U.S. House, Georgia 5th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Georgia's 5th Congressional District?
Nikema Williams has the strongest record in Georgia's 5th Congressional District. Nikema Williams scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Nikema Williams's highest marks are relevant experience and accountability. John Salvesen (4 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
John Salvesen
On the ballot as John "Bongo" Salvesen
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Nikema Williams
63 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 56
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 Salvesen
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Nikema Williams
- On the record2018-11-13
Arrested Nov. 13, 2018 as a state senator with 14 others at a Capitol protest over ballot counting; charges were dismissed in June 2019. Her later suit against the law was dismissed, upheld Oct. 31, 2024.
Sources: FOX 5 Atlanta (AP), Sept. 30, 2020, WABE, FOX 5 Atlanta (AP), Oct. 31, 2024
- Credit2026-07-11
Sponsored the Whole-Home Repairs Act (H.R. 5990); its provisions were enacted in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on July 11, 2026.
Source: GovTrack, H.R. 5990
- Credit2023-12-22
Sponsored the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act (H.R. 1150); its provisions were enacted in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, signed Dec. 22, 2023.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 filed Aug. 12, 2026 after an extension, and FEC reports are on file through June 30, 2026. No House Ethics matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078096, House Committee on Ethics site search, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. Co-hosted an in-person town hall in Atlanta on Aug. 14, 2025 attended by about 300 people and took audience questions for about an hour. No 2026 debate with John Salvesen found.
Source: Atlanta Civic Circle, Aug. 15, 2025 (Wayback Machine copy)
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. State senator from 2017 to 2021 and in Congress since 2021. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nikema Williams, House Committee on Ethics site search
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. Has held sworn office since 2017. Voted Nay on both January 2021 electoral objections; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
John Salvesen. Has a career in the construction industry; has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Salvesen
Nikema Williams. In the U.S. House since January 2021, in her third term; earlier a Georgia state senator for District 39 from 2017 to 2021.
Source: Ballotpedia, Nikema Williams
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
John Salvesen. Stated positions on election equipment, cash and food safety in a 2024 candidate survey, in general terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Salvesen, Candidate Connection survey
Nikema Williams. Serves on the Financial Services Committee and its housing subcommittee; sponsored the Whole-Home Repairs Act, enacted in 2026 within a housing law.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, GovTrack, H.R. 5990
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
John Salvesen. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024; has not completed the 2026 survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Salvesen
Nikema Williams. Offers an email newsletter, publishes issue updates and held an in-person town hall in August 2025. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Ballotpedia, Nikema Williams, Atlanta Civic Circle, Aug. 15, 2025 (Wayback Machine copy)
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
John Salvesen. Says he has lived in Atlanta since 1994.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Salvesen, Candidate Connection survey
Nikema Williams. Lives in Atlanta and represented an Atlanta state Senate district from 2017 to 2021. FEC by-state totals show about 70 percent of itemized individual contributions from Georgia.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nikema Williams, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. Legislative Effectiveness Score 0.485 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.526, meets expectations. Primary sponsor of four enacted bills, including the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation, GovTrack, H.R. 1150 (118th Congress)
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. Missed 33 of 2,915 roll call votes, 1.1 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. Runs a district office in Atlanta and offers help with government agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.98472 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 329th of 436, in the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
John Salvesen. No public record found.
Nikema Williams. 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 5th Congressional District?
Nikema Williams has the strongest record in Georgia's 5th Congressional District. Nikema Williams scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Nikema Williams's highest marks are relevant experience and accountability. John Salvesen (4 of 15 criteria) has 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 5th Congressional District in 2026?
John Salvesen (Republican), Nikema Williams (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is John Salvesen a good candidate for Congress?
John Salvesen has public evidence on 4 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 Nikema Williams a good candidate for Congress?
Nikema Williams scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 56 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
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.