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U.S. House · Georgia's 12th District

East Georgia, including Augusta, Columbia County, and Statesboro.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Rick Allen, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Rick Allen140,87052.1%
Ceretta Smith129,58247.9%

About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rate this race Solid Republican, Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Safe Republican, and Decision Desk rates it Likely Republican.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 2 candidates

Rick AllenRINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative (since 2015)Full profile →Ceretta SmithDFormer Grovetown, Georgia city councilwoman (replaced on the council in January 2026)Full profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[37][38][39]

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted yes on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03), which would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks.

  • Ceretta Smith
    In their own words[7]
    “Defend rights: civil, human, and reproductive rights.”

    On her campaign website priorities page

Stricter gun laws

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[32][33][34][35]

    Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales. Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29), which would have banned the sale of many semiautomatic assault weapons. Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24), which expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red-flag programs. Voted yes on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06), which would have required states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.

  • Ceretta Smith
    In their own words[7]
    “address the proliferation of guns with common-sense safety.”

    On her campaign website priorities page

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections

  • Rick Allen
    —
  • Ceretta Smith
    In their own words[7]
    “Renters' rights: keep people housed, not displaced.”

    On her campaign website priorities page

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[17][18][19][28][27]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[17][18][19][24][25]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies. Voted yes on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

  • Ceretta Smith
    In their own words[7]
    “Expand access to care: support coverage options that keep more Georgians insured and protected.”

    On her campaign website priorities page

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[17][18][19][26][27]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

  • Rick Allen
    Supports[6]

    Introduced the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act, which would create a federal tax credit for donations to nonprofit scholarship funds supporting elementary, secondary, and career and technical education.

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[36]

    Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[31]

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[26]

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[23]

    Voted yes on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Rick Allen
    Recorded votes[29][30]

    Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted no on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sports

  • Rick Allen
    Supports[13]

    Cosponsored H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (119th Congress), which would bar transgender girls and women from girls' and women's school sports programs that receive federal funds.

  • Ceretta Smith
    —

Research notes & limits

Basic-tier research from Ballotpedia. Biography expanded from Rep. Allen's House biography, Ballotpedia, The Augusta Press, and WRDW; WRDW (Jan. 5, 2026) reports two new members were sworn in to the Grovetown council replacing Ceretta Smith and Sylvia Martin, so Smith is a former councilwoman; the summary states only that she has served on it.

Sources · 44

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Georgia's 12th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Rick Allen · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Georgia's 12th Congressional District election, 2026 (Candidate Connection survey responses) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Economy & Jobs · Office of Rep. Rick W. Allen Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Agriculture · Office of Rep. Rick W. Allen Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Education · Office of Rep. Rick W. Allen Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Ceretta Smith for Georgia · Ceretta Smith for Georgia · 2026-10-03 Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Rick Allen · Ballotpedia Reference
  9. 9.Biography | U.S. Representative Rick W. Allen · Office of Rep. Rick Allen Official record
  10. 10.Georgia's 12th District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  11. 11.H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (SAVE Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  12. 12.H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (SAVE America Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  13. 13.H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  14. 14.H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  15. 15.H.R. 722, the Life at Conception Act (Life at Conception Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  18. 18.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  33. 33.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  34. 34.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  35. 35.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  36. 36.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  37. 37.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  38. 38.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  39. 39.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record
  40. 40.Georgia's 12th Congressional District election, 2026 (Candidate Connection survey responses) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  41. 41.Grovetown City Council's Ceretta Smith on the campaign for District 12 · The Augusta Press News report
  42. 42.Ceretta Smith · Ballotpedia Reference
  43. 43.Ceretta Smith wins runoff in Democratic U.S. House primary · WRDW · 2026-06-17 News report
  44. 44.U.S. House · Georgia's 12th District results 2026 · NBC News News report