Two first-time candidates looking to win state labor commissioner race

Payton Towns

The Courier Herald

Two first-time candidates are vying for the Georgia Department of Labor position, even though one is currently the incumbent. 

Republican Barbara Rivera Holmes was appointed to this position on March 18, 2025 by Gov. Brian Kemp. She served as president & CEO at Albany Area Chamber of Commerce before becoming the vice president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. She has also been an award-winning journalist. 

Democrat challenger Nikki Porcher has served in the United States Air Force and has had a career working as a school teacher and advocating for small businesses. 

Holmes faced no opposition in the Republican primary on May 19, 2026, receiving 775,173 votes.

Porcher received 200,734 (61.9 percent of the vote) against Michelle Sanchez, who picked up 123,306 (38.1 percent of the vote) during a runoff held on June 16. Porcher, who picked up 310,559 votes (30.8 percent), and Sanchez, who received 260,928 votes (25.9 percent) were the top two in the five-candidate field on May 19. Brett Hulme (199,859 votes for a 19.8 percent), Christian Wise Smith (136,390 votes for 13.5 percent) and Jason Moon (101,257 votes for a 10.0 percent) were the other candidates in the field. 

Holmes has gone on the record believing she has brought in results since taking over more than a year ago. She made it her mission to modernize the old systems. She has traveled the state to listen to people and talk with small business owners who are looking to find skilled workers as well as talk with different community leaders. Her goals are to expand dynamic workforce training partnerships for a strong workforce for the modern economy. She also wants to connect workers in the state with higher-wage, mortgage-paying jobs in order to help Georgia families and make their communities better.

Porcher says she will work for everyone in the state. She wants to see fair pay, workforce opportunity, support for small businesses, and systems that work for employees in Georgia. She believes everyone working in the state should have dignity and stability when it comes to their employment. 

Porcher has served in the military and as an educator and wants to continue helping people build stability through their employment. She has led a national nonprofit that has helped many small businesses across America and is running for labor commissioner as she strives to make sure that person works for everyone.

The labor commissioner heads up the Georgia Department of Labor, managing labor laws, the statewide workforce services and unemployment insurance. When it comes to unemployment insurance, the commissioner processes claims, pays eligible benefits, prevents fraud and resolves appeals. They also report labor market information, run career centers to help those seeking employment, enforce Georgia’s child labor provisions and make sure the necessary notices are seen by workers. The person in this position also does employer compliance.