Georgia is entering a weird, high-stakes era. Brian Kemp is heading out the door because of term limits, and for the first time in what feels like forever, the race to replace him doesn't have a "pre-ordained" winner. If you were expecting Stacey Abrams to make it a trilogy, think again. She officially bowed out just a few days ago, on January 8, 2026, saying she's focusing on fighting authoritarianism rather than hitting the campaign trail.
That leaves the door wide open.
Right now, the list of who’s running for governor of Georgia is a mix of seasoned state officials, former mayors, and a few wildcards that make the May 19 primary look like a absolute slugfest. Honestly, it’s not just about who’s "next in line" anymore. It’s about which version of Georgia is going to show up at the polls.
The Republican Side: MAGA vs. The Establishment
The GOP primary is essentially a fight for the soul of the party in the Peach State. You’ve got candidates who are leaning hard into the Trump endorsement and others who are trying to maintain the "Kemp style" of governing—basically, focusing on the economy while keeping the national culture wars at an arm's length.
Burt Jones is currently the guy to beat. As the Lieutenant Governor, he’s already got the statewide name ID and, perhaps more importantly, the full-throated backing of Donald Trump. He’s been leading in the early polls, sitting around 22% in some of the late 2025 surveys. Jones isn't just a politician; he’s the heir to a family oil fortune, meaning he can basically self-fund if things get tight.
Then there’s Chris Carr. He’s the Attorney General and was actually the very first person to jump into this race, making it official way back in late 2024. Carr is seen as the more "traditional" conservative. He’s got the support of dozens of county sheriffs and is banking on a reputation for being tough on gangs and human trafficking.
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Don't count out Brad Raffensperger. Yes, that Brad Raffensperger. The Secretary of State who stood his ground during the 2020 election drama is running, and he’s pulling surprisingly well with moderate Republicans and even some independents.
Others in the GOP mix:
- Clark Dean: A real estate executive who's positioning himself as the outsider.
- Ken Yasger: A member of the Georgia Army National Guard.
- Gregg Kirkpatrick and Leland Olinger II: Also filed, though they're struggling for oxygen against the big names.
The Democratic Field: No Abrams, No Problem?
For years, Georgia Democrats were synonymous with Stacey Abrams. With her out of the way, the 2026 primary is actually a real contest. It's a crowded stage, but one name is currently casting a very long shadow.
Keisha Lance Bottoms is the definitive front-runner. The former Atlanta Mayor and White House advisor has been crushing the early polls, sometimes hitting 40% while her closest rivals are stuck in the low double digits. She’s got a national profile and a fundraising machine that’s already humming.
But it’s not a coronation. Michael Thurmond, the former DeKalb County CEO and Labor Commissioner, is running on a "moderate" platform. He’s been around Georgia politics forever and knows how to talk to rural voters just as well as the Atlanta suburbs.
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The most fascinating entry? Geoff Duncan. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the Republican Lieutenant Governor. He’s now running as a centrist Democrat. It’s a bold—some would say crazy—move in such a polarized state, but he’s betting there’s a "silent majority" tired of the extremes.
Rounding out the Democratic side:
- Jason Esteves: A State Senator and former school board chair who was the first Democrat to jump in.
- Derrick Jackson: A State Representative and Navy veteran who isn't afraid to take swings at the current administration.
- Ruwa Romman: A State Representative and the first Muslim woman elected to the Georgia House. She’s bringing a younger, more progressive energy to the race.
- Olu Brown: A businessman and retired pastor who's leaning into his community leadership roots.
The Dates You Need to Circle
If you're planning on voting (and you should), the calendar is already pretty set. We aren't just waiting for November; the real drama happens in the spring.
The qualifying period opens on March 2, 2026, and closes on March 6. That’s the "put up or shut up" moment where candidates have to pay their fees and officially get on the ballot.
- Primary Election: May 19, 2026
- Primary Runoff (if needed): June 16, 2026
- General Election: November 3, 2026
- General Election Runoff: December 1, 2026
Georgia law requires a candidate to get 50% plus one vote to win outright. Given how many people are running, especially on the Democratic side, you should probably just go ahead and clear your schedule for those June and December runoff dates. It's almost a tradition at this point.
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Why This Race is a National Bellwether
Everyone is watching Georgia. Why? Because it’s the ultimate purple state. Biden won it in 2020, Trump won it in 2024, and the state currently has two Democratic Senators but a Republican-controlled legislature.
The person who wins the governor’s mansion in 2026 will basically be the architect for how their party handles Georgia in the 2028 Presidential election. If Bottoms wins, it’s a massive signal that the "New South" coalition is here to stay. If Jones or Carr wins, it proves that the GOP still has a lock on the state’s executive power.
What You Should Do Next
Politics moves fast, and Georgia politics moves even faster. If you want to stay on top of who’s running for governor of Georgia without getting buried in campaign mailers, here’s how to actually stay informed:
- Check Your Registration: The deadline to register for the primary is April 20, 2026. You can do this in about two minutes on the Secretary of State’s "My Voter Page."
- Follow the Money: In Georgia, you can look up exactly who is donating to these candidates via the Georgia Campaign Finance Commission. If a candidate is getting all their money from out-of-state PACs, that tells you something different than if they have thousands of small $25 donations from local ZIP codes.
- Attend a Forum: Most of these candidates are currently touring the state. The Democrats just held a big forum in Savannah, and the Republicans are hitting the fish fry and BBQ circuit. There is nothing like seeing a candidate answer a question in person to see if they’re actually authentic or just reading a script.
- Watch the Debates: Usually, the Atlanta Press Club hosts the most "real" debates. They don't have an audience, so candidates can't play to the crowd; they actually have to answer the questions.
The 2026 race is going to be expensive, loud, and probably a little exhausting. But with Kemp leaving, it’s the most significant power shift the state has seen in nearly a decade.