ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - With early voting nearing its end, Democratic state Senate candidate for District 12, Edward Brown, is urging Southwest Georgians to cast a ballot.

He said his campaign is centered on rebuilding the region’s economy through a proposed state-backed economic development bank.

Brown made his case during an in-studio interview, and repeatedly framed low voter turnout as a key challenge for Southwest Georgia.

“Whether you vote for me or not, get out and vote,” Brown said.

Brown is looking to replace former Senator Freddie Powell Sims. He is competing against Corey Morgan and Tracy Taylor.

>> Three candidates race for Georgia Senate District 12 seat after Powell Sims’ resignation <<

Endorsement and background

Brown recently received an endorsement from former state Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, which he called a “huge endorsement.” He said he is a “Christian son of Southwest Georgia” who views the region as family and has a career rooted in economic policy.

Brown said he graduated from Deerfield-Windsor and later worked as an economist in Washington, including in the Obama administration’s Council of Economic Advisers and at the U.S. Department of Labor.

He also pointed to his time at the American Enterprise Institute’s Open-Source Policy Center, where he said he worked on tools used to estimate the budget effects of proposed policies for members of Congress.

You can watch the full interview with Edward Brown below:

Proposal: A Georgia economic development bank

Brown said one of his first legislative priorities would be creating a Georgia economic development bank that could finance infrastructure and revitalization projects in rural communities.

He argued Southwest Georgia has faced decades of underinvestment and said the state should use part of Georgia’s surplus reserves to provide low-interest loans and grants for projects that local governments struggle to fund.

Brown cited the state’s surplus reserve account, which he said totals $15 billion.

Brown outlines five-bill agenda

Brown listed what he described as a five-bill agenda he would pursue if elected:

• Expand Medicaid.
• Create an economic development bank.
• Recalibrate Georgia’s school funding formula to account for poverty.
• Provide tax credits to new farmers.
• Create a “HOPE Plus” program to offer room-and-board vouchers for students with financial need.

Education: Teacher shortage, vouchers and school funding

When asked about education concerns in South Georgia, including teacher shortages and achievement gaps, Brown criticized private school vouchers and said public money should not be used for private schools.

Brown said he supports increasing resources for school districts to fill vacancies and retain “talented teachers,” saying districts need more money to compete.

He argued the state should raise additional revenue by returning to a graduated income tax system rather than the current flat tax structure.

Data centers, solar and agriculture

In response to a viewer-submitted question about data centers, Brown said he is not supportive of bringing them to the district, citing concerns about water use and strain on the electrical grid.

Brown said he supports solar farms playing a larger role in Georgia’s energy mix.

On agriculture, Brown said the average Georgia farmer is 61 years old and said he wants greater access to agricultural education in public schools to build the future workforce.

Health care: Medicaid expansion and rural access

Brown said expanding Medicaid is his top health care priority, calling it a cost-effective approach to cover more Georgians.

On rural hospital closures and declining access, Brown acknowledged population declines make it difficult for some communities to support full-service hospitals. He said he would push for “mobile clinics” and “health-in-a-box” sites — described as fitted trailers where patients could connect with providers through telehealth — as an immediate option.

Brown said funding would require participation from multiple parties, including health systems and state grants.

Housing: Increasing supply, limiting investor purchases

Addressing affordable and workforce housing, Brown said Georgia faces an 8% housing shortage and argued local rules have contributed to the construction of larger homes.

He said he would support statewide minimum lot-size requirements to allow builders to create smaller, more affordable homes.

Brown also criticized private equity and investment firms buying up homes and raising rents, and said he would support legislation limiting how many units a single entity can purchase.

On homelessness, Brown said he supports a “housing-first” approach, along with more shelters and increased funding for existing shelters.

Redistricting

Brown said he believes redistricting could negatively affect Southwest Georgia, particularly if lines change in ways that alter political representation.

Brown pointed to the congressional district represented by U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, saying it is “on the hot seat” for redistricting.

“They’re going to try to divide it up so that it can be two districts that are Republican controlled,” Brown said.

Brown called the effort “the suppression of Black voices” and said Republicans may argue the move is meant to make maps fair.

“No,” Brown said. “It is anti-democratic, it is un-American, but it’s downright racist is what it is.”

He said the community should “fight back in whatever manner we can to ensure that Black voices are still heard here in Southwest Georgia.”

“And this election matters,” Brown said.

Closing message

In closing remarks, Brown said voters should support him because he believes he is the “most qualified,” has published a detailed platform, and says his proposals focus on “lifting people up.”

He ended with another appeal for participation.

“If you’re registered to vote, go out and vote,” Brown said. “Democracy thrives when everybody participates.”

WALB reached out to Corey Morgan and Tracy Taylor for similar interview opportunities. Taylor is scheduled for an interview on Friday.

Morgan said, in-part, “My schedule is fully committed to in-person voter engagement during these final days of the campaign.”

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.