Josh McLaurin

Josh McLaurin
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the Georgia State Senate
from the 14th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byBruce Thompson
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the 51st district
In office
January 14, 2019 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byWendell Willard
Succeeded byEsther Panitch
Personal details
BornJoshua Ivan McLaurin
(1988-01-17) January 17, 1988
Cobb County, Georgia, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Georgia (AB, MPA)
Yale University (JD)
WebsiteState House website
Campaign website

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.

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]

References

  1. 1 2 Evans, Nick (April 19, 2022). "Vance wondered whether Trump was 'America's Hitler,' says former roommate sharing screenshot". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ Slattery, Gram; Coster, Helen (July 15, 2024). "J.D. Vance once compared Trump to Hitler. Now they are running mates". Reuters. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  3. ↑ Dunlap, Stanley (May 5, 2025). "Georgia state Sen. Josh McLaurin enters race for lieutenant governor • Georgia Recorder". Georgia Recorder. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Georgia Lieutenant Governor Runoff Election Live Results 2026". AP News. June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
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