Georgia’s political landscape is bracing for a seismic shift as the 2026 gubernatorial and secretary of state races heat up, promising fierce competition and historic firsts. On September 17, 2025, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger—best known for his high-profile defiance of former President Donald Trump’s demands to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results—officially launched his long-anticipated campaign for governor with a video announcement. In it, Raffensperger declared, “I’m a conservative Republican, and I’m prepared to make the tough decisions. I follow the law and the Constitution, and I’ll always do the right thing for Georgia, no matter what.”
Raffensperger’s entry into the race marks a remarkable political comeback. Not long ago, many believed his refusal to “find 11,780 votes” for Trump had doomed his career. According to The Dispatch, after the January 6 Capitol riot, the prevailing wisdom among Georgia Republicans was that Raffensperger had “no political future.” He, along with then-Governor Brian Kemp, faced the fury of Trump and his MAGA base. Yet, despite being labeled an “enemy of the people” by Trump, Raffensperger defied expectations. He ran for re-election as secretary of state in 2022, winning a hard-fought primary against a Trump-backed challenger and cruising to victory in the general election. His resilience, personal wealth, and universal name recognition have now positioned him as a top contender for the state’s highest office.
The Republican primary, slated for May 2026, is shaping up to be a bruising contest. Raffensperger faces formidable opponents: Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who boasts a coveted Trump endorsement, and Attorney General Chris Carr, a figure with strong ties to the late Sen. Johnny Isakson and appeal to traditional GOP voters. According to Capitol Beat, Jones wasted no time drawing battle lines, posting on social media, “Chris Carr and Brad Raffensperger have one thing in common: They are both Never Trumpers. There is only one candidate in this race that’s always supported and has the full and complete endorsement of @realDonaldTrump.” Carr’s camp, meanwhile, is pitching him as the most electable choice, with spokesperson Julia Mazzone stating, “Chris Carr is also the only candidate who understands the challenges real Georgians face in making ends meet and building a better future.”
The dynamics of the GOP race reflect broader tensions within the party. As The Dispatch notes, Trump’s influence has reshaped the Republican Party nationally, but Georgia’s unique demographics—particularly its growing, highly educated, and more liberal suburban population in the Atlanta metro area—mean that simply having “Trumpian credentials” isn’t enough to guarantee victory. “In Georgia, you gotta be better,” a local GOP operative told The Dispatch. “You can’t just have an R by your name. You gotta have a B, too. For ‘better.’”
Democrats, sensing an opportunity amid Republican infighting, are fielding a diverse and competitive slate of candidates. Among them is Atlanta state Sen. Jason Esteves, who resigned his seat earlier this month to focus on his gubernatorial bid, announced in April 2025. According to Atlanta News First, Esteves has already secured endorsements from multiple Atlanta city council members, metro Atlanta legislators, school board members, and a DeKalb County commissioner. Other Democratic hopefuls include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, state Rep. Derrick Jackson, and businessman and pastor Olu Brown. Notably, Geoff Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant governor turned Democrat, is also in the running. Any Democrat who wins the 2026 governor’s race would become Georgia’s first Black or minority governor and the first Democrat to hold the office this century.
The stakes are high, and the Democratic Party of Georgia is eager to capitalize on perceived GOP divisions. Party chair Charlie Bailey didn’t mince words, saying, “As he wades into the governor’s race, Brad Raffensperger will have to pay the price of admission to any 2026 GOP primary: fully embracing Donald Trump and his toxic agenda of sky-high costs, shuttered hospitals, health care cuts, and economic chaos. We’ll see if Raffensperger can successfully out-MAGA Burt Jones and Chris Carr to win this messy, bruising primary – good luck!”
While the gubernatorial contest is drawing much of the attention, the race for secretary of state is also heating up. On September 18, 2025, Penny Brown Reynolds—a former state judge, lawyer, pastor, and educator—announced her candidacy as a Democrat. Reynolds brings decades of public service experience, having served as a state judge and as attorney for former Governor Roy Barnes, who is now chairing her campaign. She also held a federal post as Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, focusing on equity and fairness.
In her announcement, Reynolds emphasized her commitment to public service: “I didn’t come to have a job, I came to do a job. Government exists to serve the people, not partisanship or personal gain. Every Georgian, no matter their zip code, age, or income, deserves dignity, fairness, and the chance to succeed.” Her campaign platform centers on protecting voting rights, expanding access to secure elections, supporting small businesses, safeguarding seniors from fraud, and improving government efficiency through technology and transparency. If elected, Reynolds would be the first Democrat to win the office of secretary of state in Georgia in two decades. She plans to launch a statewide campaign tour starting October 9 in Augusta, followed by events in Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, Albany, and Savannah.
Reynolds’s candidacy comes as Raffensperger vacates the secretary of state’s office for his gubernatorial run, opening the door for Democrats to reclaim a key statewide post. Her campaign has already garnered praise from both campaign chair Roy Barnes, who called her a leader with “vision, integrity, and a proven record to lead,” and co-chair Jan Bryson, who highlighted Reynolds’s ability to connect with both rural and urban communities.
Meanwhile, the upcoming special election to fill Esteves’s vacated Senate District 35 seat has been scheduled for November 18, 2025, by executive order of Governor Brian Kemp. The district, which stretches from south of Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta through Vinings and parts of Fulton County, will see a new representative chosen as Esteves pursues the governorship.
As the 2026 election cycle unfolds, Georgia stands at the forefront of national political attention. With term-limited Governor Brian Kemp stepping aside, the state’s competitive primaries and diverse candidate pool underscore Georgia’s status as a true battleground. The outcomes will not only determine the state’s leadership but could also signal the future direction of both major parties in an era of shifting loyalties and changing demographics.
Georgia’s voters are about to make choices that could echo far beyond the state line, shaping its political legacy for years to come.
