2026 Georgia gubernatorial election
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| Elections in Georgia |
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The 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Georgia. Incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited and cannot seek election to a third consecutive term.[1]
Background
Georgia is currently a swing state at the federal level (with two Democratic senators and having voted very close to the nation as a whole in Donald Trump's 2024 win i.e voting for Trump by 2.2 percent) but it has maintained a Republican lean at the state level, with Republicans holding all state-wide seats in the 2022 midterms in which Governor Brian Kemp was re-elected in a rematch against Democrat Stacey Abrams by a 7.5 percent margin and with 53.4 percent of the vote,[2] improving upon his 1.3-point victory against her four years earlier. Republicans also control both houses of the Georgia Legislature.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Chris Carr, Georgia Attorney General (2016–present)[3]
- Burt Jones, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia (2023–present)[4]
- Ken Yasger, member of the Georgia Army National Guard[5]
Publicly expressed interest
- Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State (2019–present)[6]
Declined
- Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. representative from Georgia's 14th congressional district (2021–present) (running for re-election)[7]
- Andrew Clyde, U.S. representative from Georgia's 9th congressional district (2021–present)[8] (running for re-election)[9]
Endorsements
Burt Jones
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, 45th and 47th president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[10]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Chris Carr |
Burt Jones |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/20 Insight[11] | September 25–28, 2023 | 245 (LV) | ± 6.3% | 9% | 18% | 73% |
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Chris Carr (R) | $3,439,652 | $770,793 | $2,668,859 |
| Burt Jones (R) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission[12] | |||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Keisha Lance Bottoms, former director of the Office of Public Engagement (2022–2023) and former mayor of Atlanta (2018–2022)[13]
- Olujimi Brown, church founder[14]
- Jason Esteves, state senator from the 6th district (2023–present)[15]
- Derrick Jackson, state representative (2017–2023, 2023–present) and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022[16]
- Mike Thurmond, former DeKalb County CEO (2017–2025), former Georgia Labor Commissioner (1999–2011), and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010[17]
Publicly expressed interest
- Stacey Abrams, founder of Fair Fight Action, former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives (2011–2017), and nominee for governor in 2018 and 2022[18]
- Geoff Duncan, former Republican Lieutenant Governor of Georgia (2019–2023)[19]
- Ruwa Romman, state representative from the 97th district (2023–present)[20]
Potential
- Van Johnson, mayor of Savannah (2020–present)[21]
Declined
- Jason Carter, former state senator from the 42nd district (2010–2015), grandson of former governor and president Jimmy Carter, and nominee for governor in 2014[15]
- Lucy McBath, U.S. representative from Georgia's 6th congressional district (2019–present)[22]
Endorsements
Jason Esteves
- State legislators
- Bryce Berry, state representative from the 56th district (2025–present)[23]
- Saira Draper, state representative from the 90th district (2023–present)[23]
- Donzella James, state senator from the 35th district (1994–2002, 2009–present)[23]
- RaShaun Kemp, state senator from the 38th district (2025–present)[23]
- Phil Olaleye, state representative from the 59th district (2023–present)[23]
- Nan Orrock, state senator from the 36th district (2007–present)[23]
- Elena Parent, state senator from the 42nd district (2015–present)[23]
- Local officials
- Doug Shipman, president of the Atlanta City Council (2022–present)[23]
- Ted Terry, DeKalb County commissioner from the 6th district (2021–present)[23]
- Organizations
Declined to endorse
- State legislators
- Jason Carter, former state senator from the 42nd district (2010–2015)[15]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) | $1,125,668 | $32,973 | $1,092,695 |
| Olujimi Brown (D) | $32,869 | $16,648 | $16,221 |
| Jason Esteves (D) | $1,178,320 | $214,563 | $963,757 |
| Derrick Johnson (D) | $88,211 | $29,877 | $58,334 |
| Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission[12] | |||
Polling
Hypothetical polling
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[25] | Tossup | January 23, 2025 |
| Inside Elections[26] | Battleground | February 6, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[27] | Lean R | May 1, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[28] | Tossup | June 30, 2025 |
Notes
See also
References
- ^ Van Brimmer, Adam (January 15, 2023). "Kemp inauguration: Governor's bid for higher office begins. Will it be Senate? President?". Savannah Morning News. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg (March 16, 2023). "Abrams says she will 'likely run again.' That doesn't excite some Democrats". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg (November 21, 2024). "Georgia AG Chris Carr launches GOP campaign for governor, kicking off 2026 race". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg (July 8, 2025). "Burt Jones enters Georgia governor's race with Trump-aligned platform". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ Johnson, Patrick (November 2, 2023). "Southern, out, and electable: Sexual identity is not the deciding factor". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
- ^ "'All options are on the table': Ga. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger talks 2026 political plans". WTOC-TV. August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ Amy, Jeff (July 29, 2025). "Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene won't run for governor in 2026". Associated Press. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ Solender, Andrew (December 12, 2024). "GOP Rep. Ciscomani passes on run for Arizona governor". Axios. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) is not considering a run for Senate or governor and his 'focused on and happy serving [Northeast] GA in the House,' a spokesperson said.
- ^ Daughtry, Will (February 6, 2025). "Amid primary challenge, Rep. Andrew Clyde talks 2026 reelection bid". WDUN-FM. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
- ^ Wendler, Jacob (August 11, 2025). "Trump endorses Lt. Gov. Burt Jones for Georgia governor". Politico. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b "20-20 Insight, LLC - Poll of Georgia Likely Voters" (PDF). DocumentCloud. September 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ a b "Search for Candidates/Campaign Committees". Georgia Campaign Finance Commission.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg (May 20, 2025). "Bottoms enters race for Georgia governor with pledge to fight Trumpism". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Poole, Shelia (August 29, 2024). "Impact Church's former pastor, Olu Brown, announces bid for Georgia governor". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c Amy, Jeff (April 21, 2025). "Georgia Democrat Jason Esteves says he's running for governor in 2026". Associated Press. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
- ^ Mitchell, Tia (June 3, 2025). "State Rep. Derrick Jackson is latest Democrat to launch bid for governor". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ Darnell, Tim (August 6, 2025). "Michael Thurmond announces 2026 Georgia governor's bid". WANF. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg (April 24, 2025). "Stacey Abrams considers third run for governor as some Georgia Democrats move on". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg; Mitchell, Tia; Murphy, Patricia; Beam, Adam (July 1, 2025). "Geoff Duncan weighs whether to run for Georgia governor - as a Democrat". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg (August 20, 2025). "How to take on Trump? Georgia Democrats face the test in governor's race". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg; Mitchell, Tia; Murphy, Patricia; Beam, Adam (April 24, 2025). "Republican Bill Cowsert launches campaign for Georgia attorney general". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ "Rep. Lucy McBath says she will not campaign for governor". WXIA-TV. July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Darnell, Tim (May 29, 2025). "Esteves picks up 18 Atlanta endorsements in Democratic governor's primary". WANF. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg; Mitchell, Tia; Murphy, Patricia; Beam, Adam. "Latino Victory Fund backs Jason Esteves in Democratic primary for governor". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
External links
Official campaign websites