Jim
Kingston
Jim Kingston, Republican nominee for Georgia's 1st Congressional District in 2026, is a Savannah-area insurance professional and first-time candidate.
- sources
- 15
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 11
Background
Jim Kingston is a Republican candidate for U.S. Representative in Georgia's 1st Congressional District in the November 2026 election. He describes himself as "a son of Savannah" who grew up in Southeast Georgia, and his campaign biography says he built a career in the commercial insurance industry serving families, small businesses, and community leaders. 37
Kingston has no prior elected office; when he entered the race in June 2025, reporting noted it was his first candidacy. He previously worked on his father's 2014 U.S. Senate campaign. He attended St. Andrew's School on Wilmington Island, graduating in 2009, and later attended the University of Georgia studying economics, but did not earn a degree, a fact confirmed by UGA's registrar and acknowledged by his campaign manager in May 2026. 716
Kingston won the Republican primary for the open seat vacated by incumbent Rep. Buddy Carter, who ran for U.S. Senate. He received an endorsement from President Trump ahead of the primary. 111617 He faces Democrat Hollowell in the November 3, 2026 general election. 6
His campaign raised $500,000 in its opening fundraising haul when it launched in mid-2025, and he describes himself as a "Lifelong conservative Republican" and "America First" candidate. 151719
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 1, Georgia
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- jimkingstonforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 9newsKingston outlines tax relief, balanced-budget priorities in WJCL interview
Kingston emphasized tax relief and a balanced-budget amendment, saying 'we got to give our citizens tax relief.' He also claimed endorsements from more than 80 elected officials and said he would work with 'anybody who wants to put Georgia first.'
Georgia's 1st Congressional District candidates outline ... · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7newsKingston urges Republicans to organize at Wilmington Island luncheon
Speaking at a Chatham Area Republican Women luncheon, Kingston told local Republicans to expect a competitive election and urged voter turnout. He did not take reporters' questions or mention Hollowell at the event, per WJCL.
Three GOP candidates address voters on Wilmington Island · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6debateStill no debate agreement between Kingston and Hollowell as of October 6
The Current reported on October 6 that there was still no agreement on a debate between Kingston and Hollowell, with no date scheduled.
Where to See Candidates - The Current GA · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 3newsKingston reaffirms himself as a 'foot soldier' for Trump
The Current reported Kingston described himself as a 'foot soldier' for Trump after the September 30 roundtable. The report also noted a change in the prominence of Trump's endorsement on Kingston's campaign website, though Kingston continued publicly aligning with the president. FEC figures showed Kingston raised ~$1.94M with $294,093 cash on hand as of June 30.
Kingston stays the Trump course - The Current GA · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsKingston hosts business roundtable with Gov. Kemp in Savannah
U.S. House candidate Jim Kingston hosted a business roundtable alongside Gov. Brian Kemp in Savannah, per Yahoo News/WJCL reporting dated October 1.
U.S. House candidate Jim Kingston hosts business roundtable with ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1debateKingston says he is 'happy to' debate; no date announced
WJCL reported both candidates expressed willingness to debate, but no date had been announced as of October 1.
Kemp campaigns for Kingston in Savannah ahead of midterms - WJCL · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsGov. Kemp joins Kingston at Savannah business roundtable
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp joined Kingston for a roundtable with Savannah business owners. Kingston said supporting Trump's agenda in Congress would address cost-of-living challenges.
Kemp campaigns for Kingston in Savannah ahead of midterms - WJCL · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 15debateHollowell says Kingston's campaign rejected proposed October 6 debate forum
Hollowell told The Current that Kingston's campaign had rejected a proposed October 6 WSAV forum and had not offered an alternative date. No debate had been scheduled.
Chatham Elections Supervisor Resigns, Campaigns Rev Up · Sep 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - May 19newsKingston wins Republican primary with 52.4%, avoiding runoff
Kingston received 37,025 votes (52.4%) in a six-candidate Republican primary, securing the nomination outright. He will face Democrat Amanda Hollowell on November 3.
Jim Kingston | Biography & Record — The Conservative Ledger · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Apr 14endorsementPresident Trump endorses Jim Kingston for GA-01
President Donald Trump endorsed Jim Kingston in the GA-01 race. The endorsement was also reported by The Conservative Ledger.
Jim Kingston | Biography & Record — The Conservative Ledger · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Mar 31endorsementClub for Growth PAC endorses Jim Kingston
The Club for Growth PAC endorsed Jim Kingston in the GA-01 Republican primary race, as reported by The Conservative Ledger.
Jim Kingston | Biography & Record — The Conservative Ledger · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Rep. Steve Scalise officialListed as an endorser in iVoterGuide's Kingston profile; no endorsement date was given. ivoterguide.com
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce organizationThe U.S. Chamber announcement quotes Georgia Chamber President and CEO Chris Clark expressing support for Kingston's campaign. uschamber.com
- House Speaker Mike Johnson officialJohnson endorsed Kingston in a post following Trump's, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ajc.com
- Turning Point Action organizationListed as an endorser in iVoterGuide's Kingston profile; no date was provided. ivoterguide.com
- Rep. Jim Jordan officialJordan endorsed Kingston and traveled to Savannah to campaign for him, as reported by The Current. thecurrentga.org
- NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) organizationKingston appears on the NRA-PVF's Georgia candidate page with a grade listed; no endorsement date specified. nrapvf.org
- Rep. Tom Emmer officialEmmer endorsed Kingston, as reported by The Current. thecurrentga.org
- Sen. Ted Cruz officialCruz endorsed Kingston, as reported by The Current. thecurrentga.org
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce organizationThe Chamber announced its endorsement and said it looked forward to working with Kingston in the next Congress. uschamber.com · May 15, 2026
- President Donald Trump officialTrump endorsed Kingston in a Truth Social post, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ajc.com · Apr 14, 2026
- Club for Growth PAC organizationThe organization said Kingston was first endorsed on March 31, 2026. clubforgrowth.org · Mar 31, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $1.94M
- Spent
- $1.65M
- Cash on hand
- $294K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6GA01109(opens in a new tab)
Sources 15
- [1] Georgia's 1st Congressional District candidates outline ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] James "Jim" Kingston - Candidate Profile - iVoterGuide(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Three GOP candidates address voters on Wilmington Island(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [4] Where to See Candidates - The Current GA(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [5] Kingston stays the Trump course - The Current GA(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [6] Grades | Georgia - NRA-PVF(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [7] the good fight's not over. - Jim Kingston for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [8] Kemp campaigns for Kingston in Savannah ahead of midterms - WJCL(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [9] U.S. House candidate Jim Kingston hosts business roundtable with ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [10] Jim Kingston | Biography & Record — The Conservative Ledger(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [11] Chatham Elections Supervisor Resigns, Campaigns Rev Up(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [12] Club for Growth PAC Congratulates Jim Kingston on GA-01 ...(opens in a new tab) May 20, 2026
- [13] U.S. Chamber Endorses Candidate Jim Kingston for Georgia's 1st ...(opens in a new tab) May 15, 2026
- [14] thecurrentga.org · 2026/05/11 · kingston-campaignKingston campaign gets Trump nod amid questions about ties to ...(opens in a new tab) May 11, 2026
- [15] Trump endorses Republican front-runners in Georgia races for U.S. House(opens in a new tab) Apr 15, 2026