The 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Georgia. Incumbent Republican governor Brian Kemp is ineligible to seek re-election to a third consecutive term. Primary elections were held on May 19, 2026, with a primary runoff held on June 16. Rick Jackson and Burt Jones received the most votes in the first round of the Republican primary, but failed to reach the 50% threshold, causing a runoff which Jackson won. Jackson will face off against Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
The 2026 gubernatorial primary was the first time that Democratic turnout exceeded that of Republicans since 2006.
If elected, Lance Bottoms would be the first female and first African-American governor of Georgia and could be the first female African-American governor in United States history.
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 statewide executive offices 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. Republicans also control both the state senate and House of Representatives, together with Kemp's governorship establishing a government trifecta, alongside an all but one Republican pick on the state's supreme court. A year prior to the 2026 elections, the 2025 Georgia Public Service Commission special election resulted in two Democrats being elected to the Commission, both by landslide victories, and marking 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. Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in Georgia since 1998.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Rick Jackson, healthcare executive Eliminated in runoff Burt Jones, lieutenant governor of Georgia (2023–present) Eliminated in primary Chris Carr, attorney general of Georgia (2016–present) (endorsed Jackson in runoff) Clark Dean, real estate executive Gregg Kirkpatrick, entrepreneur Brad Raffensperger, Georgia secretary of state (2019–present) Tom Williams, retired software engineer Ken Yasger, member of the Georgia Army National Guard
Declined Andrew Clyde, U.S. representative from GA-09 (2021–present) (running for re-election) Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. representative from GA-14 (2021–2026)
Endorsements
Fundraising Italics indicate a candidate that has either withdrawn from the race, declined to run, or been eliminated in the primary. Campaign finance reports as of April 30, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handChris Carr (R)$5,324,601$4,168,947$1,117,682Burt Jones (R)*$4,408,079$18,035,637$3,350,140Brad Raffensperger (R)*$1,102,127$4,570,050$2,532,076Rick Jackson (R)$83,495,513$65,672,560$17,649,980Clark Dean (R)$393,763$318,155$75,607Ken Yasger (R)$5,791$946$4,845Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission Asterisk indicates loans or previous campaign account balances
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated ChrisCarr RickJackson BurtJones BradRaffensperger Other/UndecidedMargin270toWinApril 29 – May 5, 2026May 11, 20267.2%28.3%24.8%14.0%25.7%Jackson +3.5%Decision Desk HQthrough May 2, 2026May 11, 20267.2%28.6%24.9%14.0%25.3%Jackson +3.7%RealClearPoliticsFebruary 28 – May 2, 2026May 11, 20266.3%26.2%24.0%14.2%29.3%Jackson +2.2%Average6.9%27.7%24.6%14.1%26.8%Jackson +3.1%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin ChrisCarr RickJackson BurtJones BradRaffensperger Other UndecidedInsiderAdvantage (R)May 16–17, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%10%31%27%16%4%12%Quantus Insights (R)April 28 – May 2, 20261,677 (LV)± 2.7%8%27%22%14%15%14%Remington Research Group (R)April 28–29, 2026815 (LV)± 3.3%5%29%28%14%–24%University of GeorgiaApril 18–26, 20261,000 (LV)± 3.1%3%27%25%14%–31%yes. every kid.April 22–24, 2026603 (LV)± 4.0%10%32%26%12%1%19%Cygnal (R)April 22–23, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%6%27%24%12%1%30%InsiderAdvantage (R)April 22–23, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%6%32%25%11%3%23%JMC AnalyticsMarch 7–8, 2026560 (LV)± 4.1%4%37%22%11%<1%25%Emerson CollegeFebruary 28 – March 2, 2026453 (LV)± 4.6%6%20%21%11%4%38%Quantus Insights (R)February 17–18, 20261,337 (LV)± 3.0%5%33%17%8%–37%Rasmussen Reports (R)February 11–12, 20261,022 (LV)± 3.0%10%22%16%18%34%co/efficient (R)February 8–9, 20261,123 (LV)± 3.2%3%24%16%9%6%42%Cygnal (R)February 5–6, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%7%16%22%10%–45% February 3, 2026 Jackson enters the raceInsiderAdvantage (R)/Rosetta Stone (R)December 18–19, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.1%9%–24%14%4%49%University of GeorgiaOctober 15–23, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.1%7%–22%15%1%55%Quantus Insights (R)October 13–14, 2025900 (RV)± 3.2%12%–32%15%3%38%20/20 InsightSeptember 25–28, 2023245 (LV)± 6.3%9%–18%––73%
Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Burt Jones vs. Brad Raffensperger vs. Chris Carr Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ChrisCarr BurtJones BradRaffersperger Marjorie Other Undecidedyes. every kid. (D)July 22–23, 2025608 (LV)± 4.0%11%18%13%22%1%35%
Results
Runoff
