Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

In the 2024 House race for GA-1, Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R) defeated Patti Hewitt (D) 62.0% to 38.0%. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter received 220,576 votes compared to 135,281 for Patti Hewitt, a dominant 24.0-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

As the incumbent, Earl L. "Buddy" Carter benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2022 House race for GA-1, Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R) defeated Wade Herring (D) 59.1% to 40.9%. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter received 156,128 votes compared to 107,837 for Wade Herring, a comfortable 18.3-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Earl L. "Buddy" Carter benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Republican, Earl L. "Buddy" Carter benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.

In the 2020 House race for GA-1, Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R) defeated Joyce Marie Griggs (D) 58.4% to 41.6%. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter received 189,457 votes compared to 135,238 for Joyce Marie Griggs, a comfortable 16.7-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2020 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2018 House race for GA-01, Earl L. Buddy Carter (R) defeated Lisa M. Ring (D) 57.7% to 42.3%. Earl L. Buddy Carter received 144,741 votes compared to 105,942 for Lisa M. Ring, a comfortable 15.5-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Earl L. Buddy Carter benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Republican, Earl L. Buddy Carter won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Republican Trump was in office).

In the 2016 House race for GA-01, Earl L. Buddy Carter (R) ran unopposed and received 210,243 votes. Running without a challenger is rare and usually indicates either a safe party stronghold or that the opposition could not field a candidate.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — E. L. Buddy Carter (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2016 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2014 House race for GA-01, E. L. Buddy Carter (R) defeated Brian Corwin Reese (D) 60.9% to 39.1%. E. L. Buddy Carter received 95,337 votes compared to 61,175 for Brian Corwin Reese, a dominant 21.8-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Jack Kingston (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Republican, E. L. Buddy Carter benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.