Steve Gooch
2011 - Present
2025
13
Steve Gooch (Republican Party) is a member of the Georgia State Senate, representing District 51. He assumed office on January 10, 2011. His current term ends on January 13, 2025.
Gooch (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Georgia State Senate to represent District 51. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. He advanced from the Republican primary on May 21, 2024.
Biography
Gooch was born on February 25, 1967. He earned his B.S. and M.A. in public administration from North Georgia College and State University. His professional experience includes working as a partner at The Commercial Group, a real estate brokerage and property management firm. Gooch previously served as Lumpkin County commissioner and is a member of the Georgia Department of Transportation Board.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Gooch was assigned to the following committees:
- Ways and Means Committee
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Education and Youth Committee, Ex-Officio
- Senate Ethics Committee, Ex-Officio
- Finance Committee
- Insurance Committee, Ex-Officio
- Senate Judiciary Committee, Ex-Officio
- Natural Resources and the Environment Committee, Ex-Officio
- Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee
- Senate Rules Committee, Ex-Officio
- House Transportation Committee
- Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee, Ex-Officio
2021-2022
Gooch was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Finance Committee
- Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee
- Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee
- Senate Transportation Committee, Vice chair
- Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Overview Committee (MARTOC)
2019-2020
Gooch was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Appropriations Committee, Secretary
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Finance Committee
- Government Oversight Committee, Ex-Officio
- Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee
- Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee
- Senate Rules Committee, Ex-Officio
- Senate Transportation Committee, Vice Chairman
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Assignments |
| • Finance |
| • Regulated Industries and Utilities |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Gooch served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Finance |
| • Regulated Industries and Utilities |
| • Transportation, Vice chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gooch served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Transportation, Chair |
| • Economic Development, Vice Chair |
| • Appropriations |
| • Natural Resources and the Environment |
| • Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gooch served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Economic Development |
| • Government Oversight |
| • State Institutions and Property |
| • State and Local Governmental Operations |
| • Transportation |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Georgia State Senate District 51
Incumbent Steve Gooch is running in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 51 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Steve Gooch (R) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51
Incumbent Steve Gooch advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Gooch | 100.0 | 25,915 |
| Total votes: 25,915 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Georgia State Senate District 51
Incumbent Steve Gooch won election in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 51 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Gooch (R) | 100.0 | 79,579 |
| Total votes: 79,579 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51
Incumbent Steve Gooch advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Gooch | 100.0 | 39,504 |
| Total votes: 39,504 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Georgia State Senate District 51
Incumbent Steve Gooch defeated June Krise in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 51 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Gooch (R) | 82.8 | 84,767 |
 | June Krise (D) | 17.2 | 17,625 | |
| Total votes: 102,392 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 51
June Krise advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | June Krise | 100.0 | 6,786 |
| Total votes: 6,786 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51
Incumbent Steve Gooch advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Gooch | 100.0 | 37,496 |
| Total votes: 37,496 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
- See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Georgia State Senate District 51
Incumbent Steve Gooch won election in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 51 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Gooch (R) | 100.0 | 69,714 |
| Total votes: 69,714 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51
Incumbent Steve Gooch advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Gooch | 100.0 | 19,724 |
| Total votes: 19,724 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2016
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 Steve Gooch ran unopposed in the Georgia State Senate District 51 general election.[1][2]
| Georgia State Senate, District 51 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Steve Gooch Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 70,737 | |
| Total Votes | 70,737 | |||
| Source: Georgia Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Steve Gooch defeated John Williamson in the Georgia State Senate District 51 Republican primary.[3][4]
| Georgia State Senate, District 51 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Steve Gooch Incumbent |
73.13% | 20,598 | |
| Republican | John Williamson | 26.87% | 7,567 | |
| Total Votes | 28,165 | |||
2014
- See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 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 Stephen W. "Steve" Gooch was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[5][6][7]
2012
- See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2012
Gooch ran in the 2012 election for Georgia State Senate District 51. Gooch ran unopposed in the Republican primary on July 31, 2012. No Democratic candidate filed to run for this seat. The general election took place on November 6, 2012.[8][9] Gooch ran unopposed in the general election.[10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Gooch Incumbent |
100% | 60,498 | |
| Total Votes | 60,498 | |||
2010
- See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2010
Gooch won election in the November 2 general election against Democrat Joseph Mann.[11]
| Georgia State Senate, District 51 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Steve Gooch (R)
|
46,262 | 81.9% | ||
| Joseph Mann (D) | 10,213 | 18.1% | ||
Gooch was unopposed in the July 20 primary.[12]
| Georgia State Senate, District 51 - Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Steve Gooch
|
19,536 | 100.0% | ||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Steve Gooch has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Steve Gooch, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 19,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.
