Georgia's fifty-fourth state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Chuck Payne.

Georgia state senators represent an average of 172,994 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 157,437 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Georgia State Senate serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Georgia legislators assume office the second Monday in January.

Qualifications

According to the Georgia Constitution, Georgia Senators must be at least 25 years old, American citizens, Georgia citizens for at least two years and a resident of his or her Senatorial District for at least one year immediately preceding election.

Salaries

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election. The Governor must declare a special election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happened. The election must be held no less than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the Governor calls for the election. The counties representing the vacant district are responsible for conducting the election.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Georgia State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for May 19, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for July 21, 2020. A runoff election is scheduled for December 1, 2020. The filing deadline is March 6, 2020.

2018

2016

Special election

A special election for the position of Georgia State Senate District 54 was called for December 13. A special runoff election was held on January 10, 2017. The filing deadline to run in this election was November 17.

The seat was vacant following Charlie Bethel's (R) resignation in November 2016. He resigned after he was appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Conda Lowery-Goodson (R), Chuck Payne (R), Michelle Underwood (R), William Vinyard (R), and Debby Peppers (ind.) faced off in the special election. Since no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters, Payne and Peppers, met in a runoff election. Payne defeated Peppers.

General election

Elections for the Georgia State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 24, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 11, 2016.

Incumbent Charlie Bethel ran unopposed in the Georgia State Senate District 54 general election.

Georgia State Senate, District 54 General Election, 2016

Incumbent Charlie Bethel defeated Conda Lowery-Goodson in the Georgia State Senate District 54 Republican primary.

Georgia State Senate, District 54 Republican Primary, 2016

2014

Elections for the Georgia State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014 with a runoff election taking place where necessary on July 22, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Incumbent Charles J. "Charlie" Bethel was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

Elections for the office of Georgia State Senate consisted of a primary election on July 31, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 25, 2012. Incumbent Charlie Bethel (R) was unopposed in both the general election and Republican primary. A total of $65,925 was raised by 2012 candidates in the district, with Bethel raising all $65,925.

Georgia State Senate, District 54, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Georgia State Senate District 54 raised a total of $907,417. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $75,618 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Georgia State Senate District 54