Around the Georgia Capitol, the Savannah senators are among the most familiar faces in the building.
Lester Jackson (D-District 2) has served in the Georgia General Assembly for 24 years and previously chaired the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Ben Watson (R-District 2) joined the Legislature in 2011 and chairs one of the Senate's highest-profile committees, Health and Human Services.
The 2022 election will introduce at least two new faces to the ranks of Savannah-area members.
Watson is likely to return, but Jackson isn't running for re-election to his Senate seat, choosing instead to mount a statewide campaign for Georgia Labor commissioner. Additionally, the 2021 redistricting session added a third Senate district, District 4, to Chatham County.
Credit: AP Photo/David Goldman
Credit: AP Photo/David Goldman
Two Democrats are challenging Watson while four candidates - two Democrats, two Republicans - are running for Jackson’s open seat. Republican Billy Hickman, who resides in Statesboro, is running unopposed in District 4 and will represent a swath of West Chatham residents.
That primary will be held on May 24, with early voting beginning May 2.
Here’s a look at the candidates for the local Georgia Senate posts.
Savannah-area election races
Senate District 1
Democrat Jay Jones
Jones serves as the chairman of the Chatham Democratic Committee and previously sat on the Chatham County Commission. He mounted an unsuccessful campaign for Chatham Commission chairman in 2020, losing to Chester Ellis.
Democrat Andrew Niquette
Credit: Andrew Niquette
Credit: Andrew Niquette
Niquette previously ran for the Georgia House in 2020, mounting an unsuccessful challenge for the seat held by Rep. Ron Stephens. He is campaigning on updating technology in public schools, protecting the environment, expanding Medicaid and criminal justice reform.
Republican Ben Watson (incumbent)
A physician and the brother-in-law of former U.S. Congressman Jack Kingston, Watson served two terms in the Georgia House before being elected to the Georgia Senate. He has championed health care reform throughout his political career.
Senate District 2
Credit: Courtesy Derek Mallow
Credit: Courtesy Derek Mallow
Democrat Derek Mallow
Mallow joined the Georgia House in 2021 after winning a 2020 election runoff by 19 votes. A district executive with the Boy Scouts of America, Mallow is a champion for Georgia's youth and also advocates for health care reform and improving mental health services
Democrat Orlando Scott
Credit: Courtesy Orlando Scott
Credit: Courtesy Orlando Scott
Scott is a district manager for Advance Auto Parts and a ministry leader with Overcoming by Faith church. He ran unsuccessfully for a Chatham County Commission post in the 2020 election.
Credit: Courtesy of Ken Yasger
Credit: Courtesy of Ken Yasger
Republican Ken Yasger
Yasger is a U.S. Army veteran and member of the Georgia Army National Guard. His platform includes many Libertarian-leaning views, such as decriminalization of marijuana. He ran for U.S. House in 2020, finishing third in the Republican primary.
Republican Clinton Young
Young switched parties to run for the Senate post after a failed bid to win a Georgia House seat in 2020 and 2021 elections. He is a military veteran and a retired vending machine business owner.
Senate District 4
Republican Billy Hickman (incumbent)
Credit: Rick Lott
Credit: Rick Lott
A Statesboro accountant, Hickman joined the Georgia General Assembly in 2020 by winning the seat long held by Georgia political Icon Jack Hill. Hickman said he feels a strong connection to Chatham County, as his wife is a native of Bloomingdale.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Who is running for Georgia Senate in the 2022 primary?
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