Bryce Berry

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Bryce Berry
Image of Bryce Berry
Georgia House of Representatives District 56
Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

0

Predecessor
Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Morehouse College, 2023

Personal
Birthplace
St. Louis, Mo.
Religion
Baptist
Profession
Teacher
Contact

Bryce Berry (Democratic Party) is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 56. He assumed office on January 13, 2025. His current term ends on January 11, 2027.

Berry (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Georgia House of Representatives to represent District 56. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Berry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Bryce Berry was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College in 2023. His career experience includes working as a teacher. He served as a state youth leader for President Biden and Vice President Harris' 2020 election campaign. He also served as the deputy political director for the 2022 Coordinated Campaign, contributing to the successes of Senator Raphael Warnock and Leader Stacey Abrams. As of his 2024 campaign, Berry served as the president of the Young Democrats of Georgia.[1]

Berry has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

  • Democratic Party of Georgia
  • American Federation of Teachers
  • Fulton County Democratic Party
  • The Peoples Uprising
  • Morehouse Alumni Association

Elections

2024

See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 56

Bryce Berry defeated incumbent Mesha Mainor in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 56 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bryce Berry
Bryce Berry (D) Candidate Connection
 
83.8
 
19,223
Image of Mesha Mainor
Mesha Mainor (R)
 
16.2
 
3,722

Total votes: 22,945
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 56

Bryce Berry defeated William Watkins, Adalina Merello, and Corwin Monson in the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 56 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bryce Berry
Bryce Berry Candidate Connection
 
54.1
 
1,976
William Watkins
 
20.9
 
763
Adalina Merello Candidate Connection
 
19.7
 
721
Corwin Monson Candidate Connection
 
5.3
 
194

Total votes: 3,654
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 56

Incumbent Mesha Mainor advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 56 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mesha Mainor
Mesha Mainor
 
100.0
 
114

Total votes: 114
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Berry in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Bryce Berry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Berry's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I'm a public school teacher, nonprofit leader, and community organizer, deeply committed to making a difference in Georgia's 56th District. Born into a union family, my early experiences in St. Louis, especially the tragic events in Ferguson, were formative. Witnessing the shooting of Michael Brown in my hometown propelled me into activism, particularly with the Black Lives Matter movement. These experiences have been pivotal in shaping my understanding of community needs and social justice.

My journey led me to Atlanta, where I continued to engage in transformative work. I had the honor of serving as a state youth leader for President Biden and Vice President Harris' 2020 election campaign, further honing my skills in political organizing and leadership. Subsequently, I played a crucial role as the Deputy Political Director for the 2022 Coordinated Campaign, contributing significantly to the successes of key political figures in Georgia.

As a middle school math teacher, I experience daily the challenges and opportunities in our education system. My campaign is a reflection of my dedication to issues like education reform, economic development, accessible healthcare, and affordable housing. I am driven by a vision to create a more inclusive, equitable future for all residents of our district, believing strongly in the power of community-driven change.
  • Dedication to Education Reform: I am deeply committed to transforming our education system. My experience as a public school teacher drives my advocacy for raising teacher pay, improving school infrastructure, fully funding public schools, expanding access to pre-K, and reducing the emphasis on standardized testing. Ensuring every child has access to a quality education is at the heart of my campaign.
  • Championing Economic and Housing Equity: Economic development and housing are crucial to bridging the opportunity gap in our district. I am advocating for raising the minimum wage, supporting small businesses, implementing strong tenant protections, tackling slumlord practices, and promoting affordable housing. My vision is to create a district where economic prosperity and housing security are accessible to all.
  • Advancing Accessible and Comprehensive Healthcare: Healthcare reform is a top priority. I am focused on fully expanding Medicaid, protecting reproductive rights, investing in community health care centers, and addressing health disparities. Additionally, I am dedicated to improving mental health and addiction services and advocating for sensible gun control as part of a comprehensive approach to public health.
Eliminating Poverty: Coming from a background where understanding the struggles of poverty was a part of my life, I am personally committed to policies that address and reduce poverty in our community. This includes advocating for economic reforms such as raising the minimum wage, providing support for small businesses, and creating more equitable economic opportunities. I understand that poverty is not just an economic issue but also a social one, and my approach is to address it through comprehensive policy changes that uplift the entire community.

