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11th Congressional District · 2026 U.S. House · Unofficial result

U.S. House, 11th District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

John Cowan (R), a neurosurgeon, ran against Chris Harden (D), an attorney. With all 159 counties reporting, Cowan leads by 35,298 votes. Georgia's results page lists only these two candidates. Results are unofficial until certified. Check your own address on the Georgia Secretary of State's voter lookup to confirm your district.

Cowan leadsAll counties reporting; unofficial until certified1
55.36%Cowan (R)1
44.64%Harden (D)1
35,298Vote margin of 329,020 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 CowanChris Harden
Names a policy2 of 5
7 of 15
Says how they'd do it0 of 5
1 of 15
Includes a number or target0 of 5
1 of 15
Says how it's paid for0 of 5
0 of 15
Gives a timeline0 of 5
0 of 15
Points to a record0 of 5
0 of 15

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 CowanRepublican
Chris HardenDemocrat
Who they are
John Cowan
Neurosurgeon and small business owner. His site is thin: five issues of one or two sentences each, plus Home and Meet pages.
Chris Harden
Attorney. His home page repeats its priorities in three groups (an "Eleven Priorities" set, a longer set of 15 headings, and short copies of several); duplicates are scored once under the first heading, and the four extra headings in the longer set are scored on their own. His News page restates the longer set as a press release dated August 17, 2026.7
Abortion
John Cowan
Nothing on this topic
Chris Harden
Healthcare and Reproductive Freedom"Families throughout Northwest Georgia rely on Affordable Care Act premium tax credits to make health insurance more affordable. Chris will fight to restore and expand those credits so families are not hit with higher premiums because Congress fails to act." Also: "cap out-of-pocket costs for life-saving medications"5
Names a policy
Veterans
John Cowan
Nothing on this topic
Chris Harden
Stand Up for Veterans and Military Families"Chris will work to expand access to VA healthcare and reduce wait times, particularly for rural veterans who may otherwise need to travel long distances for care."5
None of the six checks
Health care
John Cowan
Healthcare That Puts Americans First"Fix the problems created by Obamacare" ... "lower premiums, expand choices, and put patients back in charge of their own care."2
None of the six checks
Chris Harden
Protect Our Environment and Public Health"Chris supports clean air, clean water, responsible growth, and practical investments that protect public health while supporting local jobs and economic opportunity."5
None of the six checks
Housing
John Cowan
Nothing on this topic
Chris Harden
Invest in Infrastructure, Housing, and Clean Energy"Chris will work to increase the supply of housing that younger Georgians need to build their lives and that older Georgians need to retire with security and dignity."5
None of the six checks
Schools and education
John Cowan
Nothing on this topic
Chris Harden
Expand Opportunity Through Education and Workforce Development"Chris supports strong public schools, career and technical education, apprenticeship programs, workforce training, and affordable routes to higher education."5
None of the six checks
Child care and families
John Cowan
An Economy That Works For American Families"delivering meaningful tax relief for families and small businesses, investing in American workers, and strengthening domestic industries"2
None of the six checks
Chris Harden
Lower Costs for Families"he supports raising the minimum wage so that a full day's work can support a stable life."5
Names a policy
Technology and privacy
John Cowan
Nothing on this topic
Chris Harden
Responsible Oversight of Data Center Development"Data centers built here should meet strict standards for protecting the environment and water supply, employing local labor, and generating their own power." Also: "Ratepayers should not be left footing the bill."5
Names a policySays how they'd do it
Elections and voting
John Cowan
Elections Americans Can Trust"Require proof of citizenship to vote, secure our election infrastructure, and demand full transparency in how ballots are cast and counted"2
Names a policy
Chris Harden
Get Corporate Money Out of Politics"Chris has pledged not to accept corporate PAC money." Also: "closing loopholes that allow unlimited spending to overwhelm the voices of everyday voters."5
None of the six checks
Ban Partisan Gerrymandering"Chris supports independent redistricting commissions that draw fair maps, respect real communities, and create more competitive elections."5
Names a policy
Ethics, term limits and money in politics
John Cowan
Nothing on this topic
Chris Harden
Ban Congressional Stock Trading"Harden supports a full ban on stock trading for members of Congress, federal judges, senior Executive Branch officials, and their immediate families."5
Names a policy
Demand Real Transparency in Washington"The American people deserve the truth, and accountability should not depend on wealth or political connections."5
None of the six checks
Taxes, jobs and the economy
John Cowan
Nothing on this topic
Chris Harden
Deliver a Tax Cut for the Middle Class"Chris will fight for middle-class tax relief while ensuring that large corporations and the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share."5
None of the six checks
Grow Small Businesses and Local Economies"Chris supports expanding access to capital for small businesses, reducing unnecessary barriers for entrepreneurs, encouraging innovation, and creating conditions that allow local businesses to grow, hire, and invest."5
None of the six checks
Crack Down on Price Gouging"He will fight to prohibit AI-driven surveillance pricing for essential goods such as groceries and support stronger federal enforcement against corporate price gouging."5
Names a policy
Rights and freedoms
John Cowan
Freedoms That Define America"Preserve and protect our constitutional rights to free speech, freedom of worship, and the right to bear arms."2
None of the six checks
Chris Harden
Nothing on this topic
How government works
John Cowan
Government That Answers To The People"Clean up Washington by banning Congressional stock trading, strengthening ethics rules, and fighting for term limits"2
Names a policy
Chris Harden
Clean Up Congress"Harden supports a lifetime ban on former members of Congress lobbying the federal government." Also: "He also supports an age limit of 80 for members of Congress."5
Names a policyIncludes a number or target
Their record
John Cowan
  • Describes himself as a neurosurgeon who "has spent decades caring for patients across Georgia's 11th District."4 His site names no office held and no votes or laws.
Chris Harden
  • Says he has worked "as a parent defense attorney" for "more than fourteen years."6 His site names no office held and no votes or laws.
In their words
John Cowan

