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Request a DemoData: How much Georgia lawmakers accepted in gifts from lobbyists
Editor’s note: We compiled lobbyist spending data on 237 state legislators (181 in the House of Representatives and 56 in the Senate) rather than the standard 236, including one extra legislator due to one representative resigning and another taking his place during 2022. Both of those legislators were factored into the data.
State Affairs combed through hundreds of reports by lobbyists to the state’s ethics commission, officially the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2022, and determined which legislators received the most freebies, including meals, lodging, travel accommodations and other gifts. Below you’ll find a list showing how much every lawmaker received, and also some reporting on the organizations that paid the most for access to Georgia lawmakers.
It’s important to note that our findings only include spending on legislators that lobbyists are required by law to report. Since Georgia enacted a new ethics law in 2013, individual lobbyists are limited to spending $75 per lawmaker per event, but they can pool their funds with other lobbyists to spend more on individual lawmakers, legislative committees, political party caucuses or on events where all legislators are invited.
This report focuses primarily on gifts made by lobbyists to individual lawmakers, which totaled $336,502 in 2022. That included about $240,000 for meals and drinks, $90,000 for lodging at hotels and resorts, $2,250 for travel, and $4,000 for other gifts.
Eighteen lawmakers were not included in any lobbyists’ reports, although some of them may have enjoyed free hospitality at events open to groups of lawmakers. The 18 lawmakers who did not receive individual attention from lobbyists in 2022, at least as reported to the state, are:
- Rep. Timothy Barr, R-Lawrenceville
- Rep. Dave Belton, R-Buckhead
- Rep. David Clark, R-Buford
- Rep. Carl Gilliard, D-Savannah
- Rep. Mike Glanton, D-Jonesboro
- Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington
- Rep. Wayne Howard, D-Augusta
- Sen. Jennifer Jordan, D-Atlanta
- Rep. Angelika Kausche, D-Johns Creek
- Rep. Mitchell Kaye, R-Marietta
- Rep. Zulma Lopez, D–Atlanta
- Sen. Sheila McNeill, R-Brunswick
- Rep. Rebecca Mitchell, D-Snellville
- Rep. Randy Nix, R-Lagrange
- Sen. Sheikh Rahman, D-Lawrenceville
- Rep. Renitta Shannon, D – Decatur
- Rep. Philip Singleton, R-Sharpsburg
- Sen. Horacena Tate, D-Atlanta
Title | First Name | Last Name | Party | City | Total Spend |
Sen | John | Albers | R | Roswell | $2,339 |
Rep | Kimberly | Alexander | D | Hiram | $215 |
Rep | Erick | Allen | D | Smyrna | $112 |
Sen | Jason | Anavitarte | R | Dallas | $460 |
Rep | Victor | Anderson | R | Grovetown | $1,515 |
Sen | Lee | Anderson | R | Lithonia | $1,462 |
Sen | Tonya | Anderson | D | Cornelia | $1,767 |
Rep | Teri | Anulewicz | D | Smyrna | $2,059 |
Sen | Michelle | Au | D | Johns Creek | $800 |
Rep | Mandi | Ballinger | R | Canton | $181 |
Rep | Timothy | Barr | R | Lawrenceville | $0 |
Rep | Matt | Barton | R | Calhoun | $1,668 |
Rep | Debra | Bazemore | D | South Fulton | $254 |
sen | Brandon | Beach | R | Alpharetta | $1,289 |
Rep | Dave | Belton | R | Buckhead | $0 |
Rep | Karen | Bennett | D | Stone Mountain | $1,250 |
Rep | Patty | Bentley | D | Butler | $1,662 |
Rep | Tommy | Benton | R | Jefferson | $179 |
Rep | James | Beverly | D | Macon | $7,006 |
