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5th Congressional District · 2026 U.S. House · Unofficial result

U.S. House, 5th District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Nikema Williams (Democrat), whose campaign site calls her Congresswoman, faced Republican John "Bongo" Salvesen. With all 159 counties reporting, Williams leads by 242,958 votes. Results are unofficial until certified. Check your own address on the Georgia Secretary of State's voter lookup to confirm your district.

Williams leadsAll counties reporting; unofficial until certified1
90.19%Williams (D)1
9.81%Salvesen (R)1
242,958Vote margin of 302,234 cast1

Do they have a plan?

We read every issue on each candidate's own website and checked the same six things for every one. We count what's there. We don't grade whether the ideas are good. Read the full scoring rules

Of the issues on their website, how many...John "Bongo" SalvesenNikema Williams
Names a policy0 of 4
7 of 7
Says how they'd do it0 of 4
1 of 7
Includes a number or target0 of 4
0 of 7
Says how it's paid for0 of 4
0 of 7
Gives a timeline0 of 4
1 of 7
Points to a record0 of 4
0 of 7

The candidates, side by side

Each topic shows every candidate's own words on it, in alphabetical order, from their own website. "Nothing on this topic" means their site doesn't cover it. Topic rows are grouped by us from their headings; the scores don't change.

John "Bongo" SalvesenRepublican
Nikema WilliamsDemocrat
Who they are
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Says he went undercover as a journalist. The site mostly links to outside videos, which we did not score. A "Making Change" page carries leftover text about life insurance products, not the campaign, and was not scored.
Nikema Williams
Sitting member of Congress; her site calls her "Congresswoman Nikema Williams." Her Issues page says she "champions" or is "leading with" her bills but never says she introduced or sponsored one, so no heading earned the Record check.
Abortion
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Nothing on this topic
Nikema Williams
Healthcare & Reproductive Freedom"Congresswoman Nikema Williams' Health Access Innovation Act supports faith and community-based organizations that deliver care to address the social determinants of health and reduce racial health disparities."8
Names a policy
Health care
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Health"I want to see how much money my doctor gets from Big Pharma."4
None of the six checks
Nikema Williams
Nothing on this topic
Housing
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Nothing on this topic
Nikema Williams
Affordable Housing & Home Ownership"The End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act to stop corporate hoarding of housing, require these companies to sell homes back to families, and phase out hedge‑fund ownership of single‑family homes over the next decade."8
Names a policySays how they'd do itGives a timeline
Schools and education
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Nothing on this topic
Nikema Williams
Access to Education"She proudly supports TRIO programs, which provide low-income and first-generation college students with the mentorship and support they need to be successful in college."8
Names a policy
Technology and privacy
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Nothing on this topic
Nikema Williams
Closing the Racial Wealth Gap"The Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program Act ensures Black‑ and minority‑owned businesses can access the funding and technical support they've historically been denied."8
Names a policy
Crime and public safety
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Nothing on this topic
Nikema Williams
Social Justice"She is proudly leading with the Care is an Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Act , which requires Economic Development Districts to expand access to childcare and other care‑based services so families can fully participate in our growing economy."8
Names a policy
Elections and voting
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Election Interference"Here is a great website to get further information in Georgia"6
None of the six checks
Nikema Williams
Voting Rights"The precinct closures, Exact-Match laws, broad voter purges, and other unchecked fear tactics must be stopped." and "She led on a broad packaging to limit your wait time at the polls, protect your right to vote by mail, and give workers the time off they need to get to the polls."8
Names a policy
Taxes, jobs and the economy
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Nothing on this topic
Nikema Williams
Support for Small Business"She is fighting to open contracting opportunities, protect SBA programs, and make sure our small businesses have a real seat at the table."8
Names a policy
How government works
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Proper Representation"I will report to my constituents via my podcast every week to discuss issues in plain terms." and "I promise I will own no stock, believing it as a conflict of interest."3, 2
None of the six checks
Nikema Williams
Nothing on this topic
Other
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Fed Now"A tracking program that eliminates cash country-wide."7
None of the six checks
Nikema Williams
Nothing on this topic
Their record
John "Bongo" Salvesen
  • Says he "went undercover in my journalistic pursuit"2 as a journalist. No vote, bill or program is named on his site.
Nikema Williams
  • Her site calls her "Congresswoman Nikema Williams" and says she served in the Georgia State Senate.9 It says she was arrested at the State Capitol in 2018 "while peacefully protesting alongside her constituents"9.
In their words
John "Bongo" Salvesen

"I will not take any contributions from any company, only individuals."

John Salvesen, campaign About page2

"I went undercover and was dismayed on what I witnessed."

John Salvesen, campaign home page7
Nikema Williams

"Reproductive rights are human rights."

Nikema Williams, campaign Issues page8

"Congresswoman Nikema Williams is fighting for free and fair elections with universal access to the ballot box."

Nikema Williams, campaign Issues page8
Where we read it
John "Bongo" Salvesen
Website: bongo4congress.com/ (checked 11/5/2026)
Nikema Williams
Website: nikemaforcongress.com/issues-2026 (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • Both talk about protecting the vote. Salvesen's home page lists "Take away our vote" among three ways to "conquer America."7 Williams: "fighting for free and fair elections with universal access to the ballot box."8
  • Both give health its own section. Williams: "fund research, especially in support of women's health."8 Salvesen's Health page: "I want to see how much money my doctor gets from Big Pharma."4

Where they really split

  • Elections: Williams names what she opposes: "precinct closures, Exact-Match laws, broad voter purges."8 Salvesen's page says "Election interference exposed!" and links an outside site.6
  • How to be a member: Salvesen pledges "I will own no stock" and a weekly podcast.2, 3 Williams' page names bills, such as "the End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act."8

What each one leaves out

  • Salvesen's site names a policy on none of its four headings (its weekly-podcast and no-stock pledges are personal conduct, which our rules don't count), spells out how on none, and gives no costs or dates. Most of it links to outside videos. It doesn't mention housing, schools or taxes.2, 3, 7
  • Williams' Issues page has seven headings. It names a policy on all seven and spells out how on one (hedge-fund housing, with "over the next decade"). It gives no costs, and no heading names a vote or bill she sponsored.8
Sources (checked 11/5/2026)
  1. Georgia Secretary of State results, unofficial (all 159 counties reporting, last updated Nov 4, 2026 12:13 PM): results.sos.ga.gov/results/public/Georgia/11032026GeneralAndSpecialElection
  2. John Salvesen campaign, About: bongo4congress.com/about
  3. John Salvesen campaign, Proper Representation: bongo4congress.com/proper-representation
  4. John Salvesen campaign, Health: bongo4congress.com/health
  5. John Salvesen campaign, Fed Now: bongo4congress.com/fed-now
  6. John Salvesen campaign, Election Interference: bongo4congress.com/election-interference
  7. John Salvesen campaign, Home: bongo4congress.com/
  8. Nikema Williams campaign, Issues: nikemaforcongress.com/issues-2026
  9. Nikema Williams campaign, Meet Nikema: nikemaforcongress.com/meet-nikema