Qualifying week brings challengers out for Dougherty County elected offices

ALBANY – After a week of qualifying for the 2026 election at the local level, several competitive races have emerged, including a Democratic primary contest between incumbent Dougherty County Commission Chairman Lorenzo Heard and former Albany City Commissioner Henry Mathis.

The winner in the May 19 general primary contest will earn a four-year term as chairman as there is no Republican candidate in the race.

Heard was elected to his first term as chairman in 2022.

In Commission District 4, two Democrats are vying to be the nominee to face incumbent Republican Russell Gray, who faces no opposition in the primary. The Democratic candidates are Anthony Patterson and Al Wynn. 

The winner will face Gray in the Nov. 3 general election.

District 6 Commissioner Anthony Jones also will have a primary opponent. Former Cuthbert Mayor Willie Martin qualified last week to challenge the incumbent. There is no Republican candidate in the race.

In District 2, incumbent Commissioner Victor Edwards will not face a challenger.

Of the three Dougherty County School Board seats up for election in 2026, only incumbent Melissa Strother will face a challenger. Adam Inyang qualified to run in the Democratic primary against Strother in District 4. 

Demetrius Love filled out paperwork in District 4, but it was later determined that he does not reside in the district.

Strother was first elected to the post in 2014.

School Board members Norma Gaines-Heath in District 2 and Dean Phinazee did not draw challengers. Would-be candidate Vernon Holliday was ruled ineligible to run because he does not reside in the district.

Among the state contests, Senate District 12, currently held by Freddie Powell Sims, looks to promise an active campaign, with three challengers looking to unseat the incumbent, who is seeking re-election. 

The Democratic candidates who qualified to challenge Sims are Edward Brown, Corey Morgan and Tracy Taylor. 

The winner in the Democratic race will face Republican candidate Terence Leon Fowler Sr. in November.

Four incumbent state representatives whose districts include a portion of Dougherty County are also seeking re-election in 2026, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. Those are Republicans Mike Cheokas in District 151, Bill Yearta in District 152 and Gerald Greene in District 154. District 153 incumbent David Sampson also qualified to seek another two-year term.

Three Democrats also have qualified for the primary election: James Wolfe in District 151, Mitchell Rosa in District 152 and Harry James in District 154.

Superior Court Judge Joe Dent, who was appointed to the fourth judgeship of the Dougherty Judicial Circuit on Jan. 11, 2024, is seeking election to a full term and drew no opposition.