Rep | Shaw | Blackmon | R | Bonaire | $3,512 |
Rep | William | Boddie | D | East Point | $60 |
Rep | Josh | Bonner | R | Fayetteville | $422 |
Sen | Matt | Brass | R | Newnan | $4,515 |
Rep | Roger | Bruce | D | Atlanta | $117 |
Rep | Debbie | Buckner | D | Junction City | $601 |
Rep | James | Burchett | R | Waycross | $2,881 |
Sen | Dean | Burke | R | Bainbridge | $6,248 |
Rep | Rhonda | Burnough | D | Riverdale | $127 |
Rep | Jon | Burns | R | Newington | $4,842 |
Sen | Max | Burns | R | Sylvania | $924 |
Sen | Gloria | Butler | D | Stone Mountain | $4,687 |
Rep | Charlice | Byrd | R | Woodstock | $184 |
Rep | Mike | Cameron | R | Rossville | $266 |
Rep | Beth | Camp | R | Concord | $967 |
Rep | Joe | Campbell | R | Camilla | $202 |
Rep | Park | Cannon | D | Atlanta | $58 |
Rep | Wes | Cantrell | R | Woodstock | $17 |
Rep | Kasey | Carpenter | R | Dalton | $1,670 |
Rep | John | Carson | R | Marietta | $761 |
Rep | Doreen | Carter | D | Lithonia | $149 |
Rep | Mike | Cheokas | R | Americus | $805 |
Rep | David | Clark | R | Buford | $0 |
Rep | Heath | Clark | R | Warner Robins | $833 |
Rep | Jasmine | Clark | D | Lilburn | $416 |
Rep | J | Collins | R | Villa Rica | $125 |
Rep | Sharon | Cooper | R | Marietta | $1,352 |
Rep | John | Corbett | R | Lake Park | $4,122 |
Sen | Bill | Cowsert | R | Athens | $5,113 |
Rep | Clint | Crowe | R | Jackson | $1,310 |
Sen | Gail | Davenport | D | Jonesboro | $369 |
Rep | Viola | Davis | D | Stone Mountain | $78 |
Rep | Buddy | DeLoach | R | Townsend | $1,340 |
Rep | Katie | Dempsey | R | Rome | $1,628 |
Rep | Robert | Dickey | R | Musella | $2,019 |
Sen | Clint | Dixon | R | Gwinnett | $1,921 |
Sen | Greg | Dolezal | R | Cumming | $145 |
Rep | Matt | Dollar | R | Marietta | $203 |
Rep | Demetrius | Douglas | D | Stockbridge | $2,699 |
Rep | Karla | Drenner | D | Avondale Estates | $8 |
Rep | David | Dreyer | D | Atlanta | $20 |
Rep | Matt | Dubnik | R | Gainesville | $2,559 |
Sen | Mike | Dugan | R | Carrollton | $5,600 |
Rep | Winfred | Dukes | D | Albany | $304 |
Rep | Emory | Dunahoo | R | Gillsville | $1,422 |
Rep | Chuck | Efstration | R | Auburn | $1,672 |
Rep | Ginny | Ehrhart | R | Marietta | $133 |
Rep | Terry | England | R | Auburn | $1,953 |
Rep | Chris | Erwin | R | Homer | $1,636 |
Rep | Becky | Evans | D | Atlanta | $385 |
Rep | Stacey | Evans | D | Atlanta | $567 |
Rep | Barry | Fleming | R | Harlem | $5,218 |
Rep | Gloria | Frazier | D | Hephzibah | $596 |
Rep | Spencer | Frye | D | Athens | $577 |
Rep | Houston | Gaines | R | Athens | $5,069 |
Rep | Matthew | Gambill | R | Cartersville | $2,356 |
Rep | Carl | Gilliard | D | Savannah | $0 |
Rep | Sheri | Gilligan | R | Cumming | $68 |
Sen | Frank | Ginn | R | Danielsville | $4,279 |
Rep | Mike | Glanton | D | Jonesboro | $0 |
Sen | Steve | Gooch | R | Dahlonega | $8,111 |
Sen | Russ | Goodman | R | Cogdell | $2,043 |
Rep | Micah | Gravley | R | Douglasville | $655 |
Rep | Gerald | Greene | R | Cuthbert | $1,983 |
Rep | Joseph | Gullett | R | Dallas | $2,800 |
Rep | Stan | Gunter | R | Blairsville | $3,488 |
Rep | Leesa | Hagan | R | Lyons | $2,194 |
Sen | Sonya | Halpern | D | Atlanta | $1,405 |
Sen | Marty | Harbin | R | Tyrone | $295 |
sen | Ed | Harbison | D | Columbus | $387 |
Sen | Tyler | Harper | r | Ocilla | $2,388 |
Sen | Sally | Harrell | D | Atlanta | $235 |
Rep | Matt | Hatchett | R | Cornelia | $4,161 |
Sen | Bo | Hatchett | R | Dublin | $1,545 |
Rep | Lee | Hawkins | R | Gainesville | $4,605 |
