Shea Roberts
Shea Roberts (Democratic Party) is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 52. She assumed office on January 11, 2021. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Roberts (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives to represent District 52. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Shea Roberts' career experience includes working as an attorney and owning a business. Roberts has served with the Agape Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Buckhead Christian Ministries.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Roberts was assigned to the following committees:
- Governmental Affairs Committee
- Judiciary - Non-Civil Committee
- State Planning and Community Affairs Committee
2021-2022
Roberts was assigned to the following committees:
- Governmental Affairs Committee
- House Science and Technology Committee
- State Planning and Community Affairs Committee
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Incumbent Shea Roberts defeated Robert McNeily in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shea Roberts (D) | 61.6 | 18,199 | |
| Robert McNeily (R) | 38.4 | 11,321 | ||
| Total votes: 29,520 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Incumbent Shea Roberts advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shea Roberts | 100.0 | 3,283 | |
| Total votes: 3,283 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Robert McNeily advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert McNeily | 100.0 | 1,340 | |
| Total votes: 1,340 | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Roberts in this election.
2022
See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Incumbent Shea Roberts defeated Wendy Ahrenkiel in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shea Roberts (D) | 60.5 | 14,089 | |
| Wendy Ahrenkiel (R) | 39.5 | 9,181 | ||
| Total votes: 23,270 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Incumbent Shea Roberts advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shea Roberts | 100.0 | 3,778 | |
| Total votes: 3,778 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Wendy Ahrenkiel advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Wendy Ahrenkiel | 100.0 | 3,914 | |
| Total votes: 3,914 | ||||
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2020
See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Shea Roberts defeated incumbent Deborah Silcox in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shea Roberts (D) | 50.6 | 17,069 | |
| Deborah Silcox (R) | 49.4 | 16,692 | ||
| Total votes: 33,761 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Shea Roberts advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shea Roberts | 100.0 | 7,382 | |
| Total votes: 7,382 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Incumbent Deborah Silcox advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Deborah Silcox | 100.0 | 4,071 | |
| Total votes: 4,071 | ||||
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2018
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Incumbent Deborah Silcox defeated Shea Roberts in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Deborah Silcox (R) | 52.3 | 14,018 | |
| Shea Roberts (D) | 47.7 | 12,796 | ||
| Total votes: 26,814 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Shea Roberts advanced from the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shea Roberts | 100.0 | 3,238 | |
| Total votes: 3,238 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52
Incumbent Deborah Silcox defeated Gavi Shapiro in the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 52 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Deborah Silcox | 72.2 | 3,097 | |
| Gavi Shapiro | 27.8 | 1,195 | ||
| Total votes: 4,292 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Shea Roberts did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Shea Roberts completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Roberts' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I never planned to run for office. After the Parkland shooting, I decided to put my fear into action. I came up short in 2018, but ran again in 2020 after our state legislature passed the six-week abortion ban. I won by 377 votes and continued to defend my victory as “Big Lie” perpetrators unsuccessfully challenged my election. Needless to say, I am nothing if not persistent.
It’s been an honor to serve my first term. I’ve stood up against gun rights expansion, attacks on our teachers, and undemocratic assaults on our elections. I’ll never stop fighting for Georgians’ reproductive freedom and medical privacy. But I’ve also been effective by reaching consensus across the aisle and passing bi-partisan legislation. I hope to continue my work under the Gold Dome so that I can give voice to the concerns of North Fulton and DeKalb residents.
