Georgia — 12th District

Ceretta Smith

Supports lowering costs and fair wages

Smith focuses on economic policies that build from the middle out, aiming to lower prices on everyday necessities and ensure fair pay for workers. She emphasizes protecting Social Security and Medicare while expanding opportunities for small businesses and family farmers.

• Tackle rising prices on food, utilities, and transportation
• Protect Social Security and Medicare benefits from cuts
• Support fair wages and union protections for working families

“The heart of our campaign is economic opportunity—creating good-paying jobs, lowering costs, supporting small businesses and family farmers, and protecting Social Security and Medicare so hardworking Georgians can thrive from paycheck to retirement.”

Rick Allen

Supports spending cuts and tax reduction

Allen advocates for controlling federal spending, enacting a Balanced Budget Amendment, and reducing government intervention to drive economic growth. He regularly votes for budget reconciliation and debt limit measures aimed at curbing federal expenditures.

• Pushed for a Balanced Budget Amendment to eliminate federal deficit spending
• Signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge opposing tax increases
• Voted for the 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) and the Limit, Save, Grow Act (H.R. 2811)

“Washington does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem.”

Ceretta Smith

Supports expanding affordable healthcare access

Smith advocates for affordable, dependable healthcare for all Georgians, emphasizing the protection of rural clinics and emergency services. She supports lowering out-of-pocket costs and expanding mental health and senior care services.

• Expand coverage options and lower out-of-pocket care costs
• Strengthen local health clinics and emergency services in rural communities
• Expand mental health counseling and crisis support services

“Healthcare shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code, your income, or whether you can afford to miss work.”

Rick Allen

Opposes Obamacare and supports market-based reforms

Allen supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with market-driven reforms that minimize government intervention. As a member of healthcare-related subcommittees, he opposes federal health mandates and bureaucratic oversight.

• Voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
• Advocates for market-driven health reforms rather than government programs
• Served on the House Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee

“I’ll immediately join the fight to repeal Obamacare and push for market-driven reforms rather than more big government solutions.”

Ceretta Smith

Supports public school funding and higher teacher pay

Smith emphasizes equitable funding for rural and low-income public schools alongside increased pay for educators. She champions expanded technical pathways, early childhood reading initiatives, and wraparound student support services.

• Protect and increase funding for public schools in rural and low-income areas
• Improve educator compensation and reduce class sizes
• Expand technical and dual-enrollment options for students

“Every child in GA-12 deserves a great public school.”

Rick Allen

Supports local control over education and restricting trans athletes

Allen serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, opposing federal one-size-fits-all mandates. He advocates for empowering local parents and school boards while supporting federal restrictions on transgender participation in female sports.

• Serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
• Opposes federal mandates in favor of local control by parents and school officials
• Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28)

“I will fight to restore as much local control as possible so that parents – not Washington politicians – are deciding the future of our children.”

Ceretta Smith

Supports voting rights protection and term limits

Smith prioritizes protecting democratic institutions, expanding voting access, and placing a three-term limit on members of Congress. She views the restoration of trust in government and civil discourse as a core national challenge.

• Proposes congressional term limits capped at no more than three terms
• Supports protecting civil rights and expanding access to free and fair elections
• Advocates for restoring public trust in democratic institutions

“I believe in term limits because public service should be about progress, not permanence.”

Rick Allen

Supports proof-of-citizenship voter laws and term limits

Allen supports stricter voting eligibility verification and signed a national term-limits pledge. He voted against certifying the 2020 electoral votes for Arizona and Pennsylvania and backed federal legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship for election registration.

• Voted against certifying the 2020 presidential electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania
• Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring proof of citizenship for voting registration
• Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge

Ceretta Smith

Supports common-sense gun safety regulations

Smith advocates for addressing gun violence through common-sense safety legislation and gun proliferation controls. She connects gun policy to community safety, mental health services, and youth support programs.

• Reduce gun violence through common-sense safety legislation
• Address the proliferation of firearms in local communities
• Combine safety measures with expanded youth and mental health services

“Reduce gun violence: address the proliferation of guns with common-sense safety.”

Rick Allen

Opposes gun regulations and defends Second Amendment

Allen is a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association and opposes new federal gun control regulations. He views the Second Amendment as a fundamental constitutional right requiring continuous defense.

• Lifelong member of the National Rifle Association (NRA)
• Pledges to oppose federal restrictions on gun ownership and bear arms rights

“The ‘Right to Bear Arms’ is one of the most fundamental and important rights in the Constitution and needs to be protected.”

Ceretta Smith

Supports expanding veteran healthcare and benefits

As a decade-long Army medic and veteran, Smith focuses on cutting bureaucratic red tape for veterans accessing benefits. She advocates for robust mental health counseling, career transition incentives, and support for military families and caregivers.

• Cut red tape to improve veteran access to earned benefits and healthcare services
• Expand mental health programs and transition assistance for returning service members
• Provide support for military spouses and caregivers

“As a veteran, Ceretta understands service — and the challenges veterans face when returning home.”

Rick Allen

Supports military funding and VA appropriations

Allen supports funding the U.S. military and backing appropriations for veterans' programs through federal budget legislation. He routinely votes for the National Defense Authorization Act and military construction bills.

• Voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670)
• Voted for the FY2026 Continuing Appropriations Act covering Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (H.R. 5371)

“We must provide our troops with the necessary funding to do their jobs and protect the lives of our citizens and allies.”

Ceretta Smith

Supports family farmers and rural development

Smith advocates for federal policies that support family farmers and strengthen local rural economies across Georgia's 12th District. She supports pairing agriculture investments with infrastructure improvements like rural broadband and healthcare.

• Support family farmers and strengthen local agricultural economies
• Invest in rural infrastructure, healthcare, and high-speed broadband

“supporting workers, small businesses, and family farmers”

Rick Allen

Supports reducing agricultural regulations

As the son of a farmer and former member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Allen supports protecting agricultural interests from federal regulatory oversight. He pledges to push for Farm Bills that promote free enterprise without overburdening producers.

• Former member of the House Committee on Agriculture
• Advocates for a fair Farm Bill that reduces regulatory burdens on farmers

“As the son of a farmer, I will fight to ensure our farmers have a voice in Washington and aren’t constrained by big government and countless regulations.”

Rick Allen

Supports strict border enforcement and deportation rules

Allen consistently votes for stringent border security measures, mandatory E-Verify, and stricter deportation mandates for non-citizens who commit offenses. He supports empowering states to enforce immigration standards and sue federal authorities over border policy enforcement.

• Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring detention of non-citizens arrested for theft or burglary
• Voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2)
• Voted for H.R. 875 to make driving while impaired grounds for deportation

Rick Allen

Supports domestic oil drilling and energy deregulation

Allen advocates for maximizing domestic fossil fuel production to lower energy costs and ensure national security. He serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, supporting reduced permitting requirements for pipelines and critical minerals.

• Vice Chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee and member of the Energy Subcommittee
• Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1)
• Pushes for substantial increases in offshore and domestic oil drilling

“Now, with instability in the Middle East and an increasing threat from rogue nations like Iran, the harnessing of American energy is more important than ever before.”

Ceretta Smith

Supports affordable housing and first-time buyers

Smith prioritizes increasing affordable housing units and protecting renters from displacement. She advocates for creating dedicated pathways to homeownership for first-time buyers and pairing job creation with residential availability.

• Create real pathways to homeownership for first-time buyers
• Preserve and construct affordable housing units to prevent displacement
• Protect renters' rights and align housing development with local job growth

“A fair shot at homeownership and good jobs should be within reach.”