Working families deserve economic dignity—the ability to afford groceries, housing, and a stable life through honest work.

PERSONAL CONNECTION

I grew up in poverty in rural Iowa. We relied on food stamps, faced hunger, and experienced homelessness after my mother left abusive relationships. I watched her work multiple low-wage jobs just to keep us fed. That experience drives me today. I know what it feels like when hard work doesn’t add up to security.

MY ADVOCACY PLAN

• Raise Georgia’s minimum wage to $18 per hour with annual cost-of-living adjustments so full-time workers can actually support their families.
• Create targeted incentive programs for builders to construct quality homes under $150,000 in rural communities.
• Ease qualification requirements and lower interest rates for first-time homebuyers and second-chance homebuyers (those who haven’t owned a home in the last 10 years).
• Protect tenants by holding landlords accountable for subpar housing conditions, capping annual rent increases at 5%, and strengthening tenant rights.
• Expand the childcare tax credit and make quality childcare more affordable and accessible.
• Expand workforce development and apprenticeship programs that connect local workers to good-paying jobs in our region.
• Support local supply chains to reduce grocery and everyday costs for families.
• Fight for utility rate relief and energy efficiency programs through the Public Service Commission to lower monthly power bills for working families.
• Oppose any tax increases on working families making under $150,000 per year — we must keep more money in the pockets of the people who need it most.
• Push for a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and policies that pass through rebates to consumers to reduce out-of-pocket costs for lifesaving medications.

THE CONTRAST

For 15 years, Darlene Taylor has voted against raising the minimum wage while supporting pay increases for legislators. During her time in office, housing prices and rents in South Georgia have skyrocketed, pushing working families out and making homeownership feel impossible for too many young people and second-chance families. Grocery and utility costs continue to climb with little relief, leaving the same struggles I grew up with still hurting families today. We need new leadership that puts working people first.

PERSONAL CONNECTION

Growing up in a rural area with limited resources, I saw firsthand how underfunded schools can limit opportunity. I had to chart my own path to college with almost no guidance. I don’t want any child in District 173 to face those same barriers.

MY ADVOCACY PLAN

• Reform Georgia’s school funding formula to direct significantly more resources to rural and underserved schools.
• Raise teacher base pay by $6,000 over the next two years and provide a $5,000 annual incentive for educators who teach in underserved rural schools.
• Reduce class sizes so teachers can give students the individual attention they need to thrive.
• Invest in at-home internet access and technology for students in rural areas to bridge the digital divide and better prepare them for the real world.
• Expand access to advanced placement courses, vocational training, and early childhood education programs.
• Invest in modern learning facilities, updated resources, and career and technical education pathways that connect students to good local jobs.
• Support additional professional development for teachers and protect public education from underfunding and privatization.
• Ensure every student has access to nutritious meals and mental health resources at school.

THE CONTRAST

After 15 years in office, Darlene Taylor has failed to deliver the bold funding reforms our rural schools desperately need. During her tenure, reading scores in Georgia have dropped a full grade level in key areas, and too many rural districts continue to struggle with teacher shortages, large class sizes, and outdated resources. It’s time for real change.

No family in District 173 should have to choose between their health and their paycheck. Women’s right to make their own medical decisions must be protected, and our rural hospitals need strong support.

PERSONAL CONNECTION

My family personally experienced a devastating pregnancy loss at 19 weeks. That pain taught me that government should never interfere in deeply personal medical decisions. I also grew up without consistent health insurance, relying on strained public systems. These experiences fuel my commitment to real healthcare access.

MY ADVOCACY PLAN

• Expand Medicaid and move toward a Medicare-for-All system with a quick path to universal coverage.
• Codify and strengthen reproductive rights and protections so women can make their own personal medical decisions without government interference.
• Provide $20,000 annual incentives for doctors and $7,500 annual incentives for nurses who choose to practice in rural and underserved areas.
• Increase funding for mental health services and restore access across the district.
• Lower prescription drug costs through a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and policies that pass rebates directly to consumers.
• Support and strengthen rural hospitals and healthcare infrastructure, including expanded telemedicine.
• Invest in preventive care and community health programs to keep families healthier and reduce long-term costs.
•  Fight against government interference in the doctor-patient relationship.

THE CONTRAST

After 15 years in office, Darlene Taylor has not delivered meaningful progress on healthcare access or cost relief. Notably, she supported the closure of our local mental health facility, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs and contributed to a rise in homelessness in our community. Rural hospitals continue to struggle, prescription costs remain high, and reproductive protections are under threat. Families deserve better than the status quo.

Every resident in District 173—young and old, regardless of race, background, or identity—deserves real opportunity and to feel truly served by their government.