Rep | Sharon | Henderson | D | Covington | $0 |
Sen | Billy | Hickman | R | Statesboro | $1,736 |
Rep | DeWayne | Hill | R | Ringgold | $97 |
Rep | Bill | Hitchens | R | Rincon | $164 |
Rep | Don | Hogan | R | St. Simon’s Island | $1,412 |
Rep | Scott | Holcomb | D | Atlanta | $171 |
Rep | Betsy | Holland | D | Atlanta | $411 |
Rep | El-Mahdi | Holly | D | Stockbridge | $95 |
Rep | Susan | Holmes | R | Monticello | $70 |
Rep | CaMia | Hopson | D | Albany | $213 |
Rep | Penny | Houston | R | Nashville | $833 |
Rep | Wayne | Howard | D | Augusta | $0 |
Sen | Chuck | Hufstetler | R | Rome | $698 |
Rep | Carolyn | Hugley | D | Columbus | $1,315 |
Rep | Shelly | Hutchinson | D | Snellville | $960 |
Rep | Derrick | Jackson | D | Tyrone | $310 |
Rep | Edna | Jackson | D | Savannah | $453 |
Sen | Kim | Jackson | D | Stone Mountain | $442 |
Sen | Lester | Jackson | D | Savannah | $3,756 |
Rep | Mack | Jackson | D | Sandersville | $1,067 |
Sen | Donzella | James | D | Atlanta | $174 |
Rep | Rick | Jasperse | R | Jasper | $7,115 |
Rep | David | Jenkins | R | Grantville | $140 |
Sen | Burt | Jones | R | Jackson | $162 |
Sen | Emanuel | Jones | D | Decatur | $141 |
Rep | Jan | Jones | R | Milton | $1,514 |
Rep | Sheila | Jones | D | Atlanta | $102 |
Rep | Todd | Jones | R | South Forsyth | $1,631 |
Sen | Harold | Jones II | D | Augusta | $3,623 |
Sen | Jennifer | Jordan | D | Atlanta | $0 |
Rep | Angelika | Kausche | D | Johns Creek | $0 |
Rep | Mitchell | Kaye | R | Marietta | $0 |
Rep | Trey | Kelley | R | Cedartown | $1,333 |
Rep | Dar’Shun | Kendrick | D | Lithonia | $1,023 |
Rep | Gregg | Kennard | D | Lawrenceville | $359 |
Sen | John | Kennedy | R | Macon | $6,737 |
Rep | Tom | Kirby | R | Loganville | $85 |
Sen | Kay | Kirkpatrick | R | Marietta | $1,469 |
Rep | David | Knight | R | Griffin | $374 |
Rep | John | LaHood | R | Valdosta | $2,782 |
Rep | Dominic | LaRiccia | R | Douglas | $497 |
Rep | Rob | Leverett | R | Elberton | $2,755 |
Rep | Regina | Lewis-Ward | D | McDonough | $372 |
Rep | Marvin | Lim | D | Norcross | $111 |
Rep | Zulma | Lopez | D | Atlanta | $0 |
Rep | Jodi | Lott | R | Evans | $673 |
Sen | David | Lucas | D | Macon | $18 |
Rep | Eddie | Lumsden | R | Armuchee | $2,287 |
Rep | Mesha | Mainor | D | Atlanta | $598 |
Rep | Derek | Mallow | D | Savannah | $661 |
Rep | Pedro | Marin | D | Duluth | $116 |
Rep | Chuck | Martin | R | Alpharetta | $1,560 |
Rep | Karen | Mathiak | R | Griffin | $377 |
Rep | Danny | Mathis | R | Cochran | $414 |
Rep | Dewey | McClain | D | Lawrenceville | $1,447 |
Rep | Lauren | McDonald | R | Cumming | $2,501 |
Rep | Josh | McLaurin | D | Sandy Springs | $742 |
Rep | Donna | McLeod | D | Lawrenceville | $34 |
Sen | Sheila | McNeill | R | Brunswick | $0 |
Rep | Steven | Meeks | R | Screven | $378 |
Sen | Nikki | Merritt | D | Grayson | $536 |
Rep | Marie | Metze | D | Atlanta | $64 |
Sen | Butch | Miller | R | Gainesville | $3,594 |
Rep | Billy | Mitchell | D | Stone Mountain | $2,576 |
Rep | Rebecca | Mitchell | D | Snellville | $0 |
Rep | Martin | Momtahan | R | Dallas | $2,618 |
Rep | Angela | Moore | D | Stonecrest | $18 |
Rep | Beth | Moore | D | Peachtree Corners | $555 |
Sen | Jeff | Mullis | R | Chicamauga | $3,510 |
Rep | Yasmin | Neal | D | Jonesboro | $613 |
Rep | Sheila | Nelson | D | Augusta | $55 |
Rep | Mark | Newton | R | Augusta | $3,443 |
Rep | Bee | Nguyen | D | Atlanta | $20 |
Rep | Randy | Nix | R | LaGrange | $0 |
