Democrats flip Georgia PSC seats in statewide upset

ATLANTA - Voters delivered a significant shift in the 2025 Georgia Public Service Commission special election, electing Democrats in both District 2 and District 3, unseating long-time Republican incumbents and signaling new momentum in the state’s energy-policy oversight.

The Democrats claimed victory Tuesday night. Overnight into Wednesday, the Associated Press called the elections in their favor. 

LIVE RESULTS

Election results:

Click on the links below to view the latest on each race:

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION | ATLANTA | CLAYTON | COBB | DEKALB | FAYETTE | FORSYTH | FULTON | GWINNETT | COUNTIES A-G | COUNTIES H-Z 

Alicia Johnson declares victory in Georgia PSC District 2 race

What we know:

Dr. Alicia M. Johnson declared victory Tuesday night in the race for Georgia’s Public Service Commission District 2 seat, calling her win a "people-powered movement" for affordable and accountable energy policy across the state.

In a statement released after polls closed, Johnson thanked the volunteers, supporters, and voters who helped carry her campaign to victory, saying the results prove "accountable leadership and affordable energy are worth fighting for."

"Tonight’s victory belongs to every volunteer who knocked on doors, every supporter who made a call, sent a donation, or shared our message," Johnson said. "This win reflects the power of people coming together for change."

Johnson, a nonprofit executive from Athens, built her campaign around lowering utility costs, improving transparency at the commission, and accelerating Georgia’s transition to clean energy. She credited grassroots groups such as Lead Locally, the Working Families Party of Georgia, Georgia Conservation Voters, and the Democratic Party of Georgia for helping mobilize voters statewide.

"This victory isn’t just mine, it’s ours," Johnson said. "It’s for the single mother choosing between groceries and her power bill, the senior trying to keep the lights on, and the young voter who showed up believing their voice matters."

Johnson’s win unseats longtime Republican commissioner Tim Echols, who has served since 2011 and campaigned on expanding nuclear and solar energy while maintaining reliability. Echols faced criticism over rate increases approved for Georgia Power in recent years.

Johnson said she plans to use her seat to "ensure every Georgian has a voice at the table," pledging to lower costs, modernize the grid, and make energy policy "that works for the people, not just the powerful."

Johnson will serve the remainder of the term before the District 2 seat returns to the ballot in 2026.

Peter Hubbard claims victory in Georgia PSC District 3 race

Engineer and clean-energy advocate Peter Hubbard declared victory Tuesday night in Georgia’s Public Service Commission District 3 race, promising to fight rising utility costs and increase accountability at the state agency that regulates electricity and gas rates.

In a statement released after polls closed, Hubbard thanked voters for what he called "a victory for hardworking Georgians and their families," saying residents made clear they are "tired of subsidizing corporate interests at the expense of their families."

"Affordability is front and center in voters’ minds," Hubbard said. "I will work tirelessly to lower utility costs, bring more clean, reliable energy resources to this state, and refocus the Commission’s work on the public interest."

Hubbard, an engineer from Macon and longtime advocate for renewable energy, campaigned on greater transparency and oversight of Georgia Power, which has faced criticism for repeated rate hikes and cost overruns tied to the Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion. He said Georgia’s growing manufacturing base for solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles can help reduce costs while creating new jobs.

"Georgia is a manufacturing powerhouse for solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles," Hubbard said. "Together we can lower utility costs, create high-paying local jobs, and improve Georgia’s overall economy."

Hubbard’s victory unseats Republican Fitz Johnson, who was appointed to the PSC in 2021 and was facing his first election this year. Johnson campaigned on rate stability and energy reliability but faced scrutiny for supporting Georgia Power’s requests for rate increases amid rising household bills.

Hubbard will serve the remaining year of the term before the seat is up again in 2026.

SEE ALSO:

• Georgia Election Day 2025: Everything You Need to Know Before You Vote
• Georgia PSC Election Draws Unusual Attention as Voters Head to Polls
• Georgia Public Service Commission Special Election 2025

Why the PSC race matters

Why you should care:

The Georgia Public Service Commission oversees the state’s electricity and natural gas utilities, setting the rates residents and businesses pay each month. The five commissioners decide how much of Georgia Power’s project costs are passed on to customers, including the multi-billion-dollar expansion at Plant Vogtle. With average household power bills among the highest in the Southeast, this race carries direct consequences for nearly every Georgia resident.

Why it’s a special election

The backstory:

The PSC election was delayed for several years by a federal lawsuit that challenged Georgia’s system of electing commissioners statewide. A judge ruled in 2022 that the method diluted Black voting power, but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that ruling. When the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2024, the two postponed races, District 2 and District 3, were finally cleared to appear on the 2025 ballot.

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