U.S. House, Georgia 11th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Georgia's 11th Congressional District?
John Cowan has the strongest record in Georgia's 11th Congressional District. John Cowan scores 50 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. John Cowan's highest marks are communication. Chris Harden (7 of 15 criteria), Amanda James (3 of 15 criteria) and Natalie Richoz (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
John Cowan
50 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Chris Harden
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Amanda James
On the ballot as Amanda Carter James
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 58
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Natalie Richoz
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 58
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
John Cowan
- On the record2026-06-18
During the 2026 GOP primary he was attacked for past criticism of President Trump, including mocking QAnon as the religion of Trump devotees; he has since said he supports the president.
Sources: AJC, race preview, updated June 18, 2026, AJC, April 22, 2026
Chris Harden
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Amanda James
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Natalie Richoz
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
John Cowan. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed April 17, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075281, FEC administrative fines search
Chris Harden. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and House candidate financial disclosures were filed Sept. 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082990, FEC administrative fines search
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
John Cowan. Publicly criticized President Trump and mocked the QAnon conspiracy theory as the religion of Trump devotees in past statements; he now says he supports the president.
Chris Harden. No public record found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
John Cowan. Debated his runoff opponent at an Atlanta Press Club debate on June 1, 2026. No 2026 general election debate record found.
Source: MDJ, June 10, 2026
Chris Harden. No public record found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
John Cowan. A neurosurgeon for more than 20 years who has built and run small businesses. No formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Cowan survey
Chris Harden. Has practiced law for more than a decade and co-owns a Woodstock estate planning and probate firm. No formal conduct finding found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
John Cowan. No public record found.
Chris Harden. No public record found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
John Cowan. Neurosurgeon with a Johns Hopkins medical degree and founder of Cortex Toys and Cortex Holdings. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Cowan, MDJ, June 2026
Chris Harden. Attorney since a 2012 law degree, co-owner of a law firm, and a government-appointed attorney for children and families in juvenile courts. Has not held public office.
Sources: AJC, race preview, updated June 18, 2026, Ballotpedia, Chris Harden
Amanda James. Works in product development management at Shaw Industries and holds a Kennesaw State political science degree. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Amanda James
Natalie Richoz. Registered nurse whose career also includes construction, food service and retail work. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Natalie Richoz
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
John Cowan. States positions on health care costs, the Affordable Care Act and budgets in general terms in his survey and campaign.
Sources: AJC, race preview, updated June 18, 2026, Ballotpedia, Cowan survey
Chris Harden. Publishes eleven priorities, including health care, ACA premium tax credits and costs, mostly in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
John Cowan. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, took part in a televised primary runoff debate and gives policy speeches to local groups.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Cowan, MDJ, June 10, 2026
Chris Harden. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025 and publishes plain-language priority pages.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Chris Harden, Campaign site
Amanda James. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Amanda James
Natalie Richoz. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025.
Source: Ballotpedia, Natalie Richoz
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
John Cowan. His FEC statement of candidacy for the 11th District, last filed Feb. 6, 2026, lists a Rome address (Floyd County, outside the district); the Daily Tribune News calls him a Rome neurosurgeon raised in Bartow County. About 63 percent of itemized individual contributions are from Georgia.
Sources: FEC contribution totals by state, Daily Tribune News, 2026 primary candidate profiles
Chris Harden. His FEC candidate record lists a Woodstock address and his law firm is in Woodstock; raised in Rossville. FEC by-state totals show about 96 percent of itemized individual contributions from Georgia.
Sources: FEC contribution totals by state, Ballotpedia, Chris Harden
Amanda James. A Cartersville native and Cartersville High School graduate; her FEC candidate record lists a Cartersville address.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Amanda James, FEC contribution totals by state
Natalie Richoz. Born in Marietta and graduated from Cass High School in Bartow County; says she has lived in the district for over 50 years. Her FEC candidate record lists Acworth.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Natalie Richoz, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
John Cowan. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. He has lent the campaign about $1.75 million.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Chris Harden. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
John Cowan. No public record found.
Chris Harden. No public record found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
John Cowan. No public record found.
Chris Harden. No public record found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
John Cowan. No public record found.
Chris Harden. No public record found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
John Cowan. No public record found.
Chris Harden. No public record found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
John Cowan. No public record found.
Chris Harden. No public record found.
Amanda James. No public record found.
Natalie Richoz. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Georgia's 11th Congressional District?
John Cowan has the strongest record in Georgia's 11th Congressional District. John Cowan scores 50 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. John Cowan's highest marks are communication. Chris Harden (7 of 15 criteria), Amanda James (3 of 15 criteria) and Natalie Richoz (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Georgia's 11th Congressional District in 2026?
John Cowan (Republican), Chris Harden (Democratic), Amanda James (Write-in), Natalie Richoz (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is John Cowan a good candidate for Congress?
John Cowan scores 50 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 50 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Chris Harden a good candidate for Congress?
Chris Harden has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Amanda James a good candidate for Congress?
Amanda James has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Natalie Richoz a good candidate for Congress?
Natalie Richoz has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Georgia race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Georgia 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.