Elbert
Arthur Bartell
Independent write-in candidate Elbert "Al" Bartell is seeking Georgia's U.S. Senate seat in November 2026.
- sources
- 6
- positions
- 6
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Elbert Arthur "Al" Bartell is an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in Georgia in the November 3, 2026 election, running as a qualified write-in candidate. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, and grew up on farmland in Pamplico, South Carolina. He served eight years in the U.S. Air Force, including overseas assignments in air-base ground defense and conflict resolution, and later conducted violence-prevention work in Washington, D.C., in the 1980s and community-based capacity-building work in the 1990s. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration management from Saint Leo University and completed postgraduate research in public-policy management at Clark Atlanta University. 3
Bartell has been active in Georgia public-policy and planning initiatives, particularly in transportation and public engagement, and describes himself as a public-policy leader and mediator. 3 He has been a recurring independent candidate for various offices, including Georgia State Senator, Public Service Commissioner, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. Senator, Governor, Atlanta City Council President, and Mayor of Atlanta, with candidacies dating back to the early 1990s and as recently as 2017 for some offices. He also qualified for the 2020 U.S. Senate special election and ran for governor in 2022. 3 The FEC classifies him as an independent challenger for the Georgia U.S. Senate seat. 4
At a glance
- Party
- Independent
- Running for
- U.S. Senate, Georgia
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- bartellforsenate.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 6newsAthens Politics Nerd voter guide identifies Bartell as a valid write-in candidate in Georgia U.S. Senate race
The Athens Politics Nerd general-election voter guide described Elbert Arthur Bartell as a valid write-in candidate for the Georgia U.S. Senate race. No further candidate-specific details such as endorsements, polling, or fundraising were included.
2026 General Election Voter Guide · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25filingElbert Arthur Bartell listed as certified write-in candidate for Georgia U.S. Senate race
A Marietta Daily Journal ballot roundup reported that the Secretary of State's office released certified write-in candidates, listing Elbert Arthur Bartell for U.S. Senate alongside Christina Clement and Cassandra Easton. The article noted these names will not appear on ballots but may be written in. No party affiliation, campaign details, or filing date were provided.
Page A6 · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24filingGeorgia Secretary of State publishes official certified write-in candidate list for Nov. 3 election
Gordon County's election-information page noted that the Georgia Secretary of State's Elections Division had published the official list of certified write-in candidates for the November 3, 2026 general election.
November 3 2026 General Election Information · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $0
Reporting date not available. ↳ FEC record S6GA00317(opens in a new tab)
Sources 6
- [1] 2026 General Election Voter Guide(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [2] Exclusive Interview With Al Bartell: A Bold Response To ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [3] Page A6(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
- [4] Bartell for Senate(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [5] November 3 2026 General Election Information(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [6] Al Bartell Biography | Independent Candidate for U.S. Senate(opens in a new tab) Sep 3, 2026