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NGA CAN's Progressive Picks: Cherokee County Voter Guide for May 19, 2026
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
About These Voter Guides
North Georgia Community Action Network (NGA CAN) is built on a simple principle: democracy works when everyone participates, and it works better when ordinary people—not billionaires and corporations—drive the decisions that affect our lives.
Our membership is genuinely diverse. We have leftists and progressives, Democrats and Independents, libertarians and anarchists, and yes, even some Republicans. We have people who disagree on plenty of things.
What unites us is not a single ideology, but shared commitments:
Transparency in government. We believe decisions that affect our communities should be made in public, with input from the people they affect.
Real access to democracy. We fight for voting rights, fair elections, and an end to gerrymandering and voter suppression.
Civic engagement. We believe ordinary people should have a seat at the table—in city council meetings, school board meetings, county commissions, and state legislatures.
People over billionaires. We oppose the consolidation of power in the hands of wealthy individuals and corporations that can buy elections, block affordable housing, raise utility rates, and dodge accountability.
We Are Unapologetically Progressive
Our voter guides are assembled by NGA CAN using publicly available candidate information, endorsements, and platforms. They reflect our research into who will advance these shared values in the races we cover.
We are unapologetically progressive in these guides. That is intentional, not accidental. NGA CAN was founded on progressive, common-sense values—the belief that government should work for working people, that public services matter, that the environment is worth protecting, that everyone deserves healthcare and a decent wage. Our guides reflect that perspective.
This does not mean candidates who aren't our top pick are "bad." Politics is not binary. A candidate might excel on government transparency but disagree with us on healthcare policy. Another might prioritize environmental protection differently than we do. Our guides are written for people whose north star is progressivism—but we respect that your north star might point somewhere else entirely.
How to Use These Guides
These guides are tools for thinking, not commands for voting. We research candidates' stated positions, endorsements, track records, and willingness to be accountable. We share what we find.
You should:
Read the information critically
Research candidates on your own
Attend candidate forums and debates
Talk to your neighbors about who they support and why
Vote according to your values, not ours
Voting Information
Election Day: May 19, 2026, 7 AM to 7 PM
Early Voting: April 27 through May 15 at Cherokee County Elections Office, 193 Lamar Haley Pkwy, Canton, GA 30114
Check your registration and sample ballot: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov
Cherokee County Elections: https://cherokeegavotes.com
State Senate District 21
Kori Simmons (D, uncontested in Democratic primary) is the Democratic nominee. He will face Republican incumbent Jason T. Dickerson in November.
Vote for Kori Simmons on May 19.
Simmons emphasizes education as an investment in the future and long-term planning. He is committed to public education as a priority for Cherokee County.
State House District 20 (Democratic Primary)
Two strong progressive Democrats competing: Erik Zeil and Jason Tanner.
NGA CAN's Progressive Pick: Jason Tanner
Both candidates bring legitimate progressive credentials and thoughtful platforms addressing housing, growth, education, and economic fairness.
Jason Tanner is a U.S. Marine Corps and Secret Service veteran with a "Competence-First" economic platform. His priorities include wage indexing tied to CPI (so minimum wage automatically increases with inflation), preventing corporate institutional investors from price-gouging renters, protecting school funding through property taxes rather than regressive sales tax increases, and bringing discipline and measurable outcomes to state government. Tanner is active and visible in the community, building relationships and showing consistent presence at local events and forums.
Erik Zeil brings 12 years of energy industry experience, single parent perspective, and compelling positions on anti-corporate housing (Wall Street firms should not own single-family homes), opposing data center development that depletes our water and energy resources without meaningful employment, responsible growth that keeps infrastructure ahead of expansion, school funding, and consumer protection from his industry expertise. His platform is comprehensive and addresses systemic corporate consolidation.
Why Tanner:
This is a choice between two qualified progressives with somewhat different emphases. We are picking Tanner because in local races, a candidate's sustained community presence and demonstrated engagement matter as much as policy positions. Tanner has built visible relationships in the community and shown a track record of showing up consistently. A legislator who is present, accessible to constituents, and building relationships in the district can be more effective at advancing shared values—even when facing a Republican-controlled legislature. Tanner has proven he will do that work of constituent engagement and community presence.
A note on Zeil:
Zeil's substantive policy positions on housing, data centers, and corporate power are strong and deserve serious consideration. By stated platforms alone, both candidates would be solid progressive choices. If you are primarily motivated by opposition to corporate consolidation and feel strongly about data center policy, Zeil's focus on those issues is worth your vote's consideration.
State House District 21
Anthony Aragues Jr. (D, uncontested in Democratic primary) is the Democratic nominee. He will face Republican incumbent Brad Thomas in November.
Vote for Anthony Aragues Jr. on May 19.
Aragues is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and cybersecurity engineer with a clear progressive vision. His top priorities:
Constitutional accountability: Day One, he will submit a bill requiring ICE agents to follow constitutional, state, and local laws. Federal agents should not bypass legal protections that apply to everyone else.
Economic justice: All state incentives must encourage businesses to pay fair wages and provide benefits. When employers underpay workers, the cost shifts to taxpayers and state programs. No company should benefit from stripping communities of resources.
Worker protections: Cherokee County workers and families feel the weight of low-wage employment directly. A state representative who connects constitutional accountability to economic fairness is exactly what this district needs.
State House District 23
Rob Epstein (D, uncontested in Democratic primary) is the Democratic nominee. He will face Republican incumbent Bill Fincher in November.
Vote for Rob Epstein on May 19.
Epstein is a small business owner and retired attorney with a laser focus on one issue: eliminating corporate money's corrupting influence on politics.
