti-abortion, consistent with his Trump endorsement and the district's GOP base. Source: [Ballotpedia — James Kingston](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Kingston_(Georgia)) LGBTQ+ Has not centered LGBTQ+ issues; aligns with the socially conservative positions of his party and endorsers. Source: [Ballotpedia — James Kingston](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Kingston_(Georgia)) DEI Opposes diversity, equity and inclusion mandates, echoing the anti-DEI stance of his Trump-aligned coalition. Source: [Club for Growth — Jim Kingston](https://www.clubforgrowth.org/candidates/jim-kingston/) Marijuana Has not staked out a marijuana position. Source: [Ballotpedia — James Kingston](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Kingston_(Georgia)) Data centers & AI Supports domestic energy production to power growth — relevant as data centers expand in coastal Georgia — but has not detailed an AI or data-center policy. Source: [The Current — Kingston](https://thecurrentga.org/2026/05/20/victorious-jim-kingston-awaits-november-opponent/) #### Scandals None documented. [⬇ Share image](https://thegafiles.com/share/candidates/us-house-01.png) [⬇ Download for offline](https://thegafiles.com/candidates/us-house-01.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.