# U.S. House — District 11 — 2026 Candidates — The GA Files > Where the 2026 candidates for Georgia U.S. House — District 11 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-11.html · The GA Files (thegafiles.com)* --- [← 2026 Candidates](https://thegafiles.com/candidates.html) # U.S. House — District 11 D ### Chris Harden Democratic nominee (open seat) A Democrat running for the open 11th District seat left by retiring Republican Barry Loudermilk. He won the Democratic primary and faces long odds in the Republican-leaning Atlanta-suburb-and-exurb district. #### Previously held - First-time congressional candidate #### Top contributors A grassroots campaign — about $54,000 raised, essentially all from individuals with no PAC money. No donor base to report. **$53,676** raised · **$3,955** cash on hand — as of **Apr 29, 2026** (FEC latest filing). Source: [FEC — Chris Harden](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6GA11116/) · [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) #### Where they stand Federal spending & debt Frames the budget around affordability and public investment over cuts; as a first-time challenger has no voting record. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Education Supports public-school investment. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Healthcare Backs expanding coverage and lowering costs. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Social Security reform Opposes cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Minimum Wage Supports raising the federal minimum wage. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Homelessness Backs federal affordable-housing investment. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Veterans Affairs Supports strengthening VA care. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Immigration Supports humane reform and a path to citizenship. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Gun Control Supports gun-safety measures. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Abortion Supports abortion rights and restoring Roe-era protections. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) LGBTQ+ Supports LGBTQ+ equality. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) DEI Supports diversity and inclusion. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Marijuana Supports marijuana decriminalization and reform. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) Data centers & AI Has not detailed a specific AI or data-center position. Source: [Ballotpedia — GA-11, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) #### Scandals None documented. R ### John Cowan Republican nominee (open seat) A Rome neurosurgeon and the Republican nominee for the open 11th District after Barry Loudermilk's retirement. He previously ran for Congress in 2020, challenging Marjorie Taylor Greene in the GA-14 GOP primary, and won the 2026 11th-District runoff. The district leans strongly Republican. #### Previously held - Neurosurgeon - 2020 Republican candidate, GA-14 #### Top contributors Raised about $2.1 million — mostly individual money plus roughly $64,000 in PACs dominated by the medical profession he comes from: neurosurgeons, the AMA, radiologists, and dermatologists. Filed with the FEC. - $10,000.00 — American Assn of Neurological Surgeons PAC (physicians) - $5,000.00 — American Medical Association PAC (physicians) - $5,000.00 — American College of Radiology PAC (physicians) - $5,000.00 — American Academy of Dermatology SKINPAC (physicians) - $5,000.00 — Healthcare Freedom Fund (healthcare) - $3,500.00 — Patriot Fund (GOP leadership PAC) **$2,145,885** raised · **$207,288** cash on hand — as of **May 27, 2026** (FEC latest filing). Source: [FEC — John Cowan](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H0GA14048/) #### Where they stand Federal spending & debt A fiscal conservative who backs spending cuts and a balanced budget. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Education Supports school choice and local control. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Healthcare A practicing neurosurgeon who opposes single-payer and favors market-based, doctor-led healthcare reform. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Social Security reform Says current seniors' benefits should be protected while pressing for fiscal restraint. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Minimum Wage Has not detailed a minimum-wage position. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Homelessness Has not addressed housing or homelessness. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Veterans Affairs Supports strengthening veterans' care and a strong military. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Immigration A border hardliner who supports tougher enforcement. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Gun Control A Second Amendment supporter opposing new restrictions. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Abortion Anti-abortion, citing his medical background. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) LGBTQ+ Has not detailed LGBTQ+ positions. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) DEI Aligns with GOP opposition to DEI mandates. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Marijuana Has taken a cautious stance and not pushed federal legalization. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) Data centers & AI Has not addressed AI or data-center policy. Source: [Ballotpedia — John Cowan](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) #### Scandals None documented. [⬇ Share image](https://thegafiles.com/share/candidates/us-house-11.png) [⬇ Download for offline](https://thegafiles.com/candidates/us-house-11.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.