Georgia governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Georgia federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Chris Carr

Party: Republican

Brad Raffensperger

Party: Republican

Burt Jones

Party: Republican

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Party: Democrat

OBJ SPEAKING

Create StoryTimelinesVoter ToolsRegional AnalysisAll StoriesUSWorldPoliticsBusinessHealthEntertainmentTechnologyCommunity PicksAbout
← US Map>Georgia>governor
governor

Georgia governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
lean r★ Flip Potential— Cook Political Report - Georgia maintains Republican lean at state level despite swing state status at federal level

Georgia is among the nation's most competitive states, having elected two Democratic U.S. Senators while remaining Republican at the state level. The 2026 governor's race will test whether Democrats can break their 28-year gubernatorial losing streak or if Republicans can maintain their control.

Chris CarrR
Brad RaffenspergerR
Burt JonesR
Keisha Lance BottomsD

Summary

Chris Carr, 53, is Georgia's Attorney General (appointed 2016, elected 2018 and 2022). Earning his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia (1995) and his J.D. from the same university (1999), Carr worked as a private practice attorney before joining government. He served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R) (2007-2013) and as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (2013-2016). Carr was the first major Republican to announce his 2026 gubernatorial bid (November 2024) and is positioning himself as the establishment conservative and 'pragmatic' choice.

Brad Raffensperger, 70, is Georgia's Secretary of State (elected 2018, reelected 2022) and a wealthy engineering entrepreneur. He earned a civil engineering degree from Western University and an MBA from Georgia State University. Raffensperger is the founder and former CEO of Tendon Systems, LLC, a concrete reinforcement company he sold in 2023 for an undisclosed amount. He is known nationally for refusing President Trump's January 2021 call to 'find 11,780 votes' to overturn Biden's Georgia victory. Raffensperger is running as the moderate/establishment Republican alternative, though he faces Trump's hostility.

Burt Jones, 46, is Georgia's current Lieutenant Governor (since 2023) and represents the Trump-aligned wing of the Georgia Republican Party. A 2002 University of Georgia graduate with a history degree, Jones is a business owner and heir to Jones Petroleum Company. He founded JP Capital & Insurance in 2004. Jones served as a Georgia State Senator from 2013-2023, representing the 25th District, and was the co-captain of Georgia's 2002 SEC Championship football team. He has Trump's endorsement and leads the Republican primary with approximately 22% support.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, 55, is the former Mayor of Atlanta (2018-2022) and served as Senior Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement under President Biden (2022-2023). She earned her bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University and her J.D. from Georgia State University. Before becoming mayor, Bottoms served on the Atlanta City Council. She is leading the Democratic primary with 40% support in polling, significantly ahead of other Democratic candidates.

View Chris Carr's Full Profile →View Brad Raffensperger's Full Profile →View Burt Jones's Full Profile →View Keisha Lance Bottoms's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Create jobs for hardworking Georgians
  • Achieve lowest tax burden in Southeast
Public Safety
  • Keep families and neighborhoods safe
  • Combat human trafficking and organized retail theft
