LeMario Brown
Who: LeMario Brown
What: Georgia State Senate District 18
Where: Middle Georgia including portions of Crawford, Monroe, Peach, Upson, Bibb and Houston counties
Five Republicans and one Democrat were on the January 20, 2026 special election ballot to replace Republican Georgia State Senator John Kennedy who resigned to run for lieutenant governor. Because no one earned a majority of the votes, the top two vote-getters will compete head-to-head in a February 17 run-off election.
Democrat LeMario Brown received 36.9% of the vote and Republican Steven McNeel finished second with 21.3%. Even though President Trump won this red district in 2024 with just over 60% of the vote and Kennedy ran unopposed, Democrats are hoping to extend their winning streak from special elections in October and November.
Brown is a farmer, small business owner and former Fort Valley City councilman. In addition to seeking ways to lower everyday costs for families and small business owners, Brown says he will work to expand access to broadband and healthcare. U.S. Senator Mark Kelly joined Brown for a campaign event in mid-January.
McNeel is an attorney who resides in Macon. His top three legislative priorities are to cut taxes, enact school choice and “support President Trump’s plans to deport criminal illegal aliens.”
Update: Democrat Taylor Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss in the January 31, 2026 special election for District 9 of the Texas State Senate. Rehmet, an aircraft mechanic who looks like he could star in an HGTV home improvement show, won by 14 percentage points in a district that Trump carried by 17 percentage points. In the three weeks leading up to the election, Rehmet spent a little over $70,000, less than one-tenth of what Wambsganss spent. The two will face off again in November for a full term, and closing that campaign funding gap will help him maintain his momentum.
Sources: Axios, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, The Downballot, Georgia General Assembly