Public Service Commissioner, District 3 of Georgia · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Georgia public service commissioner, district 3 race?
Peter Hubbard has the strongest record in the Georgia public service commissioner, district 3 race. Peter Hubbard scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Fitz Johnson at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Peter Hubbard's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Fitz Johnson's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Peter Hubbard
57 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 50
Republican
Fitz Johnson
53 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 60
- 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.
Peter Hubbard
- On the record2026-05-28
Offered several amendments to the 2026 Georgia Power fuel agreement that the Republican majority rejected, then voted for the agreement, approved unanimously and lowering typical bills about $4 a month.
- On the record2026-07-07
Sought a broader data center cost investigation on July 7, 2026; the Republican majority voted it down, and the commission unanimously approved the narrower investigation.
- Credit2025-10-08
Was the only one of four PSC candidates to attend the Atlanta Press Club debate on Oct. 8, 2025; the other three, including Fitz Johnson, did not appear.
Fitz Johnson
- On the record2026-04-17
A state administrative law judge rejected a residency challenge, finding his legal domicile in District 3 though he mostly lives at a Cobb County home; the Secretary of State upheld the ruling.
- On the record2026-10-09
Declined the invitation to the Oct. 13, 2026 Atlanta Press Club general election debate, leaving Peter Hubbard to appear alone, per the AJC.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 9, 2026 (Atlanta Press Club debate schedule)
- On the record2025-10-08
Declined the Oct. 8, 2025 Atlanta Press Club debate, saying his record speaks for itself and the format rewards sound bites.
- On the record2021
Appointed to the Public Service Commission by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2021 and served until 2025.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Fitz Johnson, GPB, July 13, 2022
- Credit1981
Served in the U.S. Army from 1981 to 2002, reaching the rank of major, per Ballotpedia.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fitz Johnson
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Peter Hubbard. No final order of the Georgia State Ethics Commission names him (list checked Oct. 9, 2026). No PolitiFact file exists for him.
Source: Georgia State Ethics Commission, final orders list (checked Oct. 9, 2026)
Fitz Johnson. No final order of the Georgia State Ethics Commission names him (list checked Oct. 9, 2026). No PolitiFact file exists for him.
Source: Georgia State Ethics Commission, final orders list (checked Oct. 9, 2026)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Peter Hubbard. No public record found.
Fitz Johnson. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Peter Hubbard. Was the only one of four PSC candidates to attend the October 2025 Atlanta Press Club debate, and is invited to the 2026 general election debate with Fitz Johnson.
Sources: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 8, 2025, Atlanta Press Club, 2026 general election debate schedule, Capitol Beat via GPB, Sept. 22, 2026, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 9, 2026 (Atlanta Press Club debate schedule)
Fitz Johnson. Declined the 2026 Atlanta Press Club general election debate, the only 2026 general election debate or forum found for this race, after also declining the October 2025 debate.
Sources: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 8, 2025, Capitol Beat via GPB, Sept. 22, 2026, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 9, 2026 (Atlanta Press Club debate schedule)
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Peter Hubbard. Fifteen years in the energy industry and a public service commissioner since January 2026, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Peter Hubbard, 2025 Candidate Connection survey
Fitz Johnson. Army officer for 21 years and a public service commissioner from 2021 to 2025, with no formal conduct finding found. A 2026 residency challenge was rejected; see the Record.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fitz Johnson
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Peter Hubbard. Sworn in as a public service commissioner in January 2026; no official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Campaign website
Fitz Johnson. Served in the Army from 1981 to 2002 and as an appointed public service commissioner from 2021 to 2025; an administrative law judge found him qualified in a 2026 residency challenge. No finding of misuse of office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Fitz Johnson, Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, April 20, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Peter Hubbard. Public service commissioner since January 2026 after winning the 2025 special election; previously 15 years in the energy industry, including utility resource planning. Less than one full term in the office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Peter Hubbard
Fitz Johnson. Public service commissioner from July 2021 to December 2025 by appointment, less than a full six-year term; retired Army major; business owner.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Fitz Johnson, Campaign website
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Peter Hubbard. On the commission, offered specific amendments to the 2026 Georgia Power fuel agreement and a broader scope for the data center cost investigation; both failed.
Sources: Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, May 29, 2026, Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, July 7, 2026
Fitz Johnson. Served on the commission from 2021 to 2025 deciding Georgia Power cases, including data center cost rules he cites; publishes campaign positions on affordability and reliability.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fitz Johnson
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Peter Hubbard. Three channels: completed Ballotpedia's candidate survey in 2022 and 2025, a campaign issue page and debates. He had not completed the 2026 survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Peter Hubbard, Campaign website, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 8, 2025
Fitz Johnson. One channel: a campaign website with positions. He did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 or 2025 surveys and did not respond to Georgia Recorder interview requests in 2026.
Sources: Campaign website, Ballotpedia, Fitz Johnson, Georgia Recorder, via WABE, June 8, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Peter Hubbard. Has lived in Atlanta's Edgewood neighborhood since 2015, inside District 3. In-state donor share not retrieved.
Source: Ballotpedia, Peter Hubbard, 2025 Candidate Connection survey
Fitz Johnson. An administrative law judge found his legal domicile is in Fulton County, inside District 3, though he spends most of his time at a Cobb County home outside the district.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Peter Hubbard. Formed and ran a clean energy advocacy nonprofit for six years before taking office. No finding about his campaign or office found.
Source: Campaign website
Fitz Johnson. Business owner (ASID Group International, Eagle Group International) and former owner of the Atlanta Beat soccer team. Company sizes not retrieved.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fitz Johnson
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Peter Hubbard. No public record found.
Fitz Johnson. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Peter Hubbard. No public record found.
Fitz Johnson. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Peter Hubbard. No public record found.
Fitz Johnson. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Peter Hubbard. Voted with the Republican majority for the unanimous 2026 fuel rate agreement and the unanimous data center cost investigation, one bipartisan result each.
Sources: Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, May 29, 2026, Georgia Recorder, via Cobb Courier, July 7, 2026
Fitz Johnson. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Peter Hubbard. No public record found.
Fitz Johnson. 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 the Georgia public service commissioner, district 3 race?
Peter Hubbard has the strongest record in the Georgia public service commissioner, district 3 race. Peter Hubbard scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Fitz Johnson at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Peter Hubbard's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Fitz Johnson's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Georgia public service commissioner, district 3 race in 2026?
Peter Hubbard (Democratic, incumbent), Fitz Johnson (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Peter Hubbard a good candidate for Public Service Commissioner, District 3?
Peter Hubbard scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Fitz Johnson a good candidate for Public Service Commissioner, District 3?
Fitz Johnson scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. 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, and the Georgia 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.