Who’s Running for Georgia Governor in 2026? Georgia's 2026 gubernatorial race is heating up as a key battleground contest, with Gov. Brian Kemp term- limited and both parties fielding high-profile contenders. As of mid-2025 announcements, Republicans and Democrats are positioning themselves amid national attention on the state's swing status.

Republican Candidates

  • Burt Jones , the current Lt. Governor, officially entered the race in July 2025, self-lending $10 million and pledging to eliminate the state income tax. He frames himself as a fighter for results, joining as a top GOP contender.
  • Chris Carr , Attorney General, is another leading Republican already in the field, focusing on law-and-order themes.
  • Potential entrants include Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene , though neither has formally announced by late 2025.

Democratic Candidates

  • Keisha Lance Bottoms , former Atlanta Mayor, jumped in around May 2025 by filing paperwork, bringing her urban leadership experience to the statewide bid.
  • Additional Democrats with statewide track records are emerging, positioning the party to challenge in this competitive race.

Race Context

This election, set for November 2026, follows Georgia's purple-state evolution, with recent cycles seeing narrow margins. Republicans hold an edge but face intraparty fights, while Democrats eye turnout in metro Atlanta. Ballotpedia tracks formal filers, but the field could expand as filing deadlines approach.

TL;DR: Key announced candidates are Republicans Burt Jones and Chris Carr, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms; watch for more like Raffensperger or Greene.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.