Democrats Secure Landmark Victory in Georgia Public Service Commission Races
A stunning upset in Georgia’s off-year special election has seen Democrats Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson defeat two Republican incumbents on the state’s Public Service Commission, marking a significant shift in the state’s energy landscape.
The double victory, finalized on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, represents the first time the Democratic Party has won a statewide constitutional office in Georgia since 2006 and is poised to reshape the political dynamics ahead of the crucial 2026 midterm elections. Unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s website, as of 10:15 p.m., showed Alicia Johnson leading with approximately 60.5% of the vote, while Hubbard secured 60.7%.
Republican incumbent Tim Echols, who had been hosting a virtual election night event on social media, acknowledged the outcome, congratulating both Hubbard and Johnson on a “well-fought fight” before concluding his event. “It’s been my pleasure to do this for 15 years on the commission. The numbers have been called. We’re going to come back if anything changes,” Echols stated.
Johnson, in a released statement, pledged to prioritize energy policies that benefit the public, moving away from what she characterized as catering to the interests of powerful energy companies. “This victory isn’t just mine, it’s ours. It’s for the single mother choosing between groceries and her power bill, the senior trying to keep the lights on, and the young voter who showed up believing that their voice matters,” she declared.
Hubbard, a vocal advocate for clean energy, unseated Republican incumbent Commissioner Fitz Johnson in District 3, while Alicia Johnson, a community development consultant, defeated longtime Republican Commissioner Tim Echols in District 2. The Public Service Commission holds significant regulatory power over Georgia’s major utilities, including Georgia Power, and its decisions directly influence residential energy bills.
In a victory address, Hubbard framed the results as a clear mandate from voters deeply concerned about escalating power costs. “Affordability is front and center in voters’ minds, and today they overwhelmingly said they’re tired of subsidizing corporate interests at the expense of their families,” Hubbard said. “As I serve out my first term on the Public Service Commission, I will work tirelessly to lower utility costs, to bring more clean, reliable energy resources to this state, and to refocus the Commission’s work on the public interest.”
Despite conceding the race shortly after 10 p.m., Fitz Johnson indicated his intention to run again in 2026. He acknowledged that concurrent municipal elections likely favored Democratic candidates but asserted that “certain the underlying policies offered by the Democrats do not reflect the preferences of the majority of Georgians.”
“The work I’ve done with my colleagues on the Public Service Commission has helped to move Georgia forward with a vision to keep energy prices below the national average. We have maintained resiliency of our grid and reliability for consumers,” Johnson stated.
The Democratic Party of Georgia and the Democratic National Committee have enthusiastically hailed the two wins as a major political achievement. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has officially called both races in favor of the Democratic candidates.
Charlie Bailey, Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, celebrated the “decisive” win, characterizing it as a referendum on Republican leadership. “In this election, Georgians spoke up loud and clear: they’re sick of Republicans who help corporations and billionaires enrich themselves on the backs of working people, and they’re ready to hold those Republicans accountable,” Bailey said in a press release.
The Democratic National Committee echoed this sentiment, framing the victory as a rejection of the Republican agenda on cost-of-living issues. “This victory is a direct response to [Republican]’s cost-raising agenda that is squeezing pocketbooks in Georgia and across the country,” said DNC Chair Ken Martin.
DNC Vice Chair Jane Kleeb highlighted the success of the party’s “organize everywhere” strategy and a message centered on affordability, stating, “We now head into the 2026 midterm elections with incredible wind behind our backs.”
The victories arrive at a time when the rising cost of electricity has become a significant concern for consumers. The defeated Republican incumbents had previously approved six rate increases over the past two years, resulting in an estimated average annual increase of approximately $500 for households.
“The election of two new Public Service Commissioners represents a seismic change in Georgia’s energy landscape and reflects a new politics of electricity in America,” said Charles Hua of PowerLines, an organization dedicated to affordable energy. “Consumers have sent a clear message: they are paying attention and will hold public officials accountable for decisions that impact their utility bills.” A recent PowerLines/Ipsos poll revealed that 3 in 4 Americans are concerned about increasing utility bills.
Environmental groups also celebrated the outcome, with the Sierra Club expressing its eagerness to collaborate with Johnson and Hubbard, particularly in the pursuit of retiring fossil fuels and transitioning to clean energy. “This is a monumental victory for Georgia ratepayers, families, and small businesses who deserve affordable, clean energy to power their lives. This election shows that Georgia voters are paying attention and understand that business as usual down at the Public Service Commission cannot continue,” said Sierra Club Georgia Chapter Director Adrien Webber.
The races were marked by substantial outside spending, with Georgia Conservation Voters investing at least $2.2 million in the elections. GCV launched a website, theyraisedyourbill.com, directly attributing energy bill increases to the two Republican incumbents and engaged over a million voters leading up to Election Day. The group expressed its anticipation of working with Johnson and Hubbard “in the fight for clean air, clean water, and lower costs for all Georgians.”
“The message of this election is unmistakable: Georgians demand an end to utility bill rate hikes and corporate politics as usual on the PSC,” said Brionté McCorkle, executive director of the GCV.
However, not all voters are convinced that Democrats can effectively balance affordable energy with economic development. Airline pilot Bradley Heydt explained that he voted for the Republican candidates, believing they would better represent both the needs of the population and the interests of businesses. “I believe that our state needs somebody who represents the interests not only of the people, but also for business interests in terms of development and expanding energy in the state,” he said. “There’s more than just lowering utility bills. It’s managing our energy and our infrastructure in the state, and we need people who are prepared to do that job.”
Georgia Republican Party officials had previously voiced concerns about the election’s timing, coinciding with local municipal contests that were expected to drive higher Democratic voter turnout. GOP leadership, including Gov. Brian Kemp, attempted to mobilize support and cautioned against a potential Democratic win.
The PSC races are increasingly viewed as a bellwether of statewide voter sentiment, suggesting a potential Democratic breakthrough could provide significant momentum as the party seeks to regain traction in Georgia, particularly with U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff facing re-election and an open race for governor on the horizon in 2026.
This year’s PSC special elections marked the first time since 2020 that any of the sitting commissioners faced voters in a general election, following delays caused by a lawsuit challenging the commission’s at-large voting system. Fitz Johnson, appointed to the seat by the governor in 2021, was contesting his first election as a commissioner.
