Ed Setzler

Setzler received a B.S. in physics from Furman University in 1992.Shaddi Abusaid, [https://web.archive.org/web/20181020000650/https://www.mdjonline.com/elections/setzler-castellana-square-off-in-race-for-house-district/article_8529fad0-d3d1-11e8-b51e-c707f722121a.html Setzler, Castellana square off in race for House District 35], Marietta Daily Journal (October 19, 2018. He served in the U.S. Army, and is a retired Army Ranger.Aaron Gould Sheinin, [https://www.ajc.com/news/stem-cell-foe-named-chair-science-panel/De3qO3b7RGu4IaZ9NdD0UM/ Stem cell foe named chair of science panel], Atlanta Journal-Constitution (January 23, 2013). After leaving the military, he worked as an engineer.

Setzler was elected to the state House from the 35th district, covers parts of northern Cobb County, Georgia. In 2004 and 2006, Setzler was unopposed in the general election.[https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/november_2004_generalelection_totals.pdf Georgia Election Results: Official Results of the November 2, 2004 General Election], Office of the Georgia Secretary of State.[https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/november_2006_generalelection_totals.pdf Georgia Election Results: Official Results of the Tuesday, November 07, 2006 General Election], Office of the Georgia Secretary of State. In 2008, Setzler was challenged by Democratic nominee Jason Adams, a middle school teacher, in the general election; Setzler received 60.8% of the vote to Adams' 39.2%.[https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/november_2008_generalelection_totals.pdf Official Results of the Tuesday, November 04, 2008 General Election], Office of the Georgia Secretary of State. In 2010, Setzler defeated Democratic nominee Matthew D. Adams, receiving 64.6% to Adams' 35.4%.[https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/november_2010_generalelection_total.pdf Official Results of the Tuesday, November 02, 2010 General Election], Office of the Georgia Secretary of State. Selzer ran unopposed for reelection in 2012,[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/42277/113204/en/summary.html General Election: November 6, 2012], Office of the Georgia Secretary of State. 2014. and 2016,[http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/63991/184321/en/summary.html General Election: November 8, 2016], Office of the Georgia Secretary of State. In 2018, Democratic nominee Salvatore Castellana, a restaurant owner and transportation manager, challenged Setzler for reelection. Setzler won more narrowly, with 52.3% of the vote to Castellana's 47.7%.[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/91639/Web02-state.221451/ Official Results: November 6, 2018 General Election], Office of the Georgia Secretary of State. In 2020, Setzler won reelection with 50.47% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Kyle Rinaudo, who received 49.53% of the vote.[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/105369/web.264614/#/detail/53500 State House District 35], November 3, 2020 General Election.

In 2022, Setzler ran for the Georgia Senate in District 37, which contains parts of Cobb and Bartow counties.[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/115465/web.307039/#/detail/43700 State Senate - District 37], November 8, 2022, General/Special Election. The district covers Kennesaw, Acworth, and West Cobb.Chelsea Beimfohr, [https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2022/11/16/fulton-county-judge-blocks-georgias-abortion-ban-what-happens-next/ A Fulton County Judge blocks Georgia’s abortion ban. What happens next?], WANF (November 16, 2022). He won with 58.84% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Vanessa Parker, who received 41.16% of the vote.

{{Further information|Abortion in Georgia (U.S. state)}}

Since taking office in 2005, Setzler has frequently supported anti-abortion legislation. In 2019, he was the lead sponsor of Georgia House Bill 481, a six-week abortion ban in Georgia.Maya T. Prabhu, [https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-heartbeat-bill-spurs-strong-debate-about-abortion/J4jW7DPuDlwJ0QcD0xPPoN/ Georgia 'heartbeat bill' spurs strong debate about abortion], Atlanta Journal Constitution (March 15, 2019).Jill Nolin, [https://www.unionrecorder.com/news/kemp-signs-strict-anti-abortion-bill/article_b90e68f8-70ee-11e9-adff-13eb549d7274.html Kemp signs strict anti-abortion bill], Union-Recorder (May 7, 2019).Emily Wax-Thibodeaux & Reis Thebault, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/georgia-legislators-pass-heartbeat-bill-banning-most-abortions/2019/03/29/1cc3ec58-516c-11e9-8d28-f5149e5a2fda_story.html Georgia legislators pass 'heartbeat bill' that would ban most abortions], Washington Post (March 29, 2019). Setzler initially included no exceptions in the legislation; a few exceptions were later added in order to secure enough votes for passage.Maya T. Prabhu, [https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/anti-abortion-group-urging-georgia-house-reject-heartbeat-bill/r8sKMTQlIf19HL4g6UqzaP/ Anti-abortion group says ‘heartbeat’ bill not restrictive enough], Atlanta Journal-Constitution (March 26, 2019). The legislation was opposed by Georgia physicians, who feared that it would limit a physician's ability to provide medical care and advice that's in the best interest of the patient" and contains language that "could expose doctors to criminal prosecution for following what’s widely considered to be a medically acceptable standard of care."Gray Chapman, [https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/who-stands-to-lose-the-most-under-georgias-anti-abortion-bill/ Who stands to lose the most under Georgia's anti-abortion bill? These five groups of people will be disproportionately affected], Atlanta (March 20, 2019). Setzler and the other anti-abortion advocates who supported for the legislation sought to use the law as a vehicle to overturn Roe v. Wade (1973).

Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed the legislation into law in May 2019, fulfilling a campaign promise to sign into law the nation's most stringent abortion ban, which was set to go into effect on January 1, 2020.Maya T. Prabhu, [https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/despite-temporary-block-new-law-abortion-remain-focus-2020/m0UfOepbyBO3p5g66fP5TK/ Despite temporary block on new law, abortion to remain focus in 2020], Atlanta Journal-Constitution (October 2, 2019). However, the ACLU of Georgia, Planned Parenthood, and others challenged the legislation as unconstitutional; in October 2019, U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia blocked the legislation from taking effect, and in July 2020, the court issued a permanent injunction declaring it unconstitutional.Larry Felton Johnson, [https://www.acluga.org/en/publications/georgia-anti-abortion-law-declared-unconstitutional-local-reactions-0 Georgia Anti-Abortion Law Declared Unconstitutional: Local Reactions], Cobb County Courier (July 14, 2020). In 2022, however, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe, and three weeks later, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated the district court's injunction.[https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/georgia-doctors-and-advocates-file-new-challenge-six-week-abortion-ban-state-court Georgia Doctors and Advocates File New Challenge to Six-Week Abortion Ban in State Court], ACLU (July 26, 2022).

In 2013, Setzler was named chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology.

In 2012, Setzler introduced legislation, which passed the Georgia House and Senate, to make assisting suicide a felony in the state. The legislation was introduced after Georgia's earlier law on assisted suicide was struck down as unconstitutional by the Georgia Supreme Court.Kristina Torres, [https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/assisted-suicide-ban-passes-senate/ALuh2EKHK7L3Xkp9mciJWJ/ Assisted suicide ban passes Senate], Atlanta Journal-Constitution (March 27, 2012).

Setzler has introduced legislation to ban embryonic stem cell research in Georgia.

In 2015, Setzler introduced legislation that would have eliminated Georgia's 4 percent state sales tax on gasoline, lowered state income tax rates, created a flatter tax structure; and "gradually raise the excise tax on fuel over the next eight years."Aaron Gould Sheinin, [https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/first-counter-proposal-gas-tax-plan-revealed/bhbRcOVJYgPmBuQKaU6inJ/ First counter-proposal to gas tax plan revealed], Atlanta Journal-Constitution (January 14, 2015).

Setzler was an outspoken critic of proposals to expand the number of conditions for which patients are eligible for CBD oil for medical use in Georgia.Lisa Hagen, [http://cp.wabe.org/post/ptsd-back-proposed-ga-medical-marijuana-treatment-list PTSD Back On Proposed Ga. Medical Marijuana Treatment List], WABE (February 25, 2016).

In January 2024, Seltzer co-sponsored S.B.{{nbsp}}390, which would withhold government funding for any libraries in Georgia affiliated with the American Library Association.{{cite news |last1=Tagami |first1=Ty |title=Georgia GOP senators target American Library Association with new bill |url=https://www.ajc.com/education/georgia-gop-senators-target-american-library-association-with-new-bill/QNJGABPZC5AOVNEAJKCVOJUW5Q/ |access-date=25 January 2024 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=January 25, 2024}}{{cite web |title=SB 390 |url=https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/66273 |publisher=Georgia General Assembly |access-date=25 January 2024}}

Seltzer and his wife Tracie have four children; they live in Acworth.

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{{Georgia State Senators}}

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Category:Republican Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Cobb County, Georgia

Category:Furman University alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly