BREAKING NEWS: 2022 Democratic Primary Nominee, Shelia Edwards, Announces Candidacy for Public Service Commission

2022 Democratic Primary Nominee Running for District 5 Seat

Atlanta, GA — Shelia Edwards, the 2022 Democratic nominee for the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), officially announced her candidacy today, aiming to win the critical third seat that would deliver a Democratic majority for the first time in years. Edwards enters the race at a pivotal moment, as Georgia families face record-high electricity bills and repeated utility rate hikes, while monopoly utilities continue posting record profits.

Edwards enters the contest at a pivotal moment for Georgia ratepayers. As families struggle with rising costs, seniors face impossible trade-offs, and veterans and working households fight to keep up, repeated utility rate hikes have pushed electricity bills to record highs—while monopoly utilities report record profits. Edwards is running on a platform centered on affordability, accountability, and consumer protection, pledging to put Georgia families ahead of corporate interests.

“For too long, the Public Service Commission has worked for monopoly utilities instead of the people it was created to protect,” Edwards said. “Georgians deserve a commission that fights for fair rates, transparency, and real oversight. I’m running to restore balance and bring the PSC back to its core mission—serving the public.”

This election is unlike any other. With two Democrats already elected to the Commission, Edwards’ race will determine whether Georgia secures a majority willing to stand up to Georgia Power, protect consumers, reject endless rate hikes, and accelerate the clean energy transition—or whether unchecked increases and corporate favoritism continue.

“I am the only candidate in this race with experience running—and winning—a competitive Democratic PSC primary in Georgia,” Edwards said. “In 2022, I won a competitive three-way primary outright with no runoff, and I carried every county in the state. I know how to build a winning coalition, compete statewide, and secure this critically important third seat. Georgians deserve utility bill affordability, real data center accountability, and bold action to address the climate crisis—and I am ready to deliver.”

Due to a court ruling challenging how PSC seats were elected statewide, Edwards and fellow Democratic nominee Patty Durand, who had both won their primaries, were barred from advancing to the general election. Despite that setback, Edwards demonstrated her statewide appeal in 2022, spent the interim supporting and electing Democratic candidates across Georgia, and now returns to run for the critical third seat—aiming to secure a Democratic majority and put Georgia families ahead of corporate interests.

The seat is currently held by outgoing Commissioner Trisha Pridemore, who has served for seven years and consistently supported utility rate increases. Between 2022 and 2024, Pridemore voted six times to raise rates—driving electricity bills up by nearly 40 percent. While many Georgians struggled to keep the lights on, Georgia Power posted record profits enabled by those votes.

Pridemore may be leaving, but Edwards argues that ratepayers do not need “Pridemore 2.0.” They need leadership that will finally stand up for consumers. Edwards brings a record of leadership, advocacy, and proven campaign success, including a prior PSC candidacy and senior roles within Georgia’s Democratic infrastructure. Her work has focused on protecting working families, advancing housing affordability, strengthening consumer protections, and fighting for environmental justice.

With powerful utility interests expected to spend heavily to block a Democratic majority, the midterm race is projected to be crowded and competitive. Edwards’ campaign is betting that experience, credibility, and the ability to mobilize voters statewide will make the difference.

“This race is about more than one seat,” Edwards said. “It’s about who controls decisions that affect every household in Georgia. If we win this third seat, everything changes. The era of rubber-stamping rate hikes will end, and Georgians will finally have a commissioner who puts people before profits.”

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