Clean Energy Advocate to Face GOP Incumbent Fitz Johnson in November

Clean energy advocate Peter Hubbard clinched the Democratic nomination for Georgia’s Public Service Commission (PSC) District 3 seat Tuesday night, defeating former state representative and Atlanta City Councilwoman Keisha Sean Waites in a closely watched runoff election.

“I am grateful to be nominated the Democratic PSC candidate for District 3,” Hubbard said in a statement. “The PSC general election this Nov. 4 matters to all Georgians because power bills are skyrocketing, no one is holding the current Republican PSC accountable, and voters have the power to change that.”

The PSC plays a critical role in regulating utilities, including Georgia Power, and directly influences how much Georgians pay for electricity and other energy services. With energy costs rising, this year’s race has drawn increased scrutiny from advocates and voters alike.

Hubbard’s decisive runoff victory, powered by strong turnout in Fulton and DeKalb counties, sets the stage for a high-stakes general election against Republican incumbent Commissioner Fitz Johnson this November.

Johnson, who was appointed to the District 3 seat in 2021 by Governor Brian Kemp, has never faced voters for the position. A series of legal challenges and election delays stemming from a federal lawsuit have allowed him to remain in office without a public mandate—a fact that has drawn sharp criticism from voting rights advocates and Democratic challengers alike. Throughout his tenure, Johnson has consistently voted with his Republican colleagues on the PSC to approve rate increases for Georgia Power customers. Advocacy groups have vowed to hold him accountable for those votes in the upcoming election.

Waites, a well-known public servant, finished first in the initial June primary, earning 47% of the vote. But Hubbard successfully turned the tide in the runoff, gaining over 18,000 more votes than Waites in Tuesday’s election. Fulton and DeKalb counties, part of the District 3 map along with Clayton County, proved key to his victory, where he built sizable leads that proved insurmountable. Despite the loss, Waites pledged her support for Hubbard and the Democratic ticket moving forward.

“We will support the Democratic nominee Peter Hubbard and work tirelessly to ensure a victory in the general election this November,” Waites said in a statement Tuesday night. “Our focus now shifts to uniting behind a shared vision for a Public Service Commission that truly serves the public.”

Hubbard’s campaign has centered on clean energy, consumer protection, and demanding accountability from the Public Service Commission for decisions that directly impact working families across Georgia. With the general election just months away, Democrats are uniting behind Hubbard in hopes of unseating Fitz Johnson—a staunch ally of utility companies who has consistently voted to raise costs for ratepayers.

District 3, which covers Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties, will be one of the most closely watched PSC races this cycle, as voters weigh rising utility bills, the future of clean energy, and the role of regulatory oversight in Georgia’s energy landscape.

The District 2 Public Service Commission seat will also appear on the November ballot. In that race, Democrat Alicia M. Johnson is challenging Republican incumbent Tim Echols. Echols has held the seat since 2011 and has been a vocal supporter of utility-friendly policies during his tenure, voting each time in support of rate increases.