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U.S. House · Georgia's 8th District

South-central Georgia, including Warner Robins, Tifton, Moultrie, and Valdosta.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Austin Scott, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Austin Scott160,13560.4%
Kelly Esti104,90239.6%

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 rates this race Solid Republican; Decision Desk, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball also rate it Safe/Solid Republican.[1]
  • Roman Coley Davis (Independent), whom Ballotpedia lists as withdrawn or disqualified, does not appear on the printed U.S. House District 8 contest on the Houston County Nov. 3, 2026 sample ballot, which lists Austin Scott and Kelly Esti with a write-in line.[12]

On the November 3 ballot · 2 candidates

Austin ScottRINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative (since 2011)Full profile →Kelly EstiDFull 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

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[38][39][40]

    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.

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[33][34][35][36]

    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.

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

    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).

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[18][19][20][29][28]

    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.

  • Kelly Esti
    In their own words[11]
    “ensuring wealthy individuals and large multinational corporations pay their fair share of taxes to fund investments in infrastructure, digital expansion like fiber internet into rural areas, education”

    In his 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey

Expand public health coverage

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[18][19][20][25][26]

    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.

  • Kelly Esti
    In their own words[10]
    “As your congressman, my role is to strengthen federal health programs, support funding for rural clinics and hospitals, and work with agencies to improve access to essential services throughout the district.”

    On his campaign website's Healthcare page

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[18][19][20][27][28]

    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.

  • Kelly Esti
    In their own words[10]
    “As renewable energy, like solar and wind, becomes more affordable nationwide, communities should have the option to explore these alternatives if they believe they will reduce long-term costs.”

    On his campaign website's Utilities & Renewable Energy page

Raise the minimum wage

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[37]

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

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Continue U.S. military aid to Israel

  • Austin Scott
    Supports[9]

    His official site says ensuring Israel's continued qualitative military edge and completing the U.S.-Israel 10-year Memorandum of Understanding for military assistance is a key national security priority.

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[32]

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

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[27]

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

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[24]

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

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Austin Scott
    Recorded votes[30][31]

    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.

  • Kelly Esti
    —

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

  • Austin Scott
    Supports[16]

    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.

  • Kelly Esti
    —

Research notes & limits

Basic-tier research from Ballotpedia. Roman Coley Davis has little public footprint beyond his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey answers; no campaign website was located. Roman Coley Davis (Independent), listed by Ballotpedia as withdrawn or disqualified, does not appear on the printed U.S. House District 8 contest of the Houston County Nov. 3, 2026 sample ballot (only Austin Scott and Kelly Esti plus write-in line), so he has no entry here. Biography update: Ballotpedia states Roman Coley Davis will not appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot and lists him as withdrawn or disqualified; his entry may need to be removed, and no biographical details beyond his survey answers were found.

Sources · 44

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

  1. 1.Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Austin Scott · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Abortion · Office of Rep. Austin Scott · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Economy and Jobs · Office of Rep. Austin Scott · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Agriculture · Office of Rep. Austin Scott · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Second Amendment · Office of Rep. Austin Scott · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Immigration · Office of Rep. Austin Scott · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Health Care · Office of Rep. Austin Scott · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Foreign Affairs · Office of Rep. Austin Scott · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  10. 10.Home | Kellyesti4congress (Policy Priorities) · Dr. Kelly Esti for Congress · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  11. 11.Kelly Esti · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  12. 12.Houston County Sample Ballot, November 3, 2026 General Election · Houston County Board of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record
  13. 13.Austin Scott · Ballotpedia Reference
  14. 14.Biography · Office of Rep. Austin Scott Official record
  15. 15.Georgia's 8th District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  19. 19.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  33. 33.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  34. 34.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  35. 35.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  36. 36.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  37. 37.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  38. 38.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  39. 39.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  40. 40.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record
  41. 41.Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2026 (Candidate Connection survey responses) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  42. 42.Kelly Esti · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  43. 43.Two Democrats vie for chance to challenge Austin Scott in Georgia's 8th Congressional District · WALB · 2026-04-17 News report
  44. 44.U.S. House · Georgia's 8th District results 2026 · NBC News News report