Stacey Evans runs on progressive talking points. Her votes tell a different story. Here is where she actually stands, issue by issue, based on her legislative record.
On every major issue facing District 57, Evans says one thing on the campaign trail and does another in the Georgia House. The gap between her promises and her record is not accidental. It is her record.
Economy & Taxes
“Increasing the minimum wage to prevent poverty among working Georgians” and “establishing a Georgia Earned Income Tax Credit.”
Flat Income Tax: Evans voted to eliminate Georgia’s progressive income tax and replace it with a flat rate. A Georgian earning $25,000 per year now pays the same percentage as someone making $2.5 million. This is the single most regressive tax change possible, and she voted for it.
Corporate Tax Rate Cut: Voted to lower the corporate tax rate, gutting state revenue that funds public schools, healthcare, and infrastructure across Georgia.
Further Income Tax Reduction: Voted again to cut Georgia’s income tax rate, layering additional tax relief for high earners on top of the flat tax she already supported.
Railroad Corporate Tax Breaks: Voted to extend tax breaks for Class III railroad corporations, draining more public revenue while claiming to fight corporate giveaways.
COAM Gambling Expansion: Voted to expand coin-operated amusement machines (COAMs), the gas station “slot machines” proliferating across Georgia, by creating a Visa-branded gift card payout system for winners. COAM operators and the Georgia Amusement & Music Operators Association donated to her campaigns. Visa, whose branded gift cards became the payout mechanism under the bill, also donated to her. Notably, Evans co-sponsored HB 447 imposing 1–10 year prison sentences for gift card fraud over $500, while voting to expand the gift card gambling system that benefits her donors.
Public Education
“Advocating for fully funded K–12 public education” and “protecting the HOPE Scholarship.”
Local Charter School Authorization and Support Act of 2025: Creates financial incentives for school boards to approve charter petitions and penalizes those that repeatedly deny them. Fellow Democrat Rep. Lisa Campbell called it legislation that “lays the groundwork for increased privatization of all of our public schools.”
Full Charter School Package: Voted for an entire legislative package expanding charter schools and shifting funding away from traditional public schools.
Opportunity School District / School Takeover: Voted for a constitutional amendment giving the governor authority to seize “failing” public schools and turn them over to private operators, bypassing elected school boards. Georgia voters rejected this at the ballot box. Evans voted for it anyway. Her charter school record became so pronounced that progressive activists protested her at Netroots Nation holding signs equating her education positions to those of Betsy DeVos. Source: Salon →
Charter School Expansion: Evans began supporting charter legislation in her very first terms in office, establishing a pattern that has continued every session since.
Voted NO on Student Loan Repayment for Nurses: Blocked a modest investment in healthcare education while voting yes on corporate tax breaks.
Criminal Justice
“Supporting criminal justice reform and opposing mandatory minimums.”
Student Surveillance Database: Voted to create a statewide database collecting disciplinary, mental health, and law enforcement records on students to flag “potential threats.” Fellow Democrat Rep. Gabriel Sanchez said the bill had “too much on surveillance and overcriminalization.”
Co-Sponsored Overcriminalization Bill with Republicans: Co-sponsored legislation imposing 1–10 year prison terms for gift card fraud over $500. Critics say penalties disproportionately punish low-income people.
Criminalizing Free Speech: Voted yes on legislation raising First Amendment concerns about the right to peaceful protest near religious institutions.
Restricting Political Participation: Voted to prohibit non-U.S. citizens and non-legal permanent residents from participating financially or civically in political campaigns. Opposed by the Arab American Action Fund and civil liberties advocates.
Policing & Civil Rights
“Protecting civil rights” and serving as “a progressive voice for Atlanta.”
Defended Officers Cracking Down on Stop Cop City Protesters: On the Georgia House floor, Evans defended law enforcement’s arrests of protesters opposing Cop City, using a “both sides” framing that dismissed the concerns of civil rights organizers. Her words on the record: “They are doing their jobs.” Watch video at 2:43:30 →
Eliminating Transit Agencies: Voted to eliminate transit agencies, harming working-class commuters in District 57 who depend on public transportation to get to work.
Commending Conservative Republican Lynne Riley: Voted to commend Lynne Riley, who championed efforts to have wealthy North Fulton County secede from the rest of Fulton County. The secession would have stripped resources from majority-Black communities.
Blocking ESG Investment Considerations: Voted to limit environmental, social, and governance considerations in state investments, restricting Georgia’s ability to account for climate risk in financial decisions.
Gun Safety
“Common-sense gun safety measures to protect Georgia families.”
Loosening Firearm Licensing Restrictions: Evans voted to remove firearm licensing restrictions, making guns more accessible across Georgia. Georgia 2A celebrated it as a major legislative victory for gun rights advocates. Based on her gun rights voting record, the NRA awarded her a “B+” rating, a score she earned while telling District 57 she supports common-sense gun safety.
Women & Families
“Fighting for women and families across Georgia.”
Represented Dr. Mahendra Amin: Evans served as the attorney for Dr. Mahendra Amin, a South Georgia OB-GYN investigated by a bipartisan U.S. Senate committee for performing “excessive, invasive, and often unnecessary gynecological procedures” on detained immigrant women at the Irwin County Detention Center, repeatedly without informed consent. From 2017 to 2020, Amin accounted for 82% of all D&C procedures, 94% of all laparoscopies, and 93% of all Depo-Provera injections administered to ICE detainees nationwide. He declined to testify before the Senate committee, invoking his Fifth Amendment right. Evans publicly defended him, calling the allegations against him “horrific attacks on his character.” Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution →
Defended Bank of America’s Predatory Lending Subsidiary: Before entering the legislature, Evans worked at Bryan Cave law firm defending Bank of America’s Countrywide subsidiary during the housing crisis. Countrywide deliberately targeted Black and working-class families with high-cost subprime loans. Bank of America later paid $335 million in the largest fair lending settlement in American history. Evans has never addressed this role.
Mandatory Minimums Targeting Sex Workers: Voted to impose mandatory minimum prison sentences on sex workers, criminalizing some of Georgia’s most vulnerable people rather than going after those taking advantage of them.
