2026 Georgia General Election

2026 Georgia Primary Election

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North Carolina

Chad is from Oconee County, Georgia. He attended Northwestern Michigan College. He has an associate’s degree from Northwestern Michigan College, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Michigan State University, a doctor of philosophy degree in exercise physiology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master’s degree in international policy from the University of Georgia. He lives with his wife, Jamie, in Oconee County. He attends Grace Fellowship Church.

Chad Paton is originally from Michigan. He has an associate’s degree from Northwestern Michigan College, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Michigan State University, a doctor of philosophy degree in exercise physiology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master’s degree in international policy from the University of Georgia. He lives with his wife, Jamie, in Oconee County. He attends Grace Fellowship Church.

Chad is an associate professor. He works at the University of Georgia, where he has been since 2015 teaching nutritional biochemistry and leading a research program on lipid metabolism to address conditions like hyperlipidemia and fatty liver. He previously worked at Texas Tech University—where he began his academic career in 2011—and completed postdoctoral research at the Blood Research Institute and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Chad is an associate professor at the University of Georgia, where he teaches nutritional biochemistry and leading a research program on lipid metabolism to address conditions like hyperlipidemia and fatty liver. He previously worked at Texas Tech University—where he began his academic career in 2011—and completed postdoctoral research at the Blood Research Institute and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was previously an assistant professor at the Univeristy of Georgia, and prior to that served as an assistant professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Chad has served as a Civil Affairs Officer in the United States Army Reserve for twelve years, holding the rank of Major. 

Chad Paton's campaign for Georgia State Representative, District 120 is his first time running for public office.

Chad's campaign for Georgia State Representative, District 120 is his first run for public office.

Supports tax reform and small businesses.

Supports tax reform and promotes small businesses.

- Supports tax reform and promotes small businesses.
- Supports infrastructure investment. 

Economy

Prioritizes promoting sustainable growth.

- Prioritizes promoting sustainable growth.

Energy & the Environment

Healthcare

As of March 11, 2026, Chad Paton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Wants to prioritize public safety and address homelessness.

Public Safety

Education

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Chad Paton

Gary Ward Black Jr. has a BSA and MS in Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia. He lives in Commerce with his wife, Hannah, and they attend Maysville Baptist Church.

Gary is the owner and CEO of Solid Ground Services and Supply. He is also a farmer.

Ward is the owner and CEO of Solid Ground Services and Supply. He is also a farmer.

Ward Black's campaign for Georgia State Representative, District 120, is his first time running for public office.

Ward's campaign for Georgia State Representative, District 120, is his first time running for public office.

Supports protecting farmers and small businesses to ensure economic benefits for families in Georgia.

Supports tax reforms aimed at reducing the overall tax burden to create a more competitive environment for Georgia businesses.

Wants to encourage entrepreneurship by ensuring small businesses are not hindered by unnecessary penalties or barriers.

Supports expanding global market access to promote "Georgia Grown" and "Georgia-made" products internationally.

- Supports protecting farmers and small businesses to ensure economic benefits for families in Georgia.
- Supports tax reforms aimed at reducing the overall tax burden to create a more competitive environment for Georgia businesses.
- Wants to encourage entrepreneurship by ensuring small businesses are not hindered by unnecessary penalties or barriers.
- Supports expanding global market access to promote "Georgia Grown" and "Georgia-made" products internationally.

As of March 11, 2026, Gary Ward Black Jr.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Advocates for equipping officers with the tools, training, and staffing they need.

Supports legislation that allows law enforcement to "protect girls and women in public bathrooms."

Wants to crack down on fentanyl and opioid trafficking.

Proposes requiring all new drivers to demonstrate a basic understanding of road signs and driving terminology in English before receiving a license.

- Advocates for equipping officers with the tools, training, and staffing they need.
- Supports legislation that allows law enforcement to "protect girls and women in public bathrooms."
- Wants to crack down on fentanyl and opioid trafficking.
- Proposes requiring all new drivers to demonstrate a basic understanding of road signs and driving terminology in English before receiving a license.

Believes every Georgia student should graduate high school either enrolled, employed, or enlisted.

Wants to hold the Georgia Department of Education accountable to ensure funding goes to teachers and classrooms, not "bureaucratic overhead."

Advocates for expanding career-ready curricula so that every high school offers a CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) pathway to "Make Trades Great Again."

Believes schools should stay focused on learning and "not woke agendas."

- Believes every Georgia student should graduate high school either enrolled, employed, or enlisted.
- Wants to hold the Georgia Department of Education accountable to ensure funding goes to teachers and classrooms, not "bureaucratic overhead."
- Advocates for expanding career-ready curricula so that every high school offers a CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) pathway to "Make Trades Great Again."
- Believes schools should stay focused on learning and "not woke agendas."

Gary Ward Black Jr.

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Georgia State House of Representatives.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. All bills dealing with the state budget originate in the Georgia House of Representatives.
- The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 180 members of the Georgia House of Representatives, each representing a single district.
- State Representatives are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342. They only serve in the role part-time.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Georgia House of Representatives

Georgia State Representative, District 120, Republican Primary

Candidates (2)