Ben Watson

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Ben Watson
Image of Ben Watson

Republican Party

Georgia State Senate District 1
Tenure

2015 - Present

Term ends

2025

Years in position

9

Prior offices
Georgia House of Representatives District 163
Georgia House of Representatives District 166

Compensation

Base salary

$24,341.64/year

Per diem

$247/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Georgia

Medical

Medical College of Georgia

Personal
Profession
Primary Care Physician
Contact

Official website

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn 

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Ben Watson (Republican Party) is a member of the Georgia State Senate, representing District 1. He assumed office on January 12, 2015. His current term ends on January 13, 2025.

Watson (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Georgia State Senate to represent District 1. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Watson earned his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia. His professional experience includes working as a primary care physician specializing in elderly patients.

Committee assignments

2023-2024

Watson was assigned to the following committees:

color: #337ab7,
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2021-2022

Watson was assigned to the following committees:

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}

2019-2020

Watson was assigned to the following committees:

color: #337ab7,
}

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Georgia committee assignments, 2017
• Appropriations
• Ethics
• Health and Human Services
• Reapportionment and Redistricting, Chair
• Transportation

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Watson served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Watson served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Watson served on the following committees:

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 1

Incumbent Ben Watson won election in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 1 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Watson
Ben Watson (R)
 
100.0
 
76,934

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source

Total votes: 76,934
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 1

Incumbent Ben Watson defeated Beth Majeroni in the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 1 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Watson
Ben Watson
 
61.7
 
8,264
Image of Beth Majeroni
Beth Majeroni Candidate Connection
 
38.3
 
5,137

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 13,401
Candidate Connection = 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

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Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Watson in this election.

2022

See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Georgia State Senate District 1

Incumbent Ben Watson defeated James Jones in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 1 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Watson
Ben Watson (R)
 
61.4
 
43,080
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
James Jones (D)
 
38.6
 
27,106

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 70,186
Candidate Connection = 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 1

James Jones defeated Andrew Niquette in the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 1 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
James Jones
 
80.1
 
8,698
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Andrew Niquette
 
19.9
 
2,163

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 10,861
Candidate Connection = 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 1

Incumbent Ben Watson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 1 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Watson
Ben Watson
 
100.0
 
21,070

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 21,070
Candidate Connection = 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 1

Incumbent Ben Watson won election in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Watson
Ben Watson (R)
 
100.0
 
72,192

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 72,192
Candidate Connection = 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 1

Kerri McGinty advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 1 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Kerri McGinty
 
100.0
 
10,801

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 10,801
Candidate Connection = 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 1

Incumbent Ben Watson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 1 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Watson
Ben Watson
 
100.0
 
18,078

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 18,078
Candidate Connection = 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 1

Incumbent Ben Watson defeated Sandra Workman in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 1 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Watson
Ben Watson (R)
 
60.8
 
42,316
Image of Sandra Workman
Sandra Workman (D)
 
39.2
 
27,258

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 69,574
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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 1

Sandra Workman advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 1 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sandra Workman
Sandra Workman
 
100.0
 
7,193

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 7,193
Candidate Connection = 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 1

Incumbent Ben Watson advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 1 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Watson
Ben Watson
 
100.0
 
9,262

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 9,262
Candidate Connection = 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 Ben Watson ran unopposed in the Georgia State Senate District 1 general election.[1][2]

Georgia State Senate, District 1 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ben Watson Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 59,151
Total Votes 59,151
Source: Georgia Secretary of State



Incumbent Ben Watson ran unopposed in the Georgia State Senate District 1 Republican primary.[3][4]

Georgia State Senate, District 1 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ben Watson Incumbent (unopposed)


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. B.L. "Ben" Watson was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[5][6][7]

2012

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2012

Watson ran in the 2012 election for Georgia House of Representatives District 166. Watson ran unopposed in the Republican primary on July 31, 2012. He was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[8][9]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 166, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBen Watson Incumbent 100% 24,041
Total Votes 24,041

2010

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2010

Watson defeated Jeremy Scheinbart (D) in the November 2 general election.[10]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 163 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Ben Watson (R) 15,449 80.2%
Jeremy Scheinbart (D) 3,818 19.8%

Watson defeated Joe Welch and Gary Wisenbaker in the July 20 primary.[11]

Georgia House of Representatives, District 163 - Republican Primary (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Ben Watson 5,543 64.5%
Joe T. Welch 1,604 18.7%
Gary Wisenbaker 1,452 16.9%

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ben Watson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Ben Watson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Ben Watson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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.

Ben Watson campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Georgia State Senate District 1Won general$262,921 $386,734
2022Georgia State Senate District 1Won general$249,421 $0
2020Georgia State Senate District 1Won general$235,556 N/A**
2018Georgia State Senate District 1Won general$167,720 N/A**
2016Georgia State Senate, District 1Won $92,900 N/A**
2014Georgia State Senate, District 1Won $111,285 N/A**
2012Georgia State House, District 166Won $91,558 N/A**
2010Georgia State House, District 163Won $209,324 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Noteworthy events

Decision to self-quarantine for coronavirus on March 19, 2020

See also: Political incumbents, candidates, and government officials diagnosed with COVID-19 or quarantined due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020

Watson, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen.Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[12]

Covid vnt.png
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.
Watson and his wife, Bernice, have three children.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Georgia

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


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012

See also

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External links

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Candidate

Georgia State Senate District 1

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    Officeholder

    Georgia State Senate District 1

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed August 17, 2016
    2. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General Election results," accessed November 23, 2016
    3. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 13, 2016
    4. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General primary results," accessed May 24, 2016
    5. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 10, 2014
    6. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 28, 2014
    7. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
    8. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed May 29, 2012
    9. ↑ Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results" accessed November 16, 2012
    10. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Election results," accessed April 16, 2014
    11. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed April 16, 2014
    12. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Georgia State Senate District 1
    2015-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Georgia House of Representatives District 166
    2013-2015    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Georgia House of Representatives District 163
    2011-2013    		 Succeeded by
    -


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