Education as a Pathway Out of Poverty: I believe education is a key tool in breaking the cycle of poverty. My experience as a public school teacher has shown me the transformative power of edu
I remember I looked out my window and saw the National Guard deployed in my hometown. Just blocks away, the beginnings of the protest in response to the tragic shooting of Michael Brown were unfolding. I was only 13 years old at the time, but that moment left an indelible mark on me. It was a pivotal moment that ignited my desire for change and led me to join the frontlines of the Black Lives Matter movement during the Ferguson uprising. Together with others, we achieved significant milestones, including the election of Ferguson's first Black mayor and substantial improvements in local education and healthcare.
I firmly believe in the principle that the legislature is the body primarily responsible for making laws, and it should be the leading force in legislative discussions, not the governor. While the governor plays a crucial role in guiding the state's policies and can propose legislation, it is ultimately the legislature's responsibility to debate, amend, and pass laws.

The legislature represents the diverse voices of our citizens and is directly accountable to them. Therefore, it's vital that the legislature exercises its power independently and not simply follow the governor's lead, regardless of party affiliation. Each bill and policy should be carefully considered on its own merits, with the best interests of the constituents in mind.

The relationship between the governor and the legislature should be collaborative but not dominated by the executive branch. It's essential for the legislature to assert its independence and lead the conversation on legislative matters. This approach ensures a more balanced and representative government, where different viewpoints are considered and the best solutions for the public are sought.
Maynard Jackson's transformative leadership in Atlanta, particularly his innovative approaches in engaging with the Black business community and in public-private partnerships, deeply inspires me. He showed the world how to do business with Black people. His pioneering work in promoting economic equality and inclusion in city contracts has set a valuable example of how to create equitable opportunities in urban development. I am inspired to emulate Jackson's model of balancing progressive social policies with effective economic strategies, striving to create a community where public and private sectors work together for the greater good of all its members.
One story that I've heard from the residents of my district that deeply affected me is about Shenice, a single mother from the West End neighborhood. Shenice tragically lost her husband to gun violence, leaving her to raise their son, Marcus, on her own. Marcus attends a school in the Atlanta Public Schools system, and Shenice works two jobs to provide for them. Yet, she struggles to find safe and affordable childcare for Marcus, and constantly worries about the impact of the surrounding gun violence on his well-being. One evening, as she picked up Marcus from a neighbor's house, he innocently asked why he couldn't attend the same after school programs as his friends. This moment highlighted the stark reality of disparities in our community, particularly in access to quality childcare and educational opportunities. Her story is a reminder of the challenges faced by many in our community and highlights the critical need for policies addressing gun violence, supporting single-parent families, and ensuring safe environments for our children.
My stance on corporate donors, super PACs, and their influence in politics is straightforward and guided by my principles of transparency and accountability. I believe that the influence of big money, especially from corporations and super PACs, can be problematic in our political system. It often leads to the interests of a few being placed over the needs of the many.

I think it's important that politics isn't just about who has the most money or the biggest donors. Instead, it should be about representing the real needs and concerns of everyday people. That's why I support efforts to make the whole process more transparent. We should know where the money in politics is coming from and what interests are behind it.

Also, I believe in the need for stronger rules and regulations around political donations and spending. This would help ensure that elected officials stay focused on representing their constituents, not just the interests of those who fund their campaigns.

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.


Bryce Berry campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Georgia House of Representatives District 56Won general$136,418 $88,998
Grand total$136,418 $88,998
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Georgia

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.












See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 30, 2024

Political offices
Preceded by
Mesha Mainor (R)
Georgia House of Representatives District 56
2025-Present
Succeeded by
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Current members of the Georgia House of Representatives
Leadership
Minority Leader:Carolyn Hugley
Representatives
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Will Wade (R)
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Brent Cox (R)
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Jan Jones (R)
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Eric Bell (D)
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Long Tran (D)
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Soo Hong (R)
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Beth Camp (R)
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Jon Burns (R)
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Republican Party (100)
Democratic Party (80)