Early voting is underway for the first primary for the Public Service Commission since 2022. Eight candidates are in the race to fill two seats in the June 17 Primary. The General Election is set for November 4. All voters in Georgia are eligible to cast a ballot for both PSC seats, but the candidates for the two contested seats are required to live in their districts.
Current commissioners Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson are on the ballot. Both are Republicans – and are joined by one other Republican and five Democrats in the two elections. Echols, who represents District 2 (east Georgia), is facing opposition from Republican Lee Muns. Alicia Johnson, a Democratic health care consultant will face the winner of the Republican in the general election.
In District 3 (Atlanta), incumbent Johnson does not have primary opposition. But there are four Democrats in the race – Daniel Blackman, Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones and former Atlanta city councilwoman Keisha Sean Waits. Hubbard -a clean energy advocate – said the PSC is to blame for rising electricity costs in a recent interview.
The district 2 and 3 seats were due for an election in 2022. But a lawsuit delayed that election. A third seat, the district five post held by Tricia Pridemore, was due for an election last year, but that also didn’t happen because of the ongoing legal battle. All three have continued to serve because under state law, the commissioners serve until the next commissioner is elected.
The next to face reelection will be Tricia Pridemore, whose district 5 seat will be up next year. Elections for the remaining two seats, currently held by Republicans Jason Shaw and Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, will be held in 2028.
The Public Service Commission oversees utilities, including some gas and electric companies in Georgia – including governing Georgia Power’s plans and rates.
Although the election is statewide, the candidates have to live in their districts. For district 2 that includes Athens, Augusta and Savannah. District 3 includes the metro Atlanta counties of Fulton, Dekalb and Clayton.
