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Vinson Watkins

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Vinson Watkins
Candidate, U.S. Senate Georgia
Elections and appointments
Last election
May 21, 2024
Next election
May 19, 2026
Personal
Birthplace
Atlanta, GA
Religion
None
Profession
Writer/editor
Contact

Vinson Watkins (Republican Party) (also known as Vince) is running for election to theU.S. House to representGeorgia's 8th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled onMay 19, 2026.[source]

Watkins is also running for election to theU.S. Senate to represent Georgia. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled onMay 19, 2026.[source]

Watkins completed Ballotpedia'sCandidate Connection survey in 2024.Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Vinson Watkins was born inAtlanta, Georgia. Watkins studied at Mercer University. His career experience includes working as a writer/editor and author.[1][2][3][4]

Elections

2026

See also: Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. House Georgia District 8

Roman Coley Davis is running in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Roman Coley Davis
Roman Coley Davis (Independent) Candidate Connection

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8

James Cooper III,Kelly Esti,Justin Laster, andJustin Lucas are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 19, 2026.

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There are noincumbents in this race.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8

IncumbentAustin Scott andVinson Watkins are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 19, 2026.

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Incumbents arebolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: United States Senate election in Georgia, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. Senate Georgia

Elbert Bartell,Chris Capparell, andDeVelle Jackson are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Georgia on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Elbert Bartell
Elbert Bartell (Independent) Candidate Connection
Image of Chris Capparell
Chris Capparell (Independent)
DeVelle Jackson (Independent)

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There are noincumbents in this race.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Georgia

IncumbentJon Ossoff andKia Legette are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Georgia on May 19, 2026.

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Incumbents arebolded and underlined.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Georgia

The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Georgia on May 19, 2026.

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There are noincumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

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2024

See also: Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2024

Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (May 21 Democratic primary)

Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (May 21 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Georgia District 8

IncumbentAustin Scott defeatedDarrius Butler in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Austin Scott
Austin Scott (R)
 
68.9
 
231,547
Image of Darrius Butler
Darrius Butler (D) Candidate Connection
 
31.1
 
104,434

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

Total votes: 335,981
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8

Darrius Butler defeatedVinson Watkins in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Darrius Butler
Darrius Butler Candidate Connection
 
71.6
 
15,755
Image of Vinson Watkins
Vinson Watkins Candidate Connection
 
28.4
 
6,236

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

Total votes: 21,991
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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8

IncumbentAustin Scott advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 8 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Austin Scott
Austin Scott
 
100.0
 
59,537

Ballotpedia Logo

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

Total votes: 59,537
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.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Watkins in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Vinson Watkins has not yet completedBallotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.Send a message to Vinson Watkins asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Vinson Watkins,click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 25,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the surveyhere.

You can ask Vinson Watkins to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing vince@vincewatkins.org.

Email

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Vinson Watkins completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Watkins' responses.

Expand all |Collapse all

Just a man making my way through the universe.
  • Restoring a woman’s right to bodily autonomy must be restored.
  • Preserving the separation of church and state.
  • Today’s GOP is a mob of fascists. I mean to restore the party of Lincoln and make being a Republican actually about serving the republic we call the United Stares.
I believe elected officials should look up to the people and always remember that the highest office in the land is CITIZEN.

Of course I have personal heroes like Frederick Douglass, Harry Chapin, Carl Sagan, etc.
I always do my homework. I believe in facts and logic. I believe in listening to and understanding all sides of an issue. And I believe in admitting when I’m wrong.
Frankly, I’m a genius with a love of research. I make sure I’m always the smartest guy in the room.

I have Young Onset Parkinson’s Dissase. For two decades, it has ravaged my body and left me disabled. But I still have my mind and I feel a duty to put it to patriotic use.
Thoughtful debate so that all issues presented are completely understood.

Preserving the Constitution and passing laws that serve the citizens.
That my daughters be proud of me.
I was a computer graphics artist for years starting from the age of 15.
I love too many books to have a favorite.

Beware the man of one book.
Parkinson’s Disease. It is very painful and disabling.
Maintaining our military supremacy as we check the growing powers of Russia and China and Islamic regimes.

Transitioning America and the world toward nuclear energy and away from fossil fuels as we try to mitigate the coming effects of climate change.

All while preserving the liberty and safety of our citizens, and fostering opportunity, health, and a modernized infrastructure.