PERSONAL CONNECTION

I grew up in poverty without a roadmap, relying on assistance while working my way through college. I’ve seen how systemic barriers hold people back. As the father of a gay son and someone who has lived the struggles of the underserved, I’m committed to building a district where everyone has a fair shot and feels welcome.

MY ADVOCACY PLAN

• Invest in youth mentorship, job training, apprenticeships, and career pathways — especially for African American and rural students.
• Expand access to affordable higher education, technical training, and small business support to create economic mobility for all families.
• Return to strong DEI initiatives that ensure African American voices and communities are supported and empowered.
• Oppose any redistricting efforts that dilute minority representation and fight to protect fair voting maps.
• Create a truly welcoming and inclusive community for LGBTQ+ residents and all people with differences, with visible support and protections.
• Prioritize resources for low-income families, seniors, and underserved populations through expanded access to housing, food assistance, and support services.
• Remove systemic barriers and champion policies that lift up those who have been left behind for too long.
• Partner with local organizations to deliver targeted opportunity and equity programs across District 173.

THE CONTRAST

After 15 years in office, Darlene Taylor has not prioritized opportunity and inclusion for all. She has supported efforts that weaken DEI initiatives, backed maps that can dilute African American voices, and failed to create meaningful pathways for working families, young people, or underserved communities — including the LGBTQ+ residents who call this district home. Too many of our neighbors still feel invisible.

Manufacturing can be a powerful driver of economic growth in South Georgia. Adam supports responsible incentives that attract new industries while ensuring those jobs benefit local communities.

South Georgia is well positioned to support manufacturing that serves the entire Southeast, including growing markets in Florida. Adam’s corporate leadership experience has given him extensive exposure to how companies choose locations, and he understands the importance of infrastructure, workforce development, and local partnerships.

Adam supports economic development policies that prioritize local hiring, good wages, and long-term investment in our communities.

Agriculture is the backbone of South Georgia’s economy and heritage. Adam believes farmers face many challenges today, from rising input costs and labor shortages to market pressures and changing environmental conditions.

Adam understands rural life firsthand. He spent years living on a farm in rural Iowa and knows the hard work and uncertainty that often come with agriculture.

Adam supports investing in rural infrastructure, including roads and broadband, so farmers can move products efficiently and stay competitive. He will work to ensure Georgia farmers have the support and resources they need to keep feeding our communities and strengthening our economy.

Reliable and affordable utilities are essential for families, farmers, and small businesses. Adam believes the Georgia Public Service Commission must do more to protect consumers from rising power costs.

Across South Georgia, families are increasingly forced to make difficult choices as their dollars stretch less and less. Keeping electricity and utilities affordable is critical to maintaining a high quality of life in our communities.

Adam supports stronger oversight of utility companies, limits on excessive rate increases, and investments in modern energy infrastructure that keeps power reliable and affordable.

Protecting our land, water, and air is essential. I am a strong “No” on new data centers that burden our communities.

PERSONAL CONNECTION

Having grown up in rural America and now living in South Georgia, I understand how deeply our environment is tied to our way of life — farming, outdoors, family health, and the local economy. We must be good stewards for our children and grandchildren while making responsible decisions about growth.

MY ADVOCACY PLAN

• Promote strong environmental policies that protect farmland, water quality, and natural resources across our rural district.
• Invest in more effective prescribed burn programs to reduce wildfire risk and support healthy forest management.
• Provide rural energy incentives, solar power incentives, and EV incentives to lower costs for families and promote clean energy.
• Oppose all new data centers in District 173 — they bring too many risks and too few benefits to our communities.
• Enforce rigorous environmental, energy, and grid standards to protect our rural way of life.
• Prioritize clean energy development and sustainable economic growth that creates good-paying local jobs without harming our land, air, or water.
• Invest in conservation efforts and hold utilities and developers accountable.
• Ensure long-term environmental health always comes before short-term corporate profits.

The Contrast

Darlene Taylor has supported data center expansion with little regard for the environmental impact or rising costs to families. Under her tenure, these projects have moved forward without strong protections, contributing to higher utility rates, strain on our grid and resources, and benefits that often leave our district behind. We need clear leadership that says “No” when growth harms our communities and environment.

Adam understands how housing instability can impact families because he lived it growing up. After his mother left abusive relationships to protect their family, they experienced years of housing instability and even homelessness.

No child should have to worry about where they will sleep at night. Adam believes stable housing is a foundation for success in school, work, and life.

Adam supports policies that expand access to affordable housing, strengthen support systems for families in crisis, and help working people achieve stable homeownership. Every family in South Georgia deserves the security of a safe place to call home.