Candidate briefing
Mathewos Samson grew up in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, the son of parents who came to Atlanta in the 1980s after being displaced by conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. A software integration engineer and Democratic Socialist, he is running for the open House District 58 seat that Rep. Park Cannon is leaving. The district takes in the Old Fourth Ward, Downtown, the Atlanta University Center, the West End, Adams Park and parts of Ben Hill.
In the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary, Samson finished second in a four-way field with 29.4% of the vote. He then won the June 16 runoff over Demetria Henderson, 66.3% to 33.7%. On November 3 he faces Republican Torrey Balam, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.
Samson’s platform centers on housing, including legalizing rent control, a Tenants Bill of Rights and ending corporate ownership of single-family homes, along with the Georgia Medicare for All Act and a $20 minimum wage. His campaign refuses corporate PAC money. Our Revolution endorsed him on October 14, 2026.