- I’m the most qualified candidate in Georgia’s House District 52 race. As the incumbent, I’m the only candidate in this race with prior state legislative experience. Additionally, I have been a land use attorney for almost 25 years. That experience has included lobbying on behalf of individuals, homeowners associations, and developers/builders in front of city and county elected or appointed officials throughout the metro Atlanta area. Being a land use attorney requires knowledge of legislative procedure and significant statutory construction skills that have proved extremely helpful in my committee meetings and when evaluating and drafting state legislation during my first term. Being a zoning attorney also requires mediation skills to fin
- I will work to build a Georgia where everyone can thrive because it is fiscally responsible. The health of our economy is directly related to the health of our workforce. Fully expanding Medicaid is the bare minimum of what we need to do because insuring 500,000 Georgians who fall into the gap will improve the quality of Georgia’s healthcare system, provide thousands of new jobs, and keep Georgians working and providing for their families. Uninsured citizens are being forced to use emergency rooms as primary care doctors which distracts from those who truly need emergency care. We have had five hospitals close just in the last 4 years. Next month when our sixth closes, we will have only one Level I trauma center for the entire Metro Atlanta
- Safe communities and justice are not mutually exclusive. We can support our law enforcement by paying them their worth and making sure they have the resources needed to protect themselves and our citizens. We can also implement more transparency and provide training in de-escalation tactics to build trust between law enforcement and the public. It’s also important that we address social determinants that lead to crime by investing more in our schools, including wrap-around services that will help our high risk students be more successful such as after-school and apprenticeship programs. We need to decriminalize poverty and low-level drug offenses that are perpetuating the pipeline to prison. More access to mental health is critical too. T
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2020
Shea Roberts did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Shea Roberts completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Roberts' responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
The top three issues are accessibility to quality health care, traffic, and safe schools. I will advocate: to stop giving $9 billion away to other states and expand Medicaid to insure 500,000 Georgians; for women to make their own healthcare decisions; for an infrastructure investment plan that includes multiple modes of public transportation that will actually connect our communities and reduce commute times; and for our children's education to be fully-funded with a 21st century formula and common sense gun legislation to keep them safe.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Having been an attorney for more than 20 years, I am passionate about the law and making sure all people are treated equally under it. Additionally, healthcare and education are significant issues that need to be addressed in Georgia. Finally, I am passionate about land planning issues including regional growth and investment in public transportation infrastructure.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
I believe it is important to have integrity and be a really good listener. Elected officials are public servants who must put the needs of their constituents above themselves. Pragmatic negotiating skills also are useful when forging resolution across the aisle.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I have been a practicing zoning lawyer for 20 years, which has given me experience in the local political arena. The land use practice area requires me to review and apply - and sometimes draft - legislation, which will be a useful tool when elected. Additionally, I have also been successful in forging resolution in what are often emotional situations involving peoples' homes and neighborhoods.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The earliest major historical event I can remember is when President Reagan was shot. I was 11 years old.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Other than babysitting, my very first job was life-guarding at our small town golf and country club for 2 years. My first real job out of college was one of my favorites - I worked in Washington, D.C. in the Sports Marketing Department for Special Olympics International under the inspired leadership of Eunice Kennedy and Sargent Shriver. Such rewarding work!
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
I love Halloween and Thanksgiving! My daughters and I love to dress up in costumes and who doesn't like all the chocolate? Thanksgiving reminds me to take stock of my blessings, including family and friends. And I love online holiday shopping the day after Thanksgiving.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
My daughters are obsessed with the Hamilton soundtrack, so Not Throwing Away My Shot is the song that regularly gets stuck in my head. Luckily I like it and have decided to embrace its lyrics for my own campaign.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Absolutely! How else can I expect other legislators to support my proposed legislation if they do not know me and what I want to accomplish, and I the same for them.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I favor an independent commission to make re-districting decisions so that partisan politics are removed and all parties are on an even playing field. In Georgia, voter integrity is at an all-time low and voter suppression at an all-time high. Our vote is our voice, and every voice should be counted fairly.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Some of the committees I might like to participate are: Judiciary, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, or State Planning and Community Affairs.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
My parents taught me to never say "never," and to always leave my options open. At this time, I just look forward to serving Georgia as its next Representative for House District 52.
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
I have heard many moving stories while knocking doors six days a week for the last several months. I talked to a woman whose middle school daughter came home her first week of 6th grade, upset that she couldn't have her phone during the school day because she didn't know how she would tell her mom she loved her before she died if an active shooter attacked her campus. These are the thoughts of our children during their first days at a new school rather than excitedly telling their friends what they did over summer vacation. Common sense gun regulation should be part of the global solution to school safety. Access to affordable health care is a huge issue for many Georgians, so Medicare expansion is at the top of my list so we can insure 500,000 Georgians. Many women have expressed frustration over equal pay disparity and fear that the government may soon interfere with their health decisions. I hope to address all of these issues when elected November 6th.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Georgia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 28.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 9 to March 29.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 10 to April 4.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 11 to March 31.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Georgia House of Representatives District 52 |
Officeholder Georgia House of Representatives District 52 |
Personal |
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Deborah Silcox (R) |
Georgia House of Representatives District 52 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
