I’m running for U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia’s 14th District as a certified write-in candidate in the November 3, 2026, election. I would have preferred to have my name printed on the ballot. Georgia’s requirements for independent candidates made that impractical for my campaign.
To appear on the regular election ballot as an independent, I needed 28,711 valid signatures from voters in the district, collected within a six-month period. Because some signatures can be rejected, a campaign would need to collect far more than the minimum—perhaps 43,000 or more—to have a reasonable cushion. There was also a $5,220 qualifying fee.
That is a huge undertaking for a campaign without a large staff or a great deal of money. Our district includes many smaller communities. Collecting signatures often means driving long distances and going door to door, including during the winter cold and summer heat. Petition sheets must be completed correctly, kept separate by county, and notarized.
For perspective, Tennessee requires only 25 petition signatures for a congressional candidate. Georgia’s independent presidential petition requirement is 7,500 valid signatures statewide. Yet I needed nearly four times that many for one congressional district. I do not think that gives independent candidates or voters a fair chance.
I appeared on the ballot in the March special election after paying the $5,220 qualifying fee myself. For the regular November election, facing the much larger petition requirement, I was forced to chose the write-in route.
Most voters know me as Rob Rush, while my legal surname is Ruszkowski. Months before filing as a write-in candidate, I asked state election officials how to make sure votes for Rob Rush would be recognized. My questions were forwarded to the Secretary of State’s Elections Division, but I did not receive an answer about my name before I filed.
My required newspaper notice identified me by my legal name and said I was commonly known and campaigning as Rob Rush. On the state’s write-in form, I entered my legal name where requested. In a separate field asking what name I wanted on the certified write-in candidate list, I entered Rob Rush.
When I saw the final official list in September 21nd, 2026, it showed only Robert A. Ruszkowski. I contacted the Elections Division over three days and initially received an email saying it was too late to change my write-in name. I was deeply concerned that voters who knew me as Rob Rush might write that name and have their votes go uncounted.
I sent a formal letter explaining that I was asking the state to review the name I had submitted on time, not to accept a new name after the deadline. The next day, the Secretary of State’s general counsel spoke with me and confirmed in writing that the certified list would be updated to Robert A. “Rob Rush” Ruszkowski. She also said counties would be instructed to count votes written for either “Rob Rush” or “Robert Ruszkowski” as votes for me.
I was grateful to get that assurance. My official listing is longer than I wanted, and I think it may be confusing to voters. But the important thing is that Rob Rush is now recognized.
I believe voters should have more choices, and serious candidates should have a realistic opportunity to reach the ballot. I want Georgia to reconsider its signature requirement and six-month collection limit. I also support clearer instructions for write-in candidates, a primary system that gives voters more choice, ranked-choice voting, and independent redistricting.
These rules affect who gets heard and who voters get to consider. My experience has made me even more determined to work for an election system that serves the people.