Who is running for U.S. House, Georgia District 12 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for U.S. House, Georgia District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in U.S. House District 12.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Ceretta SmithDemocrat | Rick W. AllenRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Income taxes | No public position | Cut taxes across the board, including for top earners and corporationsSaid · high |
| Safety net programs | No public position | Keep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsVoted · medium |
| Healthcare | No public position | Private insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsVoted · medium |
| Abortion | No public position | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestOfficial action · low |
| Guns | No single answer fits; see evidence | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightOfficial action · low |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium |
| Politicians trading stocks | No public position | No, ban it for members and their spousesVoted · medium |
| Term limits | No public position | Yes, strict limits, such as three House terms and two Senate termsOfficial action · medium |
| Mandatory minimums | No public position | Add or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingVoted · medium |
| Student loans | No public position | Cap borrowing, simplify repayment, and skip broad forgivenessVoted · medium |
| Birthright citizenship | No public position | No, end it for children of parents here illegally or temporarilyOfficial action · medium |
| E-Verify mandate | No public position | Require it for all employersVoted · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, and Congress should set a biological sex rule nationwideVoted · medium |
| DEI programs | No public position | Ban them and cut federal funds to schools and contractors that keep themOfficial action · medium |
| Aid to Israel | No public position | Keep full aid without new conditionsVoted · medium |
Ceretta Smith
DemocratGrovetown city councilwoman
Ceretta Smith is the Democratic nominee in Georgia's 12th District; she is a U.S. Army veteran who served nearly a decade as an Army medic and then worked 25 years as a federal employee and union leader with the American Federation of Government Employees2. She serves on the Grovetown city council2.
Where they stand 1 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign website says she wants to address the proliferation of guns with common-sense safety. (2026) source
No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Immigration, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.
Rick W. Allen
Republican · IncumbentU.S. Representative, Georgia District 12
Rick Allen is the Republican nominee and incumbent in Georgia's 12th District; he has served in the U.S. House since January 20151. He is a retired builder who founded a construction company in Augusta in 1976 and serves on the House Energy and Commerce and Education and Workforce committees1.
Where they stand 25 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Income taxesCut taxes across the board, including for top earners and corporationshigh
Said · high confidence- Voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which set a 15% minimum tax on large corporations to help pay for energy and health programs. (2022-08-12) source
- Cosponsored the Death Tax Repeal Act, which would repeal the estate and gift tax. (2025-02-13) source
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made the 2017 individual tax cuts permanent, including the 37% top rate, and extended business tax breaks. (2025-07-03) source
- His official website says the 2017 tax law doubled the standard deduction and lowered both individual and corporate rates, and he calls it relief for families and job creators. (2026) source
Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsmedium
Voted · medium confidenceHealthcarePrivate insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsmedium
Voted · medium confidenceImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted against the American Dream and Promise Act, which offered a path to citizenship for Dreamers. (2021-03-18) source
- Voted against the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which offered legal status to long-time farmworkers. (2021-03-18) source
- Voted for the Secure the Border Act, which funded border wall construction, tightened asylum rules and required E-Verify. (2023-05-11) source
- Voted for the Secure America Act, which provides about $70 billion for immigration enforcement and border security through 2029. (2026-06-09) source
Politicians trading stocksNo, ban it for members and their spousesmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the Stop Insider Trading Act, which bars members of Congress, their spouses and dependents from buying new individual stocks. (2026-07-22) source
Term limitsYes, strict limits, such as three House terms and two Senate termsmedium
Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the HALT Fentanyl Act, which permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I and applies mandatory minimum sentences to trafficking them. (2023-05-25) source
- Voted for the HALT Fentanyl Act, which permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I and applies mandatory minimum sentences to trafficking them. (2025-06-12) source
Student loansCap borrowing, simplify repayment, and skip broad forgivenessmedium
Birthright citizenshipNo, end it for children of parents here illegally or temporarilymedium
Official action · medium confidence- Cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2023, which would limit automatic citizenship for children of parents here illegally or temporarily. (2023-12-06) source
E-Verify mandateRequire it for all employersmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the Secure the Border Act, which would require all employers to use E-Verify. (2023-05-11) source
Transgender athletesNo, and Congress should set a biological sex rule nationwidemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a federal rule basing girls' and women's school sports eligibility on sex at birth. (2023-04-20) source
- Cosponsored the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), a federal rule based on sex at birth. (2025-01-13) source
- Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a federal rule basing girls' and women's school sports eligibility on sex at birth. (2025-01-14) source
DEI programsBan them and cut federal funds to schools and contractors that keep themmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Cosponsored the Dismantle DEI Act, which would end federal DEI offices and cut funds to institutions that keep them. (2026-03-16) source
Aid to IsraelKeep full aid without new conditionsmedium
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Official action · low confidence- Voted against the Women's Health Protection Act, which would protect abortion access nationwide before viability. (2021-09-24) source
- Voted against the Women's Health Protection Act of 2022, which would protect abortion access nationwide before viability. (2022-07-15) source
- Cosponsored the Life at Conception Act (H.R. 431) in the 118th Congress. (2023-01-20) source
- Cosponsored the Life at Conception Act (H.R. 722) in the 119th Congress. (2025-01-24) source
- Cosponsored the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act. (2025-04-07) source
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightlow
National debtNo single answer fitslow
Official action · low confidence- Cosponsored H.J.Res. 12 in the 118th Congress, a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. (2023-01-12) source
Energy and climateNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidenceMarijuanaNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against the MORE Act, which would legalize marijuana federally and clear past convictions. (2022-04-01) source
RedistrictingNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against the For the People Act, which would require independent redistricting commissions. (2021-03-03) source
Campaign financeNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against the For the People Act, which created public matching funds for campaigns and stricter donor disclosure. (2021-03-03) source
Qualified immunityNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would end qualified immunity for police officers. (2021-03-03) source
Drug pricesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would cap insulin costs at $35 a month. (2022-03-31) source
Childcare and pre-KNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against the Build Back Better Act, which funded free universal pre-K and expanded childcare aid. (2021-11-19) source
Paid leaveNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted against the Build Back Better Act, which created a national paid family and medical leave program. (2021-11-19) source
Aid to UkraineNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence
No public position found on: Social Security, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.