Maura Keller
Maura Keller (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Georgia's 3rd Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Keller completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Maura Keller was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Keller's professional experience includes working as a healthcare professional. She served in the U.S. Army from 1978 to 2004. Keller earned a bachelor's degree from Excelsior College in 1994, a bachelor's degree from Augusta University in 2017, and a military citation from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1997.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Georgia's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024
Georgia's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (May 21 Republican primary)
Georgia's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (May 21 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Georgia District 3
Brian Jack defeated Maura Keller in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 3 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Jack (R) | 66.3 | 273,036 | |
| Maura Keller (D) | 33.7 | 138,749 | ||
| Total votes: 411,785 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- George Cantrell (Independent)
Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Georgia District 3
Brian Jack defeated Mike Dugan in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Georgia District 3 on June 18, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Jack | 62.6 | 29,654 | |
| Mike Dugan | 37.4 | 17,693 | ||
| Total votes: 47,347 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 3
Maura Keller defeated Val Almonord in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 3 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Maura Keller | 53.0 | 13,237 | |
| Val Almonord | 47.0 | 11,730 | ||
| Total votes: 24,967 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Rodney Moore (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 3
Brian Jack and Mike Dugan advanced to a runoff. They defeated Mike Crane, Philip Singleton, and Jim Bennett in the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 3 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Jack | 46.7 | 32,877 | |
| ✔ | Mike Dugan | 24.9 | 17,522 | |
| Mike Crane | 15.9 | 11,182 | ||
| Philip Singleton | 6.7 | 4,743 | ||
| Jim Bennett | 5.8 | 4,076 | ||
| Total votes: 70,400 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- David Jenkins (R)
- Raymond Blair (R)
- Michael Corbin (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Keller in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Maura Keller completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Keller's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am dedicated to service, progress, and the idea that hard work paired with a helping hand can make a real difference. I was born in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, but for the past 28 years, Fayetteville, Georgia, has been my home. It's here that I've continued my service journey—reaching personal milestones and committing myself to the well-being of my country and community.
My military story began in 1978 when I enlisted as a Military Policewoman in the United States Army. It wasn't long before I realized the need for systemic change and made it my mission to be a part of it. Climbing the ranks, I took the oath as an Officer and culminated my service as a Lieutenant Colonel.
After retiring, I returned to Washington, D.C., as an analyst and consultant working with the Department of Defense to ensure troop readiness.
Although I enjoyed my time in that role, I eventually felt compelled to serve our troops differently. I returned to school with a degree in Nuclear Medicine, which allowed me to support our veterans at the Atlanta VA.
Throughout my career, I've been honored with several awards, none more significant than the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, which stands as a testament to my dedication to leadership and the pursuit of excellence.
I'm ready to take everything I've learned during my career back to D.C. as Georgia's next congressional representative for the 3rd district.
- Economic Equity - I'm committed to creating greater opportunities for District 3 by working to pass fiscal policies that help everyone instead of those who’ve already “made it.”. Building a more equitable economic future is the foundation for all my policy positions, but we must start with raising the minimum wage. Studies show a livable wage in Georgia should be at least $17.00/hour. Still, District 3’s previous representatives continually voted to keep their neighbors living at or below the poverty line, with many making only $7.25/hour – the Federal Minimum, which hasn’t increased in 14 years despite inflation continually pushing working-class families deeper into debt and struggle. Visit www.GetMoreWithMaura.com to learn more.
- Codifying Access to Women’s Reproductive Healthcare - I stand for reproductive rights because they're crucial for women’s economic security and health in District 3. The ability to plan if and when to have children allows women to pursue education and careers, enhancing their earning potential. Control over reproductive health, including access to contraception and prenatal care, is fundamental. Yet, some lawmakers' votes undermine these rights, impeding women's economic contributions and health. I'm committed to ensuring comprehensive reproductive care, which is vital for women's autonomy and our community's prosperity.
- Universally Accessible Healthcare - I believe all Americans deserve meaningful and easily accessible healthcare because no one should choose between paying for life’s necessities or staying alive. My military career taught me how unhealthy soldiers can significantly decrease operational readiness, which is why soldier health has long been a cornerstone of our military’s strength. A healthy population lays a strong foundation for a robust economy, while healthcare inaccessibility causes avoidable illness and unnecessary deaths and weakens our entire economy. The United States is the only developed nation without a universal healthcare system that codifies access to healthcare for all its citizens. Together, we can fix that!
The policies I'm most passionate about impact our daily lives, the ones we debate while sitting at the dinner table with family and friends.
These include accessible healthcare, ensuring that no family must choose between medical bills and groceries, education that prepares our children for the future, and economic strategies that support job growth and fair wages.
I'm also deeply invested in protecting the environment for future generations.
These issues aren't just political talking points; they're the fabric of our discussions at home, where the real effects of policy and its impact on the American Dream are most deeply felt.
Servant-hearted leadership and the determination to get things done even when it's hard.
"It can't be done" and "This is how we've always done it" are my two least favorite sentences, and every time I hear either, I take it as a personal challenge!
The most critical responsibility for a congressional representative is working in good faith on behalf of their district regardless of how other representatives choose to operate.
President Kennedy's funeral. I wasn't even 4 1/2 years old, but I can remember that moment like it was yesterday.
I started my first job selling women’s clothing at a store where my dad was the manager when I was 14 years old and stuck with it for 2.5 years.
Veteran Affairs
Armed Services
Education and Workforce
And the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Financial transparency and government accountability are not just policies to me; they are the principles that have steered my entire career. Having served where accurate data is the bedrock of decision-making, I understand that open, transparent financial reporting is crucial for trust and efficiency in governance.
