Cleveland Unseats Hilton in Georgia House District 48

Democrat Adam Cleveland won the Georgia state House District 48 seat over Republican incumbent Scott Hilton in the November 3, 2026 election.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a plain brick civic building with a flagpole and pine tree in deep red, cream, and navy, evoking a Georgia legislative district election. — Democrat Adam Cleveland defeated incumbent Republican Scott Hilton for Georgia House District 48 on November 3, 2026, winning 50.81 percent of the vote. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democratic challenger Adam Cleveland defeated incumbent Republican Scott Hilton for the Georgia state House District 48 seat in the November 3, 2026 election. Cleveland won 50.81 percent of the vote to Hilton's 49.19 percent.

Why it matters

Cleveland said his win signals that District 48 voters want change and a political outsider, while Hilton had campaigned on reducing the cost of living through property tax relief and reduced regulations. The result shifts control of a seat covering portions of Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

Cleveland received 50.81 percent of the vote to Hilton's 49.19 percent in the November 3, 2026 contest. The extraction does not include total votes cast or the official certification status.

The players

Adam Cleveland

Cleveland is an attorney, small business owner and Johns Creek resident who won his first political campaign, having pledged to expand reproductive health access, remove school voucher programs and support ranked-choice voting and term limits.

Scott Hilton

Hilton is a small business owner who previously represented District 95 after his 2016 election, lost that seat in 2018, and was elected to represent District 48 in 2022.

The details

Cleveland watched the results come in at a Johns Creek clubhouse surrounded by supporters. The district includes parts of Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Roswell and Peachtree Corners across Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

2016: Hilton was elected state representative for District 95.
2018: Hilton lost the District 95 seat.
2022: Hilton was elected state representative for District 48.
November 3, 2026: Cleveland defeated Hilton in the District 48 election.

Political Context

Hilton's 2018 defeat in District 95 was followed by his 2022 return to the legislature for District 48, and his 2026 loss to Cleveland ends that comeback. The extraction does not describe the specific policy pushback from Republican officials or advocacy groups.

For District 48 residents in parts of Fulton and Gwinnett counties, the seat's new representative will shape state decisions on property taxes and regulation. Cleveland's stated plans include expanding reproductive health access and removing school voucher programs.

The takeaway

Voter preferences in a suburban Georgia district shifted toward an outsider challenger in 2026. Readers tracking state policy on taxes and education can watch how the new representative's proposals develop.