Day One legislation: He will submit a bill changing Georgia's corporate code to explicitly bar any corporation founded in Georgia from any political activity whatsoever.
Health care affordability: Drawing from personal experience with his wife's cancer treatment, he knows the cost of care can be overwhelming for families. This will drive his legislative work.
Economic incentives must benefit communities: Before approving tax breaks and incentives, legislators should verify they actually benefit the people who live here.
Epstein's argument is direct: loyalty to constituents is impossible when campaigns are built on corporate money. He's running to change the structure that makes corporate influence inevitable.
State House District 46
Dumont Walker (D, uncontested in Democratic primary) is the Democratic nominee. He will face Republican incumbent John Carson in November.
Vote for Dumont Walker on May 19.
Dumont Walker is a communications professional with nearly two decades of experience at mission-driven nonprofits. He has spent his career helping organizations uplift voices and bring communities together.
His platform addresses the immediate pressures facing Cherokee families:
Affordability crisis: Families are being squeezed from every direction—housing, healthcare, utilities, groceries rising while wages stagnate. He will fight for practical solutions to lower everyday costs.
Affordable healthcare: Every Georgian deserves quality, affordable healthcare regardless of ZIP code. He will cut medical costs and expand coverage.
Education investment: Improve literacy, reduce class sizes, fully fund public schools, and pay teachers what they deserve. Communities and educators should be in the driver's seat.
Civil rights and reproductive freedom: He is a proud community advocate for defending civil rights and protecting reproductive freedom.
Walker knows what's at stake for working families. He's running to build a better future where families are resilient, prepared, and able to thrive.
County Commission District 4
Steven Rogers (D, uncontested in Democratic primary) is the Democratic nominee. He will face Republican incumbent Corey Ragsdale in November.
Vote for Steven Rogers on May 19.
Steven Rogers is a cybersecurity engineer, Towne Lake (Woodstock) resident, and deeply rooted community volunteer with 22 years in Scouts BSA and seven years in PTSA leadership.
His campaign is anchored in a straightforward idea: county government should treat residents as the priority, not an afterthought.
Put the "public" back in public service: As your neighbor, Rogers believes the Board of Commissioners should prioritize residents.
Remove the "Life Tax": Eliminate the county sales tax on basic necessities (diapers, baby food, etc.). Cost of living is a daily stress for families.
Environmental protection: Require stricter environmental impact studies and ensure developers maintain significant natural buffers. Protecting the common good means ensuring progress doesn't lead to flooded basements or washed-out roads.
Solar energy: Emphasize solar to lower energy costs for residents.
Developer accountability: Rogers connects the dots between developer decisions and neighborhood flooding risk. He's ready to submit ordinances on day one to deliver direct relief to families.
Board of Education District 5
Republican Primary: Erin Ragsdale (R, incumbent) vs. Trent Bass (R). NGA CAN has not conducted research on this Republican-only race.
Board of Education District 6
Republican Primary: Ann O'Mara (R) vs. Hayden Holcomb (R). NGA CAN has not conducted research on this Republican-only race.
State Court Judge (Nonpartisan)
Christopher Lee Bishop (Canton defense attorney) vs. Kryss Roch (Cherokee County Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor-General)
NGA CAN's Most Progressive Pick: Christopher Lee Bishop
Neither candidate seems to be truly progressive, so we are just trying to pick the MOST progressive candidate from among them. Both candidates bring substantial legal experience, with approximately two decades each. They differ in perspective:
Christopher Bishop:
Defense attorney with prosecution experience
Sees cases "from both sides"—he considers impact on families, victims, and community, not just guilt/innocence
Proposes using technology (Zoom) to improve efficiency and clear case backlogs
Emphasizes professionalism and holding himself to the highest standard
Brings balance to a court system often tilted toward prosecution
Why Bishop Over Roch:
Kryss Roch is an experienced prosecutor with 20 years in the solicitor's office and Court of Appeals experience. However, our judicial system already has a prosecutorial tilt. A judge with substantial defense attorney background provides necessary balance and ensures that constitutional protections for defendants—particularly vulnerable or low-income defendants—are not overlooked.
Bishop's perspective that judicial decisions affect families and entire communities aligns with NGA CAN's values of justice that considers impact on people's lives, not just legal mechanics.
Uncontested Races
The following races have only Republican candidates and will appear on the general election ballot in November, not the May 19 primary:
County Commission Chair: Harry Johnston (R, uncontested)
Commissioner Will Cagle (R, uncontested)
Board of Education Districts 3 & 4: Chance Beam (R, uncontested), Rick Steiner (R, uncontested)
Summary: Vote on May 19
Democratic Nominees to Support (all uncontested in Democratic primary, will face Republicans in November):
Kori Simmons for State Senate District 21
Steven Rogers for County Commission District 4
Democratic Primary: Vote Between Candidates
State House District 20: Jason Tanner
State House District 21: Anthony Aragues Jr.
State House District 23: Rob Epstein
State House District 46: Dumont Walker
State Court Judge: Christopher Lee Bishop
A Final Disclaimer
NGA CAN creates voter guides to help our community make informed progressive choices in elections where multiple candidates are running. This guide reflects research into candidates' stated platforms, endorsements from labor unions, environmental organizations, civil rights groups, and other progressive allies, as well as candidates' records in public service where available. Voters should conduct their own research and vote according to their values.
North Georgia Community Action Network (NGA CAN) is a volunteer-led progressive civic organization with thousands of members across Cherokee, Pickens, Bartow, Forsyth, Cobb, and surrounding Georgia counties. We fight for transparency in government, real access to democracy, and a Georgia where ordinary people—not billionaires and corporations—drive the decisions that affect our lives.
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