2026 Georgia General Election

2026 Georgia Primary Election

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2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

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NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

Sonya McLaughlin Halpern has lived in the 39th District for 26 years. She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Massachusetts and her MBA from the University of Hartford. She is married to Daniel Halpern, and they have three children.

Sonya previously worked at Cox Enterprises.

Sonya works as the Principal at Whiskey in a Teacup (WIAT) Consulting she previously worked at Cox Enterprises. She is a founding member of the Atlanta School for the Arts Foundation, a former Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Children's School, and a former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for WABE/Public Broadcasting Atlanta.

Sonya McLaughlin Halpern’s campaign for Georgia State Senate, District 39 is her first entry into politics.

Sonya currently serves as a Democratic State Senator representing Georgia State Senate District 39. 

Supports raising Georgia's minimum wage, which is currently $5.15 an hour, lower than the federal minimum wage.

Plans to address the lack of affordable housing in her district.

Believes economic mobility must be possible for everyone, noting that it is currently incredibly difficult to move up the economic ladder within the district despite metro Atlanta's overall growth.

- Supports raising Georgia's minimum wage, which is currently $5.15 an hour, lower than the federal minimum wage.
- Plans to address the lack of affordable housing in her district.
- Believes economic mobility must be possible for everyone, noting that it is currently incredibly difficult to move up the economic ladder within the district despite metro Atlanta's overall growth.

Economy

As of March 11, 2026, Sonya McLaughlin Halpern’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Asserts that healthcare is a human right and strongly advocates for the expansion of Medicaid in Georgia.

Believes everyone should have access to health insurance regardless of income or employment status, stating no one should have to ask if "calling an ambulance will bankrupt your family."

Vows to fight back against any efforts to restrict reproductive rights, promising to do everything she can to "protect and expand our power over our own bodies."

- Supports expanding Medicaid.
- Supports abortion access.
- Asserts that healthcare is a human right and strongly advocates for the expansion of Medicaid in Georgia.
- Believes everyone should have access to health insurance regardless of income or employment status, stating no one should have to ask if "calling an ambulance will bankrupt your family."
- Vows to fight back against any efforts to restrict reproductive rights, promising to do everything she can to "protect and expand our power over our own bodies."

Healthcare

Supports expanding voting access by investing in local election boards, facilitating absentee ballot counting, and introducing same-day voter registration.

Supports a "fair, nonpartisan redistricting process which creates more competition in our elections instead of protecting incumbents."

Strongly supports passing a comprehensive, state-level nondiscrimination law to prevent discrimination in the workplace, housing, and public accommodations for all Georgians.

- Supports expanding voting access by investing in local election boards, facilitating absentee ballot counting, and introducing same-day voter registration.
- Supports a "fair, nonpartisan redistricting process which creates more competition in our elections instead of protecting incumbents."
- Strongly supports passing a comprehensive, state-level nondiscrimination law to prevent discrimination in the workplace, housing, and public accommodations for all Georgians.

Voting & Elections

Supports criminal justice reform, including eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing and reducing incarceration rates.

Pledges to fight for the elimination of mandatory minimum sentencing and to undo "decades of overcriminalization."

- Supports criminal justice reform, including eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing and reducing incarceration rates.
- Pledges to fight for the elimination of mandatory minimum sentencing and to undo "decades of overcriminalization."

Public Safety

Supports reinvesting in K-12 public schools to ensure equitable educational opportunities.

Supports restoring the HOPE Scholarship to make college accessible to all.

Believes opportunity in education must be restored so it is not limited only to "those born in the wealthiest neighborhoods."

- Supports reinvesting in K-12 public schools to ensure equitable educational opportunities.
- Supports restoring the HOPE Scholarship to make college accessible to all.
- Believes opportunity in education must be restored so it is not limited only to "those born in the wealthiest neighborhoods."

Education

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Sonya McLaughlin Halpern

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Georgia State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State Senators are involved in approving some appointments by the Governor.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 56 Georgia senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Georgia Senate

Georgia State Senator, District 39, Democratic Primary

Candidates (1)