Help improve Ballotpedia - send us candidate contact info.
2022
Steve Gooch did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Steve Gooch did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Gooch's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[13]
Keeping taxes low
- Except: "My top priority is reforming our tax code to keep taxes low on our families. As your Senator I have sponsored constitutional amendments to cap and reduce the state income tax."
Stopping illegal immigration
- Except: "Georgia has some of the toughest anti-illegal immigration laws in the country. I want to keep it that way."
Creating new jobs
- Except: "Reducing unnecessary regulation, improving our roads and infrastructure, protecting our water resources, and reforming our outdated tax code will help create the right environment for new, high paying jobs."
Supporting our local public schools
- Except: "Nothing is more important that our children’s education. That is why I am proud to have supported legislation to reduce the amount of burdensome standardized tests and opposed common core."
Protecting our God-given rights
- Except: "I have consistently supported legislation to expand and protect our right to buy, keep and carry firearms and to protect our families and property from criminals."
2010
On his campaign website, Gooch listed five issues he was concerned about.[14] They were:
- Keeping Taxes Low
- Excerpt: "I believe that we must do all that we can to avoid increasing taxes on our citizens. I also believe that we should use these difficult times to “right size” state government by cutting unnecessary spending, creating more efficient processes, and implementing zero based budgeting to establish the right priorities for spending our tax dollars."
- Creating New Jobs
- Excerpt: "Small businesses create jobs! As your Senator, I will fight for common sense proposals that help create the right environment where small businesses can grow and create new jobs."
- Supporting Our Schools
- Excerpt: "The state government’s most important responsibility is educating our children. I believe in local control of our schools and in empowering, not dictating to, our local schools, administrators and educators."
- Protecting Our Traditional Values
- Excerpt: " You can count on me to always support pro-life, pro-marriage legislation. I believe we should have the Ten Commandments posted in our public buildings to remind elected officials of the foundation of our laws."
- Defending Our 2nd Amendment Rights
- Excerpt: "a citizen has the God-given right to protect their home and their family, and the right to keep and bear arms is essential to this."
Presidential preference
2012
Steve Gooch endorsed Newt Gingrich in the 2012 presidential election.[15]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Georgia scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 9 to March 29.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 10 to April 4.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 11 to March 31.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 to June 26. The session was suspended from March 13 through June 11.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 14 through April 2.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 29.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through March 31.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 11 through March 24.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 12 through April 2.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 21.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 21.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 29.
|
Noteworthy events
Gooch, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[16]
|
|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
|
COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019, is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The first confirmed case of the disease in the United States was announced on January 21, 2020. For more of Ballotpedia's coverage of the coronavirus impact on political and civic life, click here.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Gooch and his wife, Shannon, have three children.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Georgia State Senate District 51 |
Officeholder Georgia State Senate District 51 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General Election results," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 13, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General primary results," accessed May 24, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 10, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed May 29, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed December 31, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results" accessed November 16, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "2010 Election results," accessed December 31, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Vote Gooch, "Issues," accessed May 2, 2016
- ↑ Steve Gooch campaign website, "Issues"
- ↑ Newt Gingrich 2012, "Slate of Georgia Officials Back Newt Gingrich for President," December 13, 2011
- ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Georgia State Senate District 51 2011-Present |
Succeeded by - |
.svg.png){kind=small}
