2026 Georgia gubernatorial election

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2026 Georgia gubernatorial election
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Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Brian Kemp
Republican



The 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Georgia, with primary elections to be held on May 19, 2026. Incumbent Republican governor Brian Kemp is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term. [1]

Contents

Background

Georgia is considered a swing state at the federal level, but the state has maintained a Republican lean at the state level, with Republicans holding all state-wide seats in the 2022 midterms, where incumbent governor Brian Kemp was re-elected in a rematch against Democrat Stacey Abrams by a 7.5 percent margin. [2] Republicans also control both the state senate and house of representatives, together with Kemp's governorship establishing a government trifecta, alongside complete Republican pick on the state's supreme court. A year prior to the elections, the 2025 Georgia Public Service Commission special election resulted in two Democrats being elected to the Commission. This was the first time that Democrats won any seats on the PSC since the 2000 elections or any statewide non-federal offices since the 2006 elections. [3] [4]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Chris Carr
Local officials
  • 53 county sheriffs [13]
Burt Jones
Executive branch officials
State legislators
Individuals

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Chris Carr (R)$3,439,652$770,793$2,668,859
Burt Jones (R)*$1,025,186$4,881,542$143,644
Brad Raffensperger (R)*$3,164,392$3,116,064$48,328
Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission [17]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [c] 		Margin
of error		Brad
Raffensperger		Burt
Jones		Chris
Carr		Clark
Dean		Ken
Yasger		Undecided
University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs [18] [A] October 15–23, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.1%15%22%7%1%–55%
Quantus Insights (R) [19] October 13–14, 2025900 (RV)± 3.2%15%32%12%2%1%38%
20/20 Insight [20] September 25–28, 2023245 (LV)± 6.3%–18%9%––73%
Hypothetical polling
Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Burt Jones vs. Brad Raffensperger vs. Chris Carr
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [c] 		Margin
of error		Marjorie
Taylor Greene		Burt
Jones		Brad
Raffersperger		Chris
Carr		Other/Undecided
yes. every kid. (D) [21] July 22–23, 2025608 (LV)± 3.97%22%18%13%11%36%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Keisha Lance Bottoms
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions
Jason Esteves
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions
Organizations

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash 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 Jackson (D)$88,211$29,877$58,334
Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission [17]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [c] 		Margin
of error		Olujimi
Brown		Derrick
Jackson		Geoff
Duncan		Jason
Esteves		Keisha Lance
Bottoms		Michael
Thurmond		Ruwa
Romman		Undecided
University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs [18] [A] October 13–21, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.1%–1%5%3%40%11%1%39%
Frederick Polls (D) [35] [B] September 23–25, 20251,513 (LV)± 2.5%2%2%17%10%43%25%––
Public Policy Polling (D) [36] [C] September 15–16, 2025620 (LV)–1%2%9%4%38%12%–43%
Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [c] 		Margin
of error		Stacey
Abrams		OtherUndecided
20/20 Insight [20] September 25–28, 2023247 (LV)± 6.2%52%34%14%

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [37] TossupSeptember 11, 2025
Inside Elections [38] Tilt RAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [39] Lean RSeptember 4, 2025
Race to the WH [40] TossupSeptember 11, 2025

Notes

  1. ↑ Greene represented the 130th district (1983–1993), 158th district (1993–2003), 134th district (2003–2005) as a Democrat. He represented the 149th district (2005–2013) as both a Democrat and a Republican, switching parties in 2010. He has since represented the 151st district (2013–2023) and 154th district (2023–present) as a Republican.
  2. ↑ Powell served as a Democrat from 1991 to 1993 for the 13th district and 1993 to 2005 for the 23rd district. He represented the 29th district from 2005 to 2013, defecting from the party in 2010. He went on to serve as a Republican from 2013 to 2023 for the 32nd district, and from 2023 to now for the 33rd district.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. 1 2 Poll sponsored by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  2. ↑ Poll sponsored by Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund, a center-left nonprofit organization
  3. ↑ Poll sponsored by Bottoms's campaign

