Kelly Esti
Democratic nomineeA Navy veteran and public-policy scholar (PhD) making his first run for Congress. He studied nuclear power in the Navy, later worked in finance, helped stand up the new city of South Fulton, and served on a county zoning board and a charter-school board. His campaign's stated top priority is impeaching President Trump, alongside tackling the affordability crisis. He won the May 2026 Democratic primary to challenge Austin Scott.
Previously held
- First run for public office
- Fulton County zoning board; charter-school board member
- U.S. Navy (nuclear power program); finance career
Top contributors
A grassroots first-time candidate running a long-shot challenge in a district Scott won by roughly 38 points in 2024. The latest FEC filings show about $17,600 raised — entirely from individual donors, with no PAC money.
$17,655 raised · $2,662 cash on hand — as of Mar 31, 2026 (FEC latest filing).
Source: FEC — Esti · WALB — two Democrats vie to challenge Scott · BallotpediaWhere they stand
A Navy veteran with a finance background and a public-policy PhD focused on measuring poverty, he frames the budget around the affordability crisis — protecting Social Security and Medicare and securing federal investment in the district (infrastructure, broadband, veterans' care) rather than across-the-board cuts. As a first-time challenger he has no voting record.
Source: Kelly Esti — campaign site · Ballotpedia — Kelly EstiCalls education “a public good” and would expand federal programs that broaden access and keep learning affordable.
Source: Campaign siteTreats health care as “a public good” — would strengthen federal health programs and fund rural clinics and hospitals across the district.
Source: Campaign siteWould protect federal benefit programs; no detailed Social Security plan stated beyond support for seniors' and veterans' programs.
Source: Campaign siteBacks stronger federal labor standards and workplace protections; he has not named a specific minimum-wage figure.
Source: Campaign siteFrames housing through fair treatment in federal programs and infrastructure funding; no standalone homelessness plan stated.
Source: Campaign siteAs a Navy veteran, makes veterans a priority — pledging that service members and families “receive the support they have earned,” with a focus on VA programs.
Source: Campaign siteNo detailed immigration platform stated in his campaign.
Source: BallotpediaNo specific gun-policy position stated in his campaign.
Source: BallotpediaHas not stated a detailed position on abortion in his campaign materials.
Source: BallotpediaSupportive — he has advocated protecting Georgia's LGBTQ community from discrimination.
Source: Take Back Congress — Kelly EstiNo specific DEI platform stated.
Source: BallotpediaNo position on marijuana documented.
Source: BallotpediaHas not staked out a specific AI or data-center position; his platform touches grid modernization and giving communities the option of renewable energy like solar and wind, but he has not addressed the data-center power-cost fight directly.
Source: Kelly Esti — campaign siteScandals
None documented.
