Steve Gooch

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Steve Gooch
Image of Steve Gooch

Republican Party

Georgia State Senate District 51
Tenure

2011 - Present

Term ends

2025

Years in position

13

Compensation

Base salary

$24,341.64/year

Per diem

$247/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

North Georgia College

Graduate

North Georgia College & State University

Personal
Religion
Christian: Baptist
Profession
Vice President, Commercial Group, The Norton Agency
Contact

Official website

Official Twitter

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn 

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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) ran for re-election to the Georgia State Senate to represent District 51. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Gooch was selected as the Majority Leader in 2022 by his Republican Senate colleagues. The majority leader is the second highest ranking member of the majority party in the Senate behind the president pro tempore.[1] Before being elected leader, Gooch served as the Majority Whip of the Senate from 2014-2022.[2]

Gooch received a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in public administration from North Georgia College and State University.[3] Gooch worked as a partner at The Commercial Group, a real estate brokerage and property management firm, previously served as Lumpkin County commissioner, and was a member of the Georgia Department of Transportation Board.[3]

Gooch first won election to the Georgia Senate in 2010 and was re-elected every year since. Gooch faced a general election opponent in three of the seven years he ran for re-election and won more than 73% of the vote each of those years. Before becoming the majority whip in 2014, Gooch was the Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus and chaired the Senate Transportation Committee.[3]

While in the Senate, Gooch sponsored bills to increase the governor's power to allocate resources toward immigration and ban government funding for libraries affiliated with the American Library Association.[4][5]


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:

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2021-2022

Gooch was assigned to the following committees:

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2019-2020

Gooch was assigned to the following committees:

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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:

2013-2014

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

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gooch 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 51

Incumbent Steve Gooch won election in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 51 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steve Gooch
Steve Gooch (R)
 
100.0
 
105,191

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source

Total votes: 105,191
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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
✔
Image of Steve Gooch
Steve Gooch
 
100.0
 
25,915

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

Total votes: 25,915
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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Endorsements

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Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gooch in this election.

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
✔
Image of Steve Gooch
Steve Gooch (R)
 
100.0
 
79,579

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

Total votes: 79,579
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 51

Incumbent Steve Gooch advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steve Gooch
Steve Gooch
 
100.0
 
39,504

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

Total votes: 39,504
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 51

Incumbent Steve Gooch defeated June Krise in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 51 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steve Gooch
Steve Gooch (R)
 
82.8
 
84,767
Image of June Krise
June Krise (D) Candidate Connection
 
17.2
 
17,625

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

Total votes: 102,392
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 51

June Krise advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of June Krise
June Krise Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
6,786

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

Total votes: 6,786
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 51

Incumbent Steve Gooch advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steve Gooch
Steve Gooch
 
100.0
 
37,496

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

Total votes: 37,496
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 51

Incumbent Steve Gooch won election in the general election for Georgia State Senate District 51 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steve Gooch
Steve Gooch (R)
 
100.0
 
69,714

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

Total votes: 69,714
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 51

Incumbent Steve Gooch advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia State Senate District 51 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steve Gooch
Steve Gooch
 
100.0
 
19,724

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

Total votes: 19,724
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 Steve Gooch ran unopposed in the Georgia State Senate District 51 general election.[6][7]

Georgia State Senate, District 51 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png 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.[8][9]

Georgia State Senate, District 51 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png 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.[10][11][12]

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.[13][14] Gooch ran unopposed in the general election.[15]

Georgia State Senate, District 51, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSteve 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.[16]

Georgia State Senate, District 51
2010 General election results
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Steve Gooch (R) 46,262 81.9%
Joseph Mann (D) 10,213 18.1%

Gooch was unopposed in the July 20 primary.[17]

Georgia State Senate, District 51 - Republican Primary (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Steve Gooch 19,536 100.0%

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Steve Gooch did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

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:[18]

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.[19] 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

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Steve Gooch endorsed Newt Gingrich in the 2012 presidential election.[20]

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.

Steve Gooch campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Georgia State Senate District 51Won general$252,820 $123,514
2022Georgia State Senate District 51Won general$319,250 $0
2020Georgia State Senate District 51Won general$298,823 N/A**
2018Georgia State Senate District 51Won general$228,190 N/A**
2016Georgia State Senate, District 51Won $351,426 N/A**
2014Georgia State Senate, District 51Won $120,217 N/A**
2012Georgia State Senate, District 51Won $88,858 N/A**
2010Georgia State Senate, District 51Won $88,845 N/A**
2008Georgia State House, District 9Lost $61,142 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

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

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

Gooch, along with his Georgia State Senate colleagues, entered self-quarantine after State Sen. Brandon Beach tested positive for coronavirus.[21]

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Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Gooch and his wife, Shannon, have three children.

See also

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Candidate

Georgia State Senate District 51

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Georgia General Assembly, "Senate Leadership," accessed August 15, 2024
    2. ↑ GaPundit, "Sen. Steve Gooch: Elected to Serve as Senate Majority Whip," November 17, 2014
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Georgia Senate, "Senator Steve Gooch, Senate District 51," accessed August 15, 2024
    4. ↑ LegiScan, "Georgia Senate Resolution 543," February 12, 2024
    5. ↑ The Atlanta Journal Constitution, "Georgia GOP senators target American Library Association with new bill," January 25, 2024
    6. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed August 17, 2016
    7. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General Election results," accessed November 23, 2016
    8. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 13, 2016
    9. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General primary results," accessed May 24, 2016
    10. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 10, 2014
    11. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 28, 2014
    12. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
    13. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed May 29, 2012
    14. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed December 31, 2014
    15. ↑ Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results" accessed November 16, 2012
    16. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "2010 Election results," accessed December 31, 2014
    17. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 24, 2014
    18. ↑ Vote Gooch, "Issues," accessed May 2, 2016
    19. ↑ Steve Gooch campaign website, "Issues"
    20. ↑ Newt Gingrich 2012, "Slate of Georgia Officials Back Newt Gingrich for President," December 13, 2011
    21. ↑ WGAU 98.7FM & AM1340, “Senator tests positive for coronavirus, Athens lawmakers self-quarantine,” March 19, 2020

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