Judges denies residency challenge; Edward Brown to claim Senate District 12 seat

ALBANY – A Superior Court judge has issued a ruling in an election challenge in favor of Georgia District 12 Senate candidate Edward Brown, whose opponent accused him of not meeting the state’s residency requirements.

Senior Judge Richard Cowart sent an email notifying the parties of his decision on Friday, Brown’s attorney Chris Cohilas said. The attorney expects a written ruling to follow shortly

In that ruling, Cowart denied former Camilla Council member Corey Morgan’s challenge of Brown’s residency. 

Morgan and his attorney, Maurice King of Albany, alleged that Brown was ineligible due to his casting a vote in a Nov. 5, 2024, election in Virginia.

In his response, Cohilas said that Brown had obtained a Georgia driver’s license in September 2024 as well as a residence in the city of Albany.

In the ruling, Coward said that Brown “met all state requirements to be senator (in) District 12.”

Brown won in the three-way April 19 Democratic primary election with 7,881 votes. Morgan finished second with 4,129 votes and Albany firefighter Tracy Taylor was third with 2,636 votes.

Morgan had sought to be named the winner in the contest or, barring that, called for a new election for the Democratic spot.

Prior to the May 19 primary, Terrence Fowler Sr., who filed paperwork as a Republican in the District 12 race, was ruled ineligible based on his address and his having voted in a December 2025 election in Fulton County.

In December 2023 the Georgia Court of Appeals upheld a judge’s ruling that Morgan was ineligible to seek re-election to the Camilla City Council due to his residency.

“It’s a shame and travesty that Corey Morgan wasted the taxpayers’ time and money,” Cohilas said. “Everybody knows that Edward was born in Georgia. This was just theater.

“The irony is Corey Morgan stating someone doesn’t live in the state of Georgia when he was removed from office for living where he said he doesn’t live.”