Saving family farms. Raise the minimum wage to $15 with an automatic cost of living increase every year.

Saving the promise of social security and vastly increasing benefits.
We have very effective term limits. They are called ELECTIONS.
The senate has wide-ranging duties including proposing and drafting effective legislation, investigating violations in all branches of the government, and even effective use of the filibuster to protect the minority from being railroaded by a tyranny of the majority.
Experience comes from many sources. We need leaders from a variety of backgrounds. Enough already with lawyers, businessmen, millionaires, and reverends. We need scientists and artists and writers and maybe a barber and a cab driver and a cop.
It is a vital tool that spurs debate, which is the primary role of the Senate. It prevents the majority from bullying the minority.
No. It’s entirely inappropriate for this forum.
I would do my homework and review their decisions and fidelity to the Constitution and ignore the lies they tell during confirmation hearings where they will say anything to get the job.
Hopefully, respectful friendships based on cooperation and a love for this country.
Of course. Every senator is sent to Washington to work with each other.

The trick is learning to compromise on details without compromising oneself and one’s principles.
To expose and prosecute violations in every branch of government, especially SCOTUS.
Honesty. Integrity. A complete working knowledge of their area of expertise.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2024

Candidate Connection

Vinson Watkins completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Watkins' responses.

Expand all |Collapse all

My name is Vince Watkins. I am tired of the partisan bickering in this “do nothing” Congress. I have come to bring balance to the force.

I am disabled with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease. There are so many things I can no longer do, but I want to focus on what I can do.

I’m 57 and have had PD for 2 decades now. I want to make a difference. I want to make a contribution to my home state while I still can. I am a believer in individual rights, the Constitution, and common sense.
  • I believe in serving constituents, listening to their concerns, and addressing them.

    The craziness of the far right and far left achieves nothing but conflict. I can be awake without being “woke.”

    Protecting Georgians, our rights, and the Constitutional Republic we love.
  • Women’s rights are under attack from the far left and the far right. The empowerment of women is necessary to the success of our mighty republic.
  • We have enough lawyers and businessmen in Washington. They appease whomever throws them that sweet sweet SuperPac sugar. They get richer in the stock market as they legally engage in insider trading. It’s time to send a poor wretch like me. I will not play the stock market while in office. But I will do everything I can to cut taxes on Diesel. Truckers built our highways with massive taxes. Cutting taxes on diesel will put more money in the hands of truckers, farmers, and consumers.
Social Security, Disability, Medicare, Veterans rights, and everything else.
Thomas Jefferson, but without the slaves. I can relate to his many interests and admire his vast intellect.

Benjamin Franklin because he told it like it is. That’s why people like Trump. That’s why Georgians will love me.
The United States Constitution

The writing of Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, Eleanor Roosevelt, George Carlin, Dave Chappelle, and Aaron Sorkin.
Perspective and gratitude.

And “dancing with the one that brung ya.”

These qualities come from core values like honesty, dignity, loyalty, and making damn sure you do your homework.

And a ridiculously high IQ helps.

And humility. Despite my intelligence, my shortcomings are multitudinous. I’m working on that.
As the oath says: to support the Constitution. To make sure the rights of Americans are preserved and that Georgia’s mighty 8th has the detailed infrastructure it needs to be successful, happy, and great… no matter what color cap they wear.
Honest and effective service that makes a difference and empowers people.
At 15, I began working in computer graphics.
A favorite book? So many. The Old Man and the Sea. I love Hemingway. Anything by Cormac McCarthy. Joan Didion. Alice Walker. The poetry of Leonard Cohen and Countee Cullen.
Ray Charles belting out “Georgia On My Mind.”
Parkinson’s Disease. Unmedicated, it causes depression, anxiety, stiffness, tremors, locked muscles and joints, pain, and sheer hell.
The House is the greatest body of governance ever assembled. It insures that we have the rule of law and not the rule of men.
Experience is a valuable thing, but it doesn’t always come from sitting at a desk in Washington.
Dealing with threats like climate change, deescalating tensions with China, the Middle East, and Russia, while still supporting our allies. It is vital that we support Israel in their battle against terrorism. It’s our battle too.

Securing our borders, protecting social security and Medicare, and making sure medical care is denied to no American.
Yes.

Or rather it would be if representatives did not have to spend most of their time raising money for the next campaign.