See also

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Vakil, Caroline (November 4, 2025). "Democrats win key Georgia special elections seen as midterm bellwethers". The Hill . Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  4. ↑ Jones, Emily (November 6, 2025). "What Georgia Democrats' PSC wins could mean for power bills and the midterm elections". WABE. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Bluestein, Greg (September 13, 2025). "Clark Dean preps outsider-themed GOP run for Georgia governor". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . ISSN   1539-7459. Archived from the original on September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ Bluestein, Greg (July 8, 2025). "Burt Jones enters Georgia governor's race with Trump-aligned platform". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  8. ↑ Lupiani, Joyce; Tuman, Lindsay (September 17, 2025). "Brad Raffensperger announces run for Georgia governor". WAGA-TV . Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Patrick (November 2, 2023). "Southern, out, and electable: Sexual identity is not the deciding factor". Christian Science Monitor . Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Daughtry, Will (February 6, 2025). "Amid primary challenge, Rep. Andrew Clyde talks 2026 reelection bid". WDUN-FM . Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  12. ↑ Amy, Jeff (July 29, 2025). "Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene won't run for governor in 2026". Associated Press . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  13. ↑ Press (September 24, 2025). "53 Sheriffs Endorse Chris Carr for Governor". The Georgia Virtue. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  14. ↑ Wendler, Jacob (August 11, 2025). "Trump endorses Lt. Gov. Burt Jones for Georgia governor". Politico . Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 "State Legislators and Sheriffs Endorse Lt. Governor Burt Jones for Governor". Lanier County News. September 22, 2025. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  16. ↑ Bluestein, Greg (August 27, 2025). "Jones tries to straddle Trump loyalty and broad appeal in Georgia governor's launch". AJC Politics. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Search for Candidates/Campaign Committees". Georgia Campaign Finance Commission.
  18. 1 2 Bluestein, Greg (November 5, 2025). "Keisha Lance Bottoms, Burt Jones lead in Georgia governor's race" . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Quantus Georgia Poll: The Base is Listening, Not Following". Quantus Insights. October 15, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  20. 1 2 "20-20 Insight, LLC - Poll of Georgia Likely Voters" (PDF). DocumentCloud . September 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Georgia GOP Voters Put Education Freedom Front and Center" (PDF). yes. every kid. Foundation. September 18, 2025. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  22. ↑ 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.
  23. ↑ Schneider, Elena. "Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan runs for Georgia governor — as a Democrat". Politico . Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Amy, Jeff (April 21, 2025). "Georgia Democrat Jason Esteves says he's running for governor in 2026". Associated Press . Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ 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.
  27. ↑ Amy, Jeff (September 29, 2025). "Ruwa Romman, with a history of Palestinian advocacy, enters the Georgia governor's race". Associated Press . Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ Darnell, Tim (August 6, 2025). "Michael Thurmond announces 2026 Georgia governor's bid". WANF . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  29. 1 2 Vakil, Caroline (October 15, 2025). "Jason Carter endorses Jason Esteves in Democratic primary for Georgia governor". The Hill . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Rep. Lucy McBath says she will not campaign for governor". WXIA-TV . July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  31. 1 2 3 Jarrett, Kim (August 14, 2025). "Big endorsements a year before Georgia's gubernatorial election". The Center Square . Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Darnell, Tim (May 29, 2025). "Esteves picks up 18 Atlanta endorsements in Democratic governor's primary". WANF . Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Senator Esteves is a proud member of the Democratic Party and will also be running for governor in 2026. he is a passionate advocate for building a Georgia where families can thrive". Teamsters Local 528.
  34. ↑ 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.
  35. ↑ "Poll Results: Georgia Democratic Primary for Governor and Opinions on Education Issues" (PDF). Frederick Polls. October 4, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  36. ↑ Bluestein, Greg; Mitchell, Tia; Murphy, Patricia; Beam, Adam (September 25, 2025). "Bottoms up? Poll shows why name recognition matters in governor's race". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  37. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  39. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

Official campaign websites

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