U.S. House District 1: Pair of Democrats vie to face Trump-backed Republican
Two Democrats emerged from a crowded primary field in a coastal Georgia congressional district and will face off in the June 16 runoff. The winner will face Republican Jim Kingston, who claimed his party’s nomination outright in the May 19 primary.
Fourteen candidates — six Republicans and eight Democrats — started off in the contest to succeed U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who ran for a Senate seat instead of seeking another term.
The 1st Congressional District is solidly Republican, meaning the winner of the GOP primary will be favored to take it all in November.
Here are the candidates:
Democrats
Joyce Marie Griggs:
Griggs says she retired from the U.S. Army after a decorated career and then later had a career in law. She was disbarred from practicing law at the federal level and in Georgia after courts upheld claims of official misconduct.
Griggs ran for the 1st District seat unsuccessfully in 2000, 2020 and 2022.
Amanda Hollowell:
A longtime political organizer for Democratic Party initiatives and connected organizations, the Savannah resident has now launched her first campaign for office.
She was endorsed by Higher Heights for America, a political action committee focused on helping Black women get elected to office.
Republicans
Jim Kingston:
Kingston is considered the front-runner in this race, stemming from the trifecta of name recognition, a sizable edge in fundraising and an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
His father held this seat for more than 20 years, making his family name ubiquitous in the region. The younger Kingston is an insurance executive who lives in Savannah.
He managed to avoid a runoff, winning about 52% of the vote in a six-way GOP primary race, according to unofficial returns.
About the Author
Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the "Politically Georgia" podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.
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