2026 Georgia election races to watch | List of candidates
ATLANTA - Georgia was once a Republican stronghold. Now, it's a key battleground state. There are several races in the 2026 election that are expected to draw attention. This is a running list of candidates. It will be updated as individuals announce their campaigns or drop out.
U.S. SENATE
Democrat
State Sen. Jon Ossoff (incumbent)
Republican
Former football coach Derek Dooley
Dropped Out
Insurance Commissioner John King dropped out of the race on July 24.
GOVERNOR
Democrat
Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan
STORY: Ex-GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan enters Georgia governor race as Democrat
Michael Thurmond, former DeKalb County CEO
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Rep. Ruwa Romman
STORY: Rep. Romman joins crowded race for governor, pledges 'new kind of politics'
Republican
Ken Yasger, Georgia Army National Guard
Expressed interest
Stacey Abrams, former state representative
Geoff Duncan, former lieutenant governor
Declined
Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter
Dropped Out
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Democrat
Republican
Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch
Senate Pro Tem John F. Kennedy
STORY: Rep. David Clark joins growing race for Georgia lieutenant governor
Sen. Greg Dolezal
STORY: State Sen. Greg Dolezal announces bid for lieutenant governor
GEORGIA ATTORNEY GENERAL
Democrat
Former state Rep. Bob Trammell
Republican
GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE
Republican
STORY: Gabe Sterling files to run for Georgia secretary of state
Democrat
Former Judge Penny Brown Reynolds
STORY: Former judge enters Georgia secretary of state race as Democrat
GEORGIA SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
Republican
Richard Woods (incumbent)
GEORGIA LABOR COMMISSIONER
Republican
Barbara Rivera Holmes (incumbent)
U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 13
Democrat
U.S. Rep. David Scott (incumbent)
Everton Blair, the former chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Education
U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 14
Republican
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (incumbent)
Democrat
Shawn Harris, retired Army Brigadier General