Nikki was raised in Austell, GA. She pursued higher education at the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. Merritt has been a resident of Gwinnett County for over 22 years and currently resides in Grayson with her husband and two dogs. She has children who have attended Gwinnett County public schools and are now pursuing higher education in Georgia's universities.

Nikki had 23 years of experience in the telecommunications sector and was an active supporter of her local labor union, CWA 3204.

Nikki Merritt assumed office in the State Senate in 2020, representing the 9th District of Gwinnett County. She serves on several Senate Committees, including Children and Families, Government Oversight, Insurance and Labor, Natural Resources and the Environment, and Urban Affairs. Nikki is also the Chair of the Gwinnett County Senate Delegation and Vice Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

Candidate website

Georgia Senate panel advances bill aimed at making the state even less hospitable to union workers

Believes Georgia excels in business but lags in workers' rights, ranking low nationally. Advocates for enhanced worker protections and union support to balance business success with employee welfare.

Said, "Not only is the stock of available housing too small to sustain a growing workforce... it also crucial to supporting Georgia’s economy."

The candidate's website says, "HB 1015 Income tax saving to benefit every household HB 1015"

The candidate's website says, "HB717 Gwinnett County Ad Valorem tax-increase homestead exemption $8000"

Advocates for enhanced worker protections and union support to balance business success with employee welfare.

The candidate's website says, "Reducing the ability of rent-to-own companies to take over neighborhoods, allowing local residents to engage in home ownership (the most important factor in securing intergenerational wealth for low income families)"

Supported "Reducing the ability of rent-to-own companies to take over neighborhoods, allowing local residents to engage in home ownership (the most important factor in securing intergenerational wealth for low income families.)"

Plans to address Georgia's housing shortage and affordability crisis, emphasizing the economic necessity of ensuring all residents have access to safe, affordable homes to support a growing workforce and the state's economy.

Plans to address Georgia's housing shortage and affordability crisis.

The candidate's website says, "SB166 - Allowing public employees to engage in collective bargaining in wage negotiations"

Supports  Senate Bill 166 - Allowing public employees to engage in collective bargaining in wage negotiations"

The candidate's website says, "SB 25 Raise the minimum wage"

Supports Senate Bill 25 which would raise the minimum wage.

The candidate's website says, "HB404 - Supporting sweeping overhauls in renter protections and regulations, to ensure that every resident has safe housing"

Supports House Bill 404 which supports "sweeping overhauls in renter protections and regulations, to ensure that every resident has safe housing."

The candidate's website says, "Combat Anti Union Bills SB367"

Opposes Senate Bill 367, which would withold state incentives from businesses who "recognize union representation without first holding a secret ballot rather than a card check."

- Advocates for enhanced worker protections and union support to balance business success with employee welfare.
- Supported "Reducing the ability of rent-to-own companies to take over neighborhoods, allowing local residents to engage in home ownership (the most important factor in securing intergenerational wealth for low income families.)"
- Plans to address Georgia's housing shortage and affordability crisis.
- Supports  Senate Bill 166 - Allowing public employees to engage in collective bargaining in wage negotiations"
- Supports Senate Bill 25 which would raise the minimum wage.
- Supports House Bill 404 which supports "sweeping overhauls in renter protections and regulations, to ensure that every resident has safe housing."
- Opposes Senate Bill 367, which would withold state incentives from businesses who "recognize union representation without first holding a secret ballot rather than a card check."

Economy

As of July 25, 2024, Nikki Merritt’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Said, "Access to affordable healthcare... is in part a result of short-sighted policies designed to preserve profit over Georgians’ wellness. I fully support expanding Medicaid to cover those most in need... and allowing Doctors and Patients to make the choices that are right for them... I am also committed to seeing an improvement in racial equity in healthcare - black women are three times more likely to die due to complications in childbirth compared to white women in Georgia - we must close this gap."

