Donzella James
Georgia State Senator, District 28 since 1994. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
Georgia State Senator, District 28Born 1948
- In office
- 32 yrs
- Since 1994
- Bills became law
- 8
- 382 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 14.7%
- Chamber median 5.1%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +49.7
- Won 2014
- 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.
- Interstate Cooperation · vice chair
- Urban Affairs · chair
- Appropriations
- Economic Development and Tourism
- Education and Youth
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
PROFESSIONS AND BUSINESSES · Became law Jan 2027
CRIMES AND OFFENSES (CRIMINAL CODE) · Became law May 2026
Became law May 2026
PENAL INSTITUTIONS · Became law Jul 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where James sits in the Georgia State Senate
James is closer to the center than 35% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: , Kenya Wicks, Sheikh Rahman
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:48 PM ET
With James’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats97%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Georgia State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: James’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | James | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2026 | SB 556: HOPE Scholarship; the inclusion of advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine… | No | No | Yes | Failed 25–25 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | HB 1070: Income tax; increase and extend a credit for expenditures on maintenance of railroad… | No | No | Yes | Passed 26–22 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | HB 668: Crimes and offenses; change references to assistance and guide dogs to service dogs | No | No | Yes | Passed 26–22 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | HB 1277: Conservation and natural resources; increase project cost threshold for public roads or… | No | No | Yes | Passed 26–22 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | HB 549: Peace officers; extend time frame for which reimbursement of total training expenses by a… | No | No | Yes | Passed 26–22 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time James 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 Senate District 28 | Won | — | D+51.8 | — |
| 2024 | Georgia State Senate, District 28 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2022 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2020 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2016 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | D+49.7 | — | — |
| 2014 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2000 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1998 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1996 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1994 | Georgia State Senate, District 35 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1988 | Georgia State Senate, District 34 (primary) | Lost | −50.7 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Georgia Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $6.1K
- Spent
- $95K
- Cash
- $14.9K
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission filings through Apr 22, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 5:44 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Committee to Elect Donzella James for Senate State | Active |
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission filings through Apr 22, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 5:44 PM ET
Seats James has held
- Georgia State Senate, District 28 · since 2024
- Georgia State Senate, District 35 · since 2010
- Georgia State Senate, District 35 · since 1994
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who James has run against
- Francisco X. R. Artley (R) · 2014 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Georgia Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know James
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/7f88fadb-2f51-48c7-8ae5-e20cd2f33e4a
- Wikidata Q19958222
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET