Josh McLaurin
American politician (born 1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joshua Ivan McLaurin (born January 17, 1988) is a member of the Georgia State Senate in the state of Georgia. McLaurin represents the 14th district in the state Senate, a seat once held by 39th president of the United States Jimmy Carter. Before his election to the state Senate, McLaurin served two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives.
January 17, 1988
Josh McLaurin | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of the Georgia State Senate from the 14th district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Thompson |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 51st district | |
| In office January 14, 2019 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Wendell Willard |
| Succeeded by | Esther Panitch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joshua Ivan McLaurin January 17, 1988 Cobb County, Georgia, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Georgia (AB, MPA) Yale University (JD) |
| Website | State House website Campaign website |
Early life
McLaurin was born in Cobb County, Georgia, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for college. He then attended Yale Law School, where he briefly lived with author, future U.S. senator, and Vice President JD Vance.[1]
Political career
After winning the 2018 election for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, McLaurin succeeded 17-year incumbent Wendell Willard in District 51.
In 2022, following Donald Trump's endorsement of JD Vance for that year's Senate election in Ohio, McLaurin shared private text messages Vance had sent him during the 2016 United States presidential campaign positing that Trump could become "America's Hitler".[1] Vance was later elected and inaugurated as Vice President of the United States.[2]
In May 2025, McLaurin announced his candidacy for the 2026 Georgia lieutenant gubernatorial election.[3] McLaurin secured 41.4% of the vote in the May 19, 2026 Democratic Primary, triggering a runoff election. On June 16, 2026, McLaurin won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Georgia with 54.9% of the vote.[4]
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