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Air Force veteran, educator and nonprofit founder advances to November general election. If elected, Nikki would become the first Black woman elected to serve as a state Labor Commissioner anywhere in the United States.

After leading the Democratic primary, Nikki Porcher received Shawn Harris' endorsement for the June 16 runoff.

Democratic candidate for Georgia labor commissioner, Nikki Porcher, to debate live on GPB on Monday, June 1.

Porcher campaign enters runoff with strong statewide momentum, a winning team, and a plan to deliver for Georgia workers.

Drawing on lived experience as a veteran, parent, and entrepreneur, Nikki Porcher’s plan for the Georgia Department of Labor centers jobs, training, and opportunity.

When people learned I was running for office, they asked what office I was running for. Then they asked how they could support me. Some asked about maximum donation limits. Others mentioned political action committees. What they did not ask was why I was running. They did not ask what I believed. They did not ask why now. There was no curiosity about the work itself. There was no interview. Support was assumed simply because I was in the room.

Recently, the Georgia Department of Labor released a strategic plan outlining long-promised improvements to unemployment services and workforce systems. The goals are familiar: clearer communication, fewer steps, better service. And after years of frustration, many people want to believe this moment marks a turning point.

Today Nikki Porcher announced the next major phase of her campaign for Georgia Labor Commissioner: the "Every County Counts" initiative. A statewide, 159-county engagement and fundraising initiative that aims to highlight supporters who often feel isolated in their communities, especially in small or rural counties .

Running a campaign is about more than slogans or speeches, it's about building the structure that allows a message to reach people. In Georgia, that structure is funded by people. Understanding how campaigns are funded helps make the process more transparent and shows how every contribution, large or small,  keeps democracy working.

When a major employer shuts down or a storm hits, the Labor Commissioner's leadership and policies can be the difference between a temporary setback and a months-long gap in income for families. This post breaks down what the Labor Commissioner actually does when crisis hits.

If you have ever tried to figure out where to report a workplace issue, you know how confusing it can be. Different agencies handle different issues, and they all use different systems. But being informed will help you match your issue to the right office.

When I share that I am running for Georgia’s Labor Commissioner, the first question I hear almost every time is a simple one: What does the Labor Commissioner actually do? It is a fair question. I wrote this post to answer this question and to explain the Labor Commissioner's responsibilities.

I didn’t arrive at this moment by accident. My path here was shaped by the many roles I’ve lived in Georgia’s workforce, roles that gave me a front-row seat to how our systems actually function for everyday people. Through all of my experiences, I learned one thing clearly: Our systems don’t fail because people aren’t trying, they fail because they weren’t designed for regular people to succeed. Which is why I want to build a Georgia where work works for everyone.