--- title: "Harden vs. Cowan: 2026 Georgia’s 11th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ga-11" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Georgia’s 11th District race: Chris Harden (D) vs. John Cowan (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 Georgia's 11th Congressional District election features Democratic attorney Chris Harden facing Republican neurosurgeon John Cowan in an open seat following the retirement of incumbent Republican Barry Loudermilk. The race hinges on differing approaches to economic pressure and government accountability, with Cowan emphasizing fiscal restraint and term limits while Harden focuses on expanding healthcare access and supporting public education. ## Candidates - **Chris Harden** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://chrishardenforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Harden) - **John Cowan** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://cowanforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) ## Issues ### Cost of living and economy Salience: high Cowan seeks to address inflation through spending cuts, tax reductions, and deregulation, whereas Harden focuses on direct relief for household expenses and targeted small business investments. **Chris Harden:** Lowers costs and supports small businesses Harden focuses on relief for working families facing rising costs in housing, healthcare, groceries, and childcare. He advocates expanding capital access for small businesses and removing barriers for local entrepreneurs. - Support policies that lower everyday household expenses - Expand access to capital for local entrepreneurs and small businesses - Promote an economy that rewards hard work and fiscal accountability > “Families across Georgia’s 11th District are feeling the strain of rising costs. From housing and healthcare to groceries and childcare, too many hardworking people are finding it harder to get ahead.” > — Chris Harden, via [Campaign site](https://chrishardenforcongress.com/) **John Cowan:** Cuts spending and deregulates business Cowan advocates curbing inflation by drastically cutting federal spending, slashing taxes, and eliminating government regulations. He also emphasizes unleashing domestic energy production to reduce household costs. - Reins in federal spending to combat national debt and inflation - Slashes taxes for families and businesses - Unleashes domestic energy production and ends burdensome regulations > “Families are getting crushed by the cost of living. We have to cut federal spending, slash taxes, unleash American energy, and end burdensome regulations.” > — John Cowan, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) ### Healthcare Salience: high Cowan calls for reducing federal oversight to empower patients and physicians, while Harden seeks to expand federal health coverage programs and lower drug costs. **Chris Harden:** Expands access and protects programs Harden views healthcare as a fundamental necessity and advocates for lowering prescription drug and medical costs. He supports strengthening Medicare and Medicaid and protecting healthcare access in rural areas. - Lower healthcare and prescription drug costs - Protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid coverage - Expand healthcare access in rural and underserved communities > “Healthcare should not be a luxury item — it’s a necessity.” > — Chris Harden, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Harden) **John Cowan:** Empowers patients over government regulation Cowan leverages his experience as a physician to advocate for removing government intervention from medicine. He aims to reform the system by placing medical choices directly back into the hands of patients and doctors. - Reduce federal government involvement in medical decision-making - Empower patients and doctors to manage healthcare choices directly - Reform the healthcare system using a doctor's practical perspective > “As a physician, I've always put patients first. It's time Washington did the same by pushing the government out of the doctor’s office and putting patients back in charge of their care.” > — John Cowan, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) ### Government reform and ethics Salience: medium Cowan proposes structural changes like term limits and stock trading bans to overhaul Congress, whereas Harden emphasizes bipartisanship, common-sense stability, and due process protection. **Chris Harden:** Restores common sense and due process Harden emphasizes practical governance over partisan conflict and focuses on protecting constitutional due process rights. He advocates for transparent leadership that prioritizes problem-solving. - Focus on common-sense, balanced governance over political division - Protect constitutional Due Process Rights across the justice system - Ensure accountability, honesty, and empathy in elected leadership > “Chris believes that government should focus on practical, balanced solutions — not partisan fights.” > — Chris Harden, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Harden) > “I am deeply committed to protecting the Constitution and ensuring that every individual’s Due Process Rights are upheld.” > — Chris Harden, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Harden) **John Cowan:** Supports congressional term limits and stock bans Cowan positions himself as a political outsider committed to dismantling careerism in Washington. He advocates mandatory term limits for members of Congress and an absolute ban on congressional stock trading. - Enact mandatory term limits for all members of Congress - Implement a total ban on congressional stock trading - End insider privileges and government corruption > “I support term limits for every member of Congress, a total ban on congressional stock trading, and an end to the insider games that have turned public service into a career.” > — John Cowan, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) ### Education and workforce development Salience: medium **Chris Harden:** Supports public education and workforce training Harden prioritizes strengthening public schools by supporting teachers, engaging parents, and funding classroom resources. He also advocates expanding technical education, apprenticeships, and affordable higher education. - Retain and support public school teachers - Empower parents as active educational partners - Expand technical education, career apprenticeships, and workforce training > “A strong public education system is the foundation for opportunity and success.” > — Chris Harden, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Harden) **John Cowan:** No documented position in our sources ### Abortion and reproductive rights Salience: medium **Chris Harden:** Protects abortion access and reproductive freedom Harden considers reproductive freedom a fundamental right and pledges to protect access to abortion care, contraception, and fertility treatments. He maintains that healthcare choices belong to patients and medical providers rather than politicians. - Protect access to abortion care and contraception - Safeguard fertility treatments and maternal healthcare - Prevent political interference in personal healthcare decisions > “He supports protecting access to contraception, fertility treatments, maternal healthcare, and abortion care, and believes these deeply personal decisions should remain between patients and their healthcare providers, not politicians.” > — Chris Harden, via [Campaign site](https://chrishardenforcongress.com/) **John Cowan:** No documented position in our sources ### Border security and immigration Salience: medium **Chris Harden:** No documented position in our sources **John Cowan:** Secures border and backs Trump enforcement Cowan makes border security a core pillar of his platform, calling for strict congressional support for President Trump's border enforcement policies. - Secure the U.S. southern border - Provide congressional backing for President Trump's border enforcement efforts > “President Trump is securing the border. Congress needs to back him up.” > — John Cowan, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) ### Infrastructure and environment Salience: medium **Chris Harden:** Invests in infrastructure and clean environment Harden supports modernizing local infrastructure, including roads, broadband, and water systems, to handle regional growth. He also advocates protecting clean air and water through responsible economic growth. - Improve roads and reduce traffic congestion - Expand broadband access and modernize water systems - Protect clean air and water while fostering sustainable growth > “Chris supports clean air, clean water, responsible growth, and investments that protect public health while creating economic opportunity.” > — Chris Harden, via [Campaign site](https://chrishardenforcongress.com/) **John Cowan:** No documented position in our sources ### Voting and election security Salience: low **Chris Harden:** No documented position in our sources **John Cowan:** Mandates nationwide Voter ID requirements Cowan advocates for federal election integrity legislation, specifically supporting nationwide mandatory Voter ID to prevent election fraud. - Enact mandatory nationwide Voter ID legislation - Strengthen federal and state election security safeguards > “And we need nationwide Voter ID — make it easy to vote and impossible to cheat.” > — John Cowan, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Cowan) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/ga-11-house-election-winner) — GA-11 House Election Winner: Republicans 95.7%, Democrats 3.5% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-GA11-26) — GA-11 House winner?: John Cowan 95.4%, Chris Harden 4.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ga-11)