Ben Watson
Georgia State Senator, District 1 since 2014. Ran in 9 elections between 2010 and 2024, winning 9. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
Georgia State Senator, District 1Born 1959
- In office
- 12 yrs
- Since 2014
- Bills became law
- 48
- 244 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 5.1%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +4.5
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Economic Development and Tourism · ex officio
- Health and Human Services · chair
- Rules · vice chair
- Administrative Affairs
- Appropriations
- Assignments
- Judiciary
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC · Became law Jul 2027
CRIMES AND OFFENSES (CRIMINAL CODE) · Became law Jul 2027
INSURANCE · Became law Jan 2027
SOCIAL SERVICES · Became law Jul 2026
PROFESSIONS AND BUSINESSES · Became law Jul 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Watson sits in the Georgia State Senate
Watson is closer to the center than 71% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Bo Hatchett, Max Burns, Lanny Thomas
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:48 PM ET
With Watson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans100%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Georgia State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Career
Offices held, and every time Watson was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Georgia State Senate, District 1 | Won | R+4.5 | R+13.8 | −9.3 |
| 2024 | Georgia State Senate, District 1 | Won | — | R+13.8 | — |
| 2022 | Georgia State Senate, District 1 | Won | R+22.8 | — | — |
| 2020 | Georgia State Senate, District 1 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Georgia State Senate, District 1 | Won | R+21.6 | — | — |
| 2016 | Georgia State Senate, District 1 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Georgia State Senate, District 1 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Georgia State Senate, District 1 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Georgia House of Representatives, District 166 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Georgia House of Representatives, District 163 | Won | R+60.4 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Georgia Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $228.6K
- Spent
- $613.7K
- Cash
- $221.8K
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission filings through Oct 20, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 5:44 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Watson, Benjamin State | Active |
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission filings through Oct 20, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 5:44 PM ET
Seats Watson has held
- Georgia State Senate, District 1 · since 2014
- Georgia House of Representatives, District 166 · 2012–2014
- Georgia House of Representatives, District 163 · 2010–2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Watson has run against
- Corey Foreman (D) · 2026 election, won
- James Jones (D) · 2022 election, won
- Sandra Workman (D) · 2018 election, won
- Jeremy Scheinbart (D) · 2010 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Georgia Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Watson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/fd2717f1-6294-4601-a027-8fc41195372c
- Wikidata Q65029713
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET