Venola Mason is a Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives representing District 94, which spans parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. She is an educator, community advocate, and mom who won a special election in April 2026 to succeed Karen Bennett, who resigned after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining federal benefits. Mason topped the March 2026 nonpartisan blanket primary with 44.2% of the vote and defeated former Snellville mayor Kelly Kautz with 68.5% in the runoff.

Education and Political Experience

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Mason's family moved to Los Angeles, California, when she was eight for better opportunities. Her passion for education began early, playing "school" with siblings. She taught in classrooms for five years before transitioning to design alternative teacher certification programs across Georgia with nonprofits. For the last 11 years, she has run her own educational consulting firm, partnering with school districts nationwide to develop strategies, coach educators, and facilitate professional learning to boost student achievement.

Mason previously served on the DeKalb County Board of Education for District 6, focusing on policies for engagement, equity, and excellence. Her campaign emphasized strong schools, real opportunity, and healthy families.