Former DeKalb Lawmaker’s Guilty Plea Sets Stage for House Reset

ATLANTA, GA — The recent guilty plea of former state Rep. Karen Bennett has set off a rapid transition in Georgia House District 94, leaving voters in parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties preparing to choose new representation just weeks after her resignation took effect.Bennett, a Democrat from Stone Mountain, pleaded guilty Jan. 21 to making false statements in connection with a 2020 application for pandemic unemployment benefits. She resigned from the Georgia House effective Jan. 1, 2026, creating a vacancy that state officials moved quickly to fill.

According to court records, Bennett improperly collected $13,940 in unemployment benefits after claiming she was unable to work during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors said Bennett continued to earn income through administrative work for her physical therapy company, Metro Therapy, and also failed to disclose weekly income she received from a church while receiving benefits.

Rather than seeking jail time, prosecutors are asking that Bennett repay the funds with interest to the Georgia Department of Labor. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 15.

With the seat now vacant, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has called a special election for March 10. Qualifying for candidates will take place Jan. 26 through Jan. 28, with a $400 qualifying fee. Early voting will begin Feb. 16, and the voter registration deadline is Feb. 9.

House District 94 includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, communities that now face several weeks without representation in the General Assembly during an active legislative period. Local leaders and residents have expressed interest in ensuring continuity and restoring stability following a period of political uncertainty.

Bennett’s case also highlights a broader reckoning over pandemic-era unemployment fraud, particularly among public officials. She is the second Democratic lawmaker to face allegations related to COVID-19 unemployment benefits, following the December indictment of Rep. Sharon Henderson of Covington.

As voters prepare for the upcoming special election, attention is shifting away from the courtroom and toward the future — including who will step forward to represent District 94 and how the district will move beyond a moment that has disrupted trust and leadership.

If no candidate receives a majority of the vote on March 10, a runoff election will be held April 7.