The candidate's website says, "Expanding Medicaid fully to cover tens of thousands of Georgia residents who cannot afford healthcare, including thousands of children"

Said, "A key component of our ability to work and live is access to affordable healthcare... I am troubled by the limited access to critical healthcare services in poor and rural communities around our state... I fully support expanding Medicaid to cover those most in need... and allowing Doctors and Patients to make the choices that are right for them... I am also committed to seeing an improvement in racial equity in healthcare - black women are three times more likely to die due to complications in childbirth compared to white women in Georgia - we must close this gap."

Said, "I fully support expanding Medicaid to cover those most in need... and allowing Doctors and Patients to make the choices that are right for them... I am also committed to seeing an improvement in racial equity in healthcare."

The candidate's website says, "Protecting abortion rights and allowing women to make family planning decisions without government intervention - we need to decriminalize reproductive healthcare"

Supports "Protecting abortion rights and allowing women to make family planning decisions without government intervention - we need to decriminalize reproductive healthcare"

The candidate's website says, "SB 35 require Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a benefit for Medicaid recipients"

Supports "Senate Bill 35 which requires the Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a benefit for Medicaid recipients."

The candidate's website says, "SB76 - Capping insulin costs for state employees on the benefits plan"

Supports "Senate Bill 76 which caps insulin costs for state employees on the benefits plan."

The candidate's website says, "Keeping the government out of doctor-patient relationships, including for trans teenagers seeking counseling and healthcare"

Supports "Keeping the government out of doctor-patient relationships, including for trans teenagers seeking counseling and healthcare."

- Said, "I fully support expanding Medicaid to cover those most in need... and allowing Doctors and Patients to make the choices that are right for them... I am also committed to seeing an improvement in racial equity in healthcare."
- Supports "Protecting abortion rights and allowing women to make family planning decisions without government intervention - we need to decriminalize reproductive healthcare"
- Supports "Senate Bill 35 which requires the Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a benefit for Medicaid recipients."
- Supports "Senate Bill 76 which caps insulin costs for state employees on the benefits plan."
- Supports "Keeping the government out of doctor-patient relationships, including for trans teenagers seeking counseling and healthcare."

Healthcare

Said, "We need inclusive leadership in Georgia to make sure all voices are given the respect and time they deserve. As your next State Senator I will be that leader."

The candidate's website says, "SB??? - Protecting election workers and officials from doxxing"

The candidate's website says, "SB89 - Allowing campaign funds to be used for childcare and dependent care, removing barriers for lower-income and new parents, diversifying our General Assembly and bringing these critical voices to the Capitol"

Supports "Senate Bill 89 which allows campaign funds to be used for childcare and dependent care, removing barriers for lower-income and new parents, diversifying our General Assembly and bringing these critical voices to the Capitol"

Said, "We must continue to combat misinformation, protect public servants and civil liberties, and ensure equitable access to the polls for all Georgians."

The candidate's website says, "Combatting voter suppression legislation that reduce voting access"

Supports "combatting voter suppression legislation that reduces voting access."

The candidate's website says, "We must continue to combat misinformation, protect public servants and civil liberties, and ensure equitable access to the polls for all Georgians."

Said "we must continue to combat misinformation, protect public servants and civil liberties, and ensure equitable access to the polls for all Georgians."

The candidate's website says, "Senator Nikki Merritt remains steadfast in her commitment to championing fairness and equity... tirelessly fighting to ensure that every voice is heard..."

Committed "to championing fairness and equity... tirelessly fighting to ensure that every voice is heard..."

- Supports "Senate Bill 89 which allows campaign funds to be used for childcare and dependent care, removing barriers for lower-income and new parents, diversifying our General Assembly and bringing these critical voices to the Capitol"
- Said, "We must continue to combat misinformation, protect public servants and civil liberties, and ensure equitable access to the polls for all Georgians."
- Supports "combatting voter suppression legislation that reduces voting access."
- Said "we must continue to combat misinformation, protect public servants and civil liberties, and ensure equitable access to the polls for all Georgians."
- Committed "to championing fairness and equity... tirelessly fighting to ensure that every voice is heard..."