We need campaign finance reform.
We have term limits. We call them “elections.”
Mark Twain: “imagine yourself a congressman. Now imagine yourself an idiot. But I repeat myself.”
I’m not running for King. The citizens of our great nation sends the people they have chosen to serve their interests. That means working with all those representatives to benefit Americans. It means compromising to hammer out fair legislation. It does not mean compromising one’s dignity.
We have a ridiculous number of laws and many of them have riders regarding unrelated issues.

We need honest legislation without such riders.
With great care when there is sufficient evidence and cause.

Not the retaliatory and baseless abuse of power we see today.
The loosely unassociated smart people in Georgia’s 8th.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Watkins submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on March 1, 2024.

October 2 submission

My name is Vinson Watkins. Ian on disability with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease. There are so many things I can no longer do, but I want to focus on what I can do. I’m 57 and have had PD for 2 decades now. I want to make a difference. I want to make a contribution to my home state while I still can. I am a believer in individual rights, the Constitution, and common sense.
  • I believe in serving constituents, listening to their concerns, and addressing them.
  • The craziness of the far right and far left achieves nothing but conflict. I can be awake without being “woke.”
  • Protecting Georgians, our rights, and the Constitutional Republic we love.

“We the People” means ALL the people. I want to ensure that public policy serves Georgians, and not Georgians serving policy.

Georgia is proudly part of these United States and must be an active part of ensuring the security, freedom, and opportunities of America.
Thomas Jefferson, but without the slaves. I can relate to his many interests and admire his vast intellect.

Benjamin Franklin because he told it like it is. That’s why people like Trump. That’s why Georgians will love me.
The United States Constitution

The writing of Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, Eleanor Roosevelt, George Carlin, and Aaron Sorkin.
Remembering that serving the people is the job. Remembering that I am in Washington to serve Georgia’s awesome 8th district in the House, not to serve the House in Georgia’s 8th.
Honesty

Intelligence
Integrity

I have Young Onset Parkinson’s which has forced me into an early retirement. But I want to work and be of service. There is so much I can’t do. I often need a cane to walk. But I can still think, and offer my intellect into the service of Georgia. Yes, I am disabled. So what. Like Michael J Fox, I will not let this disease destroy my mantra: Perspective and Gratitude.
Honesty—We don’t need BS in politics.

Intelligence—I do my homework and I’m always the smartest person in the room. Always. I’m not bragging; that’s just the reality.

Yes, honesty and intelligence are more than qualities. They are responsibilities. To represent Georgia, it is vital that the 8th District sends someone with a confident intellect placed in their service.
Honest and effective service. A few paintings. The novels I’m writing.
Creating computer graphics. I was 15. I did that for years.
Impossible to pick one. My favorite writers are Cormac McCarthy, Harper Lee, Robert Cormier, Jack Finney, Ken Grimwood, Michael Chabon…
Parkinson’s Disease. Unmedicated, it causes depression, anxiety, stiffness, tremors, locked muscles and joints, pain, and sheer hell.
It is the part of national governance that is closest to the people pulling the levers and sending someone to represent them and their interests.
Experience is always a positive quality, but the experience required to represent my friends and neighbors comes from more than a desk in Washington.
Dealing with threats like climate change, deescalating tensions with China, the Middle East, and Russia, while still supporting our allies.

Securing our borders, protecting social security and Medicare, and making sure medical care is denied to no American.
We have term limits. They are called ELECTIONS. The people have the right to send the representatives of their own choosing,
The citizens of these United States elect us to protect them. That cannot be compromised. However, there are a thousand tiny details that face our country as we govern. And effective government requires compromise and intelligence.
As the largest economy in the history of the world, we have to raise enough revenue (which is a BS term for taxation) to insure a 21st century infrastructure which will enable Americans, and especially Georgians to prosper.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Watkins submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on October 2, 2023.

Campaign finance summary

Ballotpedia LogoNote: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.

Vinson Watkins campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026*U.S. House Georgia District 8Candidacy Declared primary$0 $63
2026*U.S. Senate GeorgiaCandidacy Declared primary$0 N/A**
2024U.S. House Georgia District 8Lost primary$5,433 $5,253
Grand total$5,433 $5,316
Sources:OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also


External links

Candidate

U.S. Senate Georgia

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    • Footnotes

    1. ↑Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 2, 2023
    2. ↑Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 1, 2024
    3. ↑Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 22, 2024
    4. ↑Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 22, 2024


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