"It's time to send in the doctor and give a dose of common sense to Washington."

John Cowan, campaign site3

"Clean up Washington by banning Congressional stock trading, strengthening ethics rules, and fighting for term limits"

John Cowan, campaign site2
Chris Harden

"Politicians should not choose their voters. Voters should choose their representatives."

Chris Harden, campaign site5

"Public service should never become a pathway to personal enrichment."

Chris Harden, campaign site5
Where we read it
John Cowan
Website: cowanforcongress.com/issues.html (checked 11/5/2026)
Chris Harden
Website: electharden.com (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • Both want a ban on Congressional stock trading. Cowan: "banning Congressional stock trading."2 Harden: "a full ban on stock trading for members of Congress."5
  • Both want lower health insurance premiums. Cowan: "lower premiums, expand choices."2 Harden wants families not "hit with higher premiums because Congress fails to act."5
  • Both say Congress should not be a career. Cowan: "fighting for term limits."2 Harden: "Serving in Congress should be the highest form of public service, not a career."5

Where they really split

  • Health law: Cowan: "Fix the problems created by Obamacare."2 Harden: "restore and expand those credits" under the Affordable Care Act.5
  • Taxes: Cowan: "meaningful tax relief for families and small businesses."2 Harden: "middle-class tax relief while ensuring that large corporations and the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share."5

What each one leaves out

  • Cowan's five issues name a policy on two (elections, and ethics in government) and spell out how on none. They give no costs, numbers or dates, and the site shows no earlier action.2, 4
  • Harden's 15 issues name a policy on seven and spell out how on one (data centers). One gives a number (an age limit of 80). None gives a cost or date, and the site shows no earlier action on any issue. He has pledged not to take corporate PAC money; the site doesn't say he has ever voted on campaign finance.5, 6
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 Cowan campaign, Issues: cowanforcongress.com/issues.html
  3. John Cowan campaign, Home: cowanforcongress.com
  4. John Cowan campaign, Meet Dr. Cowan: cowanforcongress.com/meet-dr-cowan.html
  5. Chris Harden campaign, Home and Priorities: electharden.com
  6. Chris Harden campaign, About Chris: electharden.com/more-about-chris
  7. Chris Harden campaign, News & Media: electharden.com/news-media-new