Voting & Elections

The candidate's website says, "SB239 - Requiring carbon monoxide detectors in all rental properties in Georgia - a cheap and effective safety mechanism to protect renters"

Supports Senate Bill 239 - which requires carbon monoxide detectors in all rental properties in Georgia - a cheap and effective safety mechanism to protect renters."

The candidate's website says, "SB441 - Improving oversight in prescriptions of opioids to prevent expansion of the opioid epidemic"

Supports  Senate Bill441 which improves oversight in prescriptions of opioids to prevent expansion of the opioid epidemic."

- Supports Senate Bill 239 - which requires carbon monoxide detectors in all rental properties in Georgia - a cheap and effective safety mechanism to protect renters."
- Supports  Senate Bill441 which improves oversight in prescriptions of opioids to prevent expansion of the opioid epidemic."

Public Safety

Supports equitable access to quality education for all Georgia's children, improved teacher compensation, and opposes diverting public funds to private schools via vouchers.

Believes in equitable education for all Georgia's children, opposes vouchers for private schools, and supports improved pay and benefits for teachers to strengthen the state and nation's future.

Opposes vouchers for private schools, and supports improved pay and benefits for teachers.

The candidate's website says, "Anti-voucher, promoting equity in school spending and protecting at-risk students in minority and rural communities"

The candidate's website says she will " protect at-risk students in minority and rural communities."

The candidate's website says, "Opposing don’t-say-gay bills and teacher/literary censorship"

Opposes don’t-say-gay bills and teacher/literary censorship

- Opposes vouchers for private schools, and supports improved pay and benefits for teachers.
- The candidate's website says she will " protect at-risk students in minority and rural communities."
- Opposes don’t-say-gay bills and teacher/literary censorship

Education

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Nikki Merritt

Michael attended the University of Georgia, where he received a bachelor's degree of business administration in Finance, Risk Management and Insurance. He volunteers with the Georgia branch of the Future Business Leaders of America.

Michael is the founder of VPN.com, as well as Proxyserver.com and coolmathgames.com. Previously he has also worked for the Forbes Technology Council. Michael worked as campaign manager on Colton Moore's Georgia State Senate campaign in 2020.

Michael Gargiulo's run for State Senator is his first run for public office.

Ballotpedia, Michael Gargiulo

Supports lower property and income tax rates.

Supports expanding business opportunity zones, reducing regulations on new businesses and churches, and strengthening employee rights while maintaining Georgia as a Right to Work state.

- Supports lower property and income tax rates.
- Supports expanding business opportunity zones, reducing regulations on new businesses and churches, and strengthening employee rights while maintaining Georgia as a Right to Work state.

As of July 25, 2024, Michael Gargiulo’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports repealing the Certificate of Need, ensuring fair medical billing, and guaranteeing healthcare access for children and seniors.

- Supports repealing the Certificate of Need, ensuring fair medical billing, and guaranteeing healthcare access for children and seniors.

The candidate's website says, "Georgia is in dire need of more refreshing freedom-focused Republican Senators who will fight to uphold the rule of law and stop Gwinnett from becoming a sanctuary county to illegal immigrants."

Plans to "stop Gwinnett from becoming a sanctuary county to illegal immigrants."

Supports increased border security measures.

Supports "quality funding, recruitment, and benefits for law enforcement."

Supports the revival of the Jail Dogs Program to promote rehabilitation.

- Plans to "stop Gwinnett from becoming a sanctuary county to illegal immigrants."
- Supports increased border security measures.
- Supports "quality funding, recruitment, and benefits for law enforcement."
- Supports the revival of the Jail Dogs Program to promote rehabilitation.

Advocates for "public school reform and safety."

Believes in ensuring "proper funding, recruitment, and benefits for school safety initiatives."

- Advocates for "public school reform and safety."
- Believes in ensuring "proper funding, recruitment, and benefits for school safety initiatives."

Michael Gargiulo

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Georgia State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State Senators are involved in approving some appointments by the Governor.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 56 Georgia senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342.