Transparent practices ensure that every dollar is accounted for and spent in service of the public. Likewise, accountability is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy—leaders must be answerable to those they serve.
I’m committed to upholding these values and ensuring that our government works transparently in the public interest, with every action open to scrutiny.
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 website
Keller’s campaign website stated the following:
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ECONOMIC EQUITY We are a country that doesn’t take care of its people. The American Dream is supposed to come with a good quality of life; instead, it is dependent on our citizens working themselves to the bone. If the federal minimum wage had not increased in 2009, workers in Georgia would still be making $5.05/hour. Although studies show a liveable wage in Georgia should be at least $17.00/hour, District 3’s previous representatives continually voted to keep their neighbors at or below the poverty line, with many making only $7.25/hour. That means it has been 14 years without a pay increase and still our Republican leaning Congress will not do anything about it. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE For Maura, taking a stance on reproductive healthcare is easy: EVERYONE should have access to the care they need and have the right to make all decisions about their own body. The government should not come between Americans and their bodily autonomy; when Maura is sent to Congress, she will do everything in her power to both enshrine Roe v. Wade and expand on protections for women and birthing people across our nation. ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE When it comes to health care, Maura is endlessly committed to making sure every American can access the care they need. After working in Nuclear Medicine for many years, Maura knows just how important it is that we make health care accessible and affordable. She believes it is a basic right that we all deserve at all stages of our lives, and no one should ever have to choose between paying for life’s necessities or lifesaving medical services. VETERAN ADVOCACY Veteran advocacy is the driving force behind Maura’s decision to run for Congress. As a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and a Nuclear Medicine Technologist at Atlanta’s VA, Maura is one of the few who actually understands the needs of Veterans. She has seen firsthand the ways in which we fail our service members. From archaic computer systems and broken machinery to infiltrated IVs and dilapidated facilities; as Maura likes to say, she knows where the bodies are buried. VOTING RIGHTS Maura believes that we need to protect voting rights at the federal level to ensure that everyone has equal access to voting and the ability to participate in our democracy. In Georgia, State legislators have gone too far. They are introducing bills that violate our constitutional rights, affecting both Democrats and Republicans who want to cast their ballots, and disproportionately affecting communities of color. Congressional Representatives from District 3 have a history of choosing to disenfranchise their own voters—Maura will never. AGING WITH DIGNITY Maura stands with District 3’s aging population and she is disgusted that Georgia consistently ranks at the bottom for quality of living for seniors. She wants to work on legislation that will bring Social Security into the 21st century, keeping in line with inflation and the cost of living. Recent increases to Social Security payments via the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) have had the opposite effect for our seniors, with many being told they no longer qualify for Medicaid and food stamps. The increase in benefits that was supposed to help has sent many into poverty because our politicians are not prioritizing proper legislation that works for those receiving benefits. LGBTQ+ EQUALITY FOR ALL Maura offers unwavering support for all and believes that every citizen should have access to the American dream, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, or skin color. As a friend and relative of members of this community, Maura is troubled by the trajectory of our country and she is determined to speak up in Congress. She will fight to enshrine legal protections for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Americans, and will push back against politicians who seek to strip away the human rights of these communities through deeply harmful and discriminatory policies. EDUCATION + CHILD WELFARE In Maura’s eyes, many Georgia politicians have forgotten where they came from. They have taken for granted their access to education, the basic necessities they had growing up, and their ability to achieve a high paying job. Now, they are trying to prevent future generations from having the same opportunities. Investing in public education is not a pipedream, it is a necessity. Nobel Prize winner James Heckman completed research that shows every $1 invested in early childhood development can yield returns of up to $16. Investment starts with our educators, and Maura wants to ensure that all teachers are paid a fair and liveable wage. In Georgia, you are required to have a college degree yet, according to Indeed, the average teacher salary in Georgia is $14.60/hour. In order to retain high quality teachers, we need to pay them what they deserve. GUN SAFETY Maura is a passionate advocate for gun safety legislation, understanding the Second Amendment while opposing reckless gun ownership. Currently, Georgia ranks 47th out of 50 for gun safety. Out of the 10 worst states that have guns stolen out of vehicles, we rank 5th. Our military and law enforcement are required to attend training on how and when to use a weapon, but an 18 year old can get an AR-15 without going through any training or safety procedures. How many more lives must be lost to gun violence before politicians stop pedaling party lines and start caring about the lives they represent in Congress? IMMIGRATION REFORM It’s no secret that our immigration system is broken, and has been for a long time. Maura believes that properly reforming our immigration service is a process that benefits everyone. We can improve our border security and enforce our rules all while strengthening our economy and keeping families together. In recent years, we have seen young children separated from their parents and kept in cages, while politicians spread hate in the media. Let’s be clear: this is not immigration reform. If you’re ready for actual change that benefits our country, then Maura is the representative for you. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Every year, the planet is changing in front of our eyes. We are seeing natural disasters ravage our country more often, record high temperatures that lead to death, and an onset of health conditions that will continue to get worse. Every record breaking storm, wildfire, and flood causes tens of billions of dollars in damages, destroying the communities left in their wake. Maura champions a bold stance on climate justice, for both the planet and the people. If we don’t take action now, the damage to our planet will soon be irreversible. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM Maura believes that criminal justice reform is paramount to the success of our nation. Statistics show that, per capita, more people are in prison in America than anywhere else in the world. That doesn’t mean that we have more criminals here; it means that we are failing our citizens. Our criminal justice system is flawed, and Maura intends to fix it by supporting progressive legislation in Congress that puts the needs of our communities first.[2] |
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| —Maura Keller’s campaign website (2024)[3] | ||
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House Georgia District 3 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 9, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Maura Keller’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed April 24, 2024
