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Georgia House of Representatives District 125

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Georgia House of Representatives District 125
Incumbent
Assumed office: March 20, 2024

Georgia House of Representatives District 125 is represented byGary Richardson (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Georgia state representatives represented an average of59,585 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented54,042 residents.

About the chamber

Members of theGeorgia House of Representatives servetwo-year terms and are not subject toterm limits. Georgia legislators assume office the second Monday in January.

Qualifications

See also:State legislature candidate requirements by state

Paragraph 3 of Section 2 of Article 3 of theGeorgia Constitution states, "At the time of their election, the members of the House of Representatives shall be citizens of the United States, shall be at least 21 years of age, shall have been citizens of this state for at least two years, and shall have been legal residents of the territory embraced within the district from which elected for at least one year."[1]

GA Code § 21-2-8 states that an individual cannot hold public office if they are "not a qualified voter entitled to vote."[2]


Salaries

See also:Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[3]
SalaryPer diem
$24,341.64/year$247/day

Vacancies

See also:How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in theGeorgia General Assembly, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election. If the vacancy occurs during a legislative session, thegovernor must declare a special election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happens. If the vacancy occurs after the regular legislative session held during the first year of the term of office for members, the governor may order a special election at any time but no later than 60 days before the November general election. If the vacancy occurs between 60 days before the November general election and the next legislative session, the governor is required to order a special election within 10 days.[4]

The special election must be held no less than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the governor calls for the election. The counties representing the vacant district are responsible for conducting the election.[4]

DocumentIcon.jpgSee sources:Georgia Code § 21-2-544


District map

Redistricting

See also:Redistricting in Georgia

In Georgia, both congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority in each chamber is required to approve redistricting plans, which are subject to veto by thegovernor.[5]

TheGeorgia Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous. There are no similar requirements for congressional districts.[5][6]

2020-2023

See also:Redistricting in Georgia after the 2020 census

Thedistrict court's approval of remedial state legislative maps was appealed to theEleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral argument was held on January 23, 2025.[7]

Governor Kemp (R) signed revised legislative maps into law on December 8, 2023. Legislators in the Georgia House of Representatives voted 98-71 to adopt the new state legislative maps on December 5. The Georgia State Senate voted 32-23 to adopt the state legislative maps on December 1. For more information about the enacted legislative maps,click here.[8][9]

Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Georgia’s 2024 state legislative elections.

Georgia House of Representatives District 125
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Georgia House of Representatives District 125
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

Regular election

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

IncumbentGary Richardson defeatedKay Turner in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gary Richardson
Gary Richardson (R)
 
64.5
 
20,341
Image of Kay Turner
Kay Turner (D)
 
35.5
 
11,194

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 31,535
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

Kay Turner advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kay Turner
Kay Turner
 
100.0
 
1,144

Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,144
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

IncumbentGary Richardson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gary Richardson
Gary Richardson
 
100.0
 
2,951

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,951
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Special election

See also:Georgia state legislative special elections, 2024

A special election forGeorgia House of RepresentativesDistrict 125 was called for February 13, 2024. A runoff, if necessary, took place on March 12, 2024. The candidate filing deadline was January 10, 2024.[10]

The seat became vacant after RepresentativeBarry Fleming was appointed to a superior court judgeship in the Columbia Judicial Circuit by GovernorBrian Kemp on December 27, 2023.[11]

General runoff election
Special general runoff election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

Gary Richardson defeatedCJ Pearson in the special general runoff election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on March 12, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gary Richardson
Gary Richardson (R)
 
60.2
 
3,916
Image of CJ Pearson
CJ Pearson (R)
 
39.8
 
2,589

Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,505
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

General election
Special general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

Gary Richardson andCJ Pearson advanced to a runoff. They defeatedJim Steed,Kay Turner, andJohn Turpish in the special general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on February 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gary Richardson
Gary Richardson (R)
 
37.5
 
1,694
Image of CJ Pearson
CJ Pearson (R)
 
30.8
 
1,390
Jim Steed (R)
 
17.6
 
794
Image of Kay Turner
Kay Turner (D)
 
13.5
 
612
Image of John Turpish
John Turpish (L) Candidate Connection
 
0.6
 
27

Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 4,517
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2022

See also:Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

IncumbentBarry Fleming won election in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Barry Fleming
Barry Fleming (R)
 
100.0
 
18,489

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 18,489
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

IncumbentBarry Fleming advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Barry Fleming
Barry Fleming
 
100.0
 
7,476

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 7,476
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2020