Rep | Mary Margaret | Oliver | D | Decatur | $620 |
Sen | Nan | Orrock | D | Atlanta | $2,235 |
Sen | Elena | Parent | D | Atlanta | $1,988 |
Rep | Miriam | Paris | D | Macon | $180 |
Rep | Sam | Park | D | Lawrenceville | $678 |
Rep | Butch | Parrish | R | Swainsboro | $2,091 |
Rep | Don | Parsons | R | Marietta | $476 |
Sen | Chuck | Payne | R | Dalton | $362 |
Rep | Jesse | Petrea | R | Savannah | $2,089 |
Rep | Clay | Pirkle | R | Ashburn | $695 |
Rep | Alan | Powell | R | Hartwell | $6,481 |
Rep | Brian | Prince | D | Augusta | $3,151 |
Rep | Robert | Pruitt | R | Eastman | $970 |
Sen | Sheikh | Rahman | D | Lawrenceville | $0 |
Rep | David | Ralston | R | Blue Ridge | $583 |
Sen | Michael | Rhett | D | Marietta | $254 |
Rep | Trey | Rhodes | R | Greensboro | $1,962 |
Rep | Bonnie | Rich | R | Suwanee | $694 |
Rep | Jason | Ridley | R | Chatsworth | $3,399 |
Rep | Shea | Roberts | D | Atlanta | $186 |
Sen | Randy | Robertson | R | Cataula | $1,198 |
Rep | Mary | Robichaux | D | Roswell | $290 |
Rep | Steven | Sainz | R | St. Marys | $2,520 |
Rep | Kim | Schofield | D | Atlanta | $1,112 |
Rep | Mitchell | Scoggins | R | Cartersville | $1,001 |
Rep | Sandra | Scott | D | Rex | $315 |
Rep | Devan | Seabaugh | R | Marietta | $1,259 |
Sen | Valencia | Seay | D | Riverdale | $638 |
Rep | Ed | Setzler | R | Acworth | $170 |
Rep | Renitta | Shannon | D | Decatur | |
Rep | Dexter | Sharper | D | Valdosta | $273 |
Sen | Freddie | Sims | D | Dawson | $613 |
Rep | Philip | Singleton | R | Sharpsburg | $0 |
Rep | Lynn | Smith | R | Newnan | $464 |
Rep | Michael | Smith | D | Marietta | $94 |
Rep | Richard | Smith | R | Columbus | $397 |
Rep | Tyler Paul | Smith | R | Bremen | $2,623 |
Rep | Vance | Smith | R | Pine Mountain | $3,329 |
Rep | Calvin | Smyre | D | Columbus | $2,799 |
Rep | Ron | Stephens | R | Savannah | $2,658 |
Sen | Brian | Strickland | R | McDonough | $469 |
Sen | Carden | Summers | R | Cordele | $1,112 |
Rep | Jan | Tankersley | R | Brooklet | $749 |
Rep | Steve | Tarvin | R | Chicamauga | $898 |
Sen | Horacena | Tate | D | Atlanta | $0 |
Rep | Darlene | Taylor | R | Thomasville | $892 |
Rep | Rhonda | Taylor | D | Conyers | $296 |
Rep | Brad | Thomas | R | Holly Springs | $1,173 |
Rep | Erica | Thomas | D | Austell | $96 |
Rep | Mandisha | Thomas | D | South Fulton | $706 |
Sen | Bruce | Thompson | R | White | $800 |
Sen | Blake | Tillery | R | Vidalia | $1,873 |
Sen | Lindsey | Tippins | R | Marietta | $253 |
Rep | Will | Wade | R | Dawsonville | $419 |
Sen | Larry | Walker III | R | Perry | $4,683 |
Rep | Dale | Washburn | R | Macon | $4,932 |
Sen | Ben | Watson | R | Savannah | $2,345 |
Rep | Sam | Watson | R | Moultrie | $1,459 |
Rep | Bill | Werkheiser | R | Glennville | $2,306 |
Rep | Marcus | Wiedower | R | Watkinsville | $4,284 |
Rep | Mike | Wilensky | D | Dunwoody | $527 |
Rep | David | Wilkerson | D | Powder Springs | $2,985 |
Rep | Al | Williams | D | Midway | $6,068 |
Rep | Mary Frances | Williams | D | Marietta | $248 |
Rep | Noel | Williams | R | Cordele | $5,900 |
Rep | Rick | Williams | R | Milledgeville | $1,026 |
Rep | Bruce | Williamson | R | Monroe | $9,083 |
Rep | Matthew | Wilson | D | Brookhaven | $166 |
Rep | Bill | Yearta | R | Sylvester | $1,177 |
TOTAL | $336,502 |
Read more about our three award winners, the top 10 associations or lobbying firms and the amounts they reported spending on individual lawmakers last year:
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