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RickJackson BurtJones UndecidedInsiderAdvantage (R)June 15, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%48%47%5%InsiderAdvantage (R)June 13–14, 2026800 (LV)± 3.31%49%46%5%Cygnal (R)June 5–7, 2026– (LV)–56%44%–JMC Analytics (R)May 26–27, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%45%43%12%Cygnal (R)May 21–24, 2026– (LV)–50%50%–InsiderAdvantage (R)May 20–21, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%42%48%10%Quantus Insights (R)May 20, 2026782 (LV)± 3.9%44%46%9%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, former director of the Office of Public Engagement (2022–2023) and former mayor of Atlanta (2018–2022) Eliminated in primary Olujimi Brown, church founder Amanda Duffy, accountant Geoff Duncan, former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia (2019–2023) Jason Esteves, former state senator from the 35th district (2023–2025) Derrick Jackson, state representative (2017–2023, 2023–present) and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022 Mike Thurmond, former DeKalb County CEO (2017–2025), former Georgia Labor Commissioner (1999–2011), and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010
Withdrawn Ruwa Romman, state representative from the 97th district (2023–present) (running for state senate)
Declined Stacey Abrams, former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives (2011–2017) and nominee for governor in 2018 and 2022 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 (endorsed Esteves) Lucy McBath, U.S. representative from (2019–present)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 30, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handKeisha Lance Bottoms (D)$2,869,146$2,549,686$257,336Olujimi Brown (D)$139,566$79,939$59,626Jason Esteves (D)$2,907,598$2,067,240$773,461Derrick Jackson (D)$128,504$206,723$83,780Mike Thurmond (D)$883,112$929,503$421,132Geoff Duncan (D)$1,739,846$1,328,597$867,783Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated DerrickJackson GeoffDuncan JasonEsteves Bottoms MichaelThurmond UndecidedMargin270toWinMay 1–4, 2026May 5, 20261.0%8.0%6.5%45.5%13.0%26.0%Bottoms +32.5%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin GeoffDuncan JasonEsteves Bottoms MichaelThurmond Other UndecidedUniversity of GeorgiaApril 23–29, 20261,000 (LV)± 3.1%7%8%39%10%1%35%Concord Public Opinion Partners (D)March 31 – April 10, 2026437 (LV)–8%6%42%12%3%29%––56%22%–22%16%–60%––24%–16%60%––24%20/20 InsightMarch 19–24, 2026575 (LV)± 4.1%12%14%32%11%–30%Emerson CollegeFebruary 28 – March 2, 2026464 (LV)± 4.5%13%4%35%7%3%39%University of GeorgiaOctober 13–21, 20251,000 (LV)± 3.1%5%3%40%11%2%39%Frederick Polls (D) September 23–25, 20251,513 (LV)± 2.5%17%10%43%25%4%–Public Policy Polling (D)September 15–16, 2025620 (LV)–9%4%38%12%3%43%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error StaceyAbrams Other Undecided20/20 InsightSeptember 25–28, 2023247 (LV)± 6.2%52%34%14%
Results
Independents and minor parties Libertarian Party Candidates Withdrawn Chase Oliver, former chair of the Atlanta Libertarian Party, perennial candidate, and nominee for president in 2024
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 17, 2026Decision Desk HQSeptember 24, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsSeptember 17, 2026RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 4, 2025Silver Bulletin October 3, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of July 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handRick Jackson (R)$118,914,891$114,023,757$4,319,290Keisha Lance Bottoms (D)$5,777,898$5,254,893$772,079Source: Georgia Campaign Finance Commission
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated RickJackson (R) KeishaLanceBottoms (D) Other/Undecided Margin270toWinSeptember 23 – October 4, 2026October 4, 202648.3%46.3%5.4%Jackson +2.0%Decision Desk HQthrough October 3, 2026October 4, 202648.8%46.8%4.4%Jackson +2.0%FiftyPlusOnethrough October 3, 2026October 4, 202644.9%48.4%6.7%Bottoms +3.5%RealClearPoliticsSeptember 14–23, 2026September 25, 202648.0%46.3%5.7%Jackson +1.7%Silver Bulletinthrough October 3, 2026October 4, 202647.8%46.9%5.3%Jackson +0.9%Average47.6%46.9%5.7%Jackson +0.7%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin RickJackson (R) Keisha LanceBottoms (D) Other UndecidedWedgewood PollsOctober 2–3, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%51%49%InsiderAdvantage (R)September 22–23, 20261,200 (LV)± 4.0%48%46%6%Big Data Poll (R)September 21–23, 2026712 (RV)± 4.0%50%50%48%46%7%678 (LV)50.5%49.5%49%47%5%YouGovSeptember 15–18, 20263,414 (RV)± 2.7%45%44%2%9%3,299 (LV)± 2.8%46%44%2%8%3,069 (LV)± 2.9%47%44%2%8%Rasmussen Reports (R)September 14, 20261,019 (LV)± 3%48%45%7%InsiderAdvantage (R)August 16–17, 2026800 (LV)± 3.4%46%46%8%Quantus Insights (R)July 29 – August 1, 2026815 (LV)± 3.6%45%46%1%8%Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)July 13–16, 20261,060 (LV)± 3.0%46%48%5%State NavigateJuly 10–13, 2026448 (LV)± 4.6%44%51%4%43%50%7%WickJune 27–30, 20261,175 (LV)± 2.9%43%43%14%Beacon Research (D)/Shaw & Co. Research (R)June 23–27, 20261,002 (RV)± 3.0%47%52%1%June 16, 2026 Republican primary runoffConcord Public Opinion Partners (D)May 30 – June 2, 2026510 (LV)± 4.3%38%53%9%May 19, 2026 Primary electionsEchelon Insights (R)April 3–9, 2026407 (LV)± 6.5%43%49%8%
Burt Jones vs. Keisha Lance Bottoms Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin BurtJones (R) Keisha LanceBottoms (D) UndecidedConcord Public Opinion Partners (D)May 30 – June 2, 2026510 (LV)± 4.3%42%52%6%Echelon InsightsApril 3–9, 2026407 (LV)± 6.5%43%49%8%
Brad Raffensperger vs. Keisha Lance Bottoms Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin Brad Keisha LanceBottoms (D) UndecidedEchelon InsightsApril 3–9, 2026407 (LV)± 6.5%44%46%10%
Results
Notes
Partisan clients
See also 2026 United States gubernatorial elections 2026 United States Senate election in Georgia 2026 Georgia state elections
References
External links Official campaign websites Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) Rick Jackson (R)