See also:Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

IncumbentSheila Clark Nelson won election in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sheila Clark Nelson
Sheila Clark Nelson (D)
 
100.0
 
17,666

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 17,666
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

IncumbentSheila Clark Nelson advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sheila Clark Nelson
Sheila Clark Nelson
 
100.0
 
6,171

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,171
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2018

See also:Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

IncumbentSheila Clark Nelson won election in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sheila Clark Nelson
Sheila Clark Nelson (D)
 
100.0
 
13,564

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 13,564
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125

IncumbentSheila Clark Nelson advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sheila Clark Nelson
Sheila Clark Nelson
 
100.0
 
3,453

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 3,453
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2016

See also:Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for theGeorgia House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 24, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 11, 2016.

Sheila Clark Nelson ran unopposed in the Georgia House of Representatives District 125 general election.[12][13]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 125 General Election, 2016
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngSheila Clark Nelson (unopposed)100.00%15,120
Total Votes15,120
Source:Georgia Secretary of State


Sheila Clark Nelson defeated incumbentEarnest Smith in the Georgia House of Representatives District 125 Democratic primary.[14][15]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 125 Democratic Primary, 2016
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngSheila Clark Nelson56.92%1,978
    DemocraticEarnest SmithIncumbent43.08%1,497
Total Votes3,475


2014

See also:Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for theGeorgia House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014, with runoff elections taking place where necessary on July 22, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. IncumbentEarnest G. Smith was unopposed in the Democratic primary, whileW.P. "Pat" Garrett was unopposed in the Republican primary. Smith faced Garrett in the general election.[16][17][18]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 125 General Election, 2014
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngEarnest SmithIncumbent60.8%7,052
    Republican Pat Garrett39.2%4,547
Total Votes11,599

2012

See also:Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office ofGeorgia House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on July 31, 2012, and a general election onNovember 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 25, 2012. IncumbentEarnest Smith (D) defeatedDavid Hopper (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[19][20]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 125, General Election, 2012
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngEarnest SmithIncumbent65.5%12,173
    Republican David Hopper34.5%6,407
Total Votes18,580

Campaign contributions

From 2004 to 2024, candidates for Georgia House of Representatives District 125 raised a total of $1,138,440. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $45,538 on average. All figures come fromFollow the Money

Campaign contributions, Georgia House of Representatives District 125
YearAmountCandidatesAverage
2024$327,6268$40,953
2022$85,5001$85,500
2020$8,1001$8,100
2018$13,9101$13,910
2016$43,6072$21,804
2014$19,1002$9,550
2012$17,3612$8,681
2010$112,8133$37,604
2008$101,5311$101,531
2006$222,8772$111,439
2004$186,0152$93,008
Total$1,138,44025$45,538


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Justia, "Constitution of the State of Georgia," accessed May 21, 2025
  2. Justia, "GA Code § 21-2-8," accessed May 27, 2025
  3. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  4. 4.04.1The State of Georgia, "Official Code of Georgia," accessed January 23, 2024(Statute 21-2-544)
  5. 5.05.1All About Redistricting, "Georgia," accessed April 23, 2015
  6. Georgia Constitution, "Article 3, Section 2," accessed April 23, 2015
  7. Democracy Docket, "11th Circuit Considers Fate of Georgia Maps in High-Stakes Redistricting Case," January 21, 2025
  8. Georgia General Assembly, "Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office - Proposed Plans," accessed December 11, 2023
  9. Twitter, "RedistrictNet," December 7, 2023
  10. Georgia Secretary of State, "CALL FOR SPECIAL ELECTION FOR STATE HOUSE, DISTRICT 125," accessed January 5, 2024
  11. 'Office of the Governor, "Gov. Kemp Announces Three Appointments to Superior Courts ," December 27, 2023
  12. Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed August 17, 2016
  13. Georgia Secretary of State, "General Election results," accessed November 23, 2016
  14. Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 13, 2016
  15. Georgia Secretary of State, "General primary results," accessed May 24, 2016
  16. Georgia Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 10, 2014
  17. Georgia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 28, 2014
  18. Georgia Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
  19. Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed November 16, 2012
  20. Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results" accessed November 16, 2012


Current members of theGeorgia House of Representatives
Leadership
Minority Leader:Carolyn Hugley
Representatives
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Vacant
District 24
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Vacant
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Vacant
District 122
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District 125
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District 144
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District 165
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District 167
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District 169
District 170
District 171
District 172
District 173
District 174
District 175
District 176
District 177
District 178
District 179
District 180
Republican Party (98)
Democratic Party (79)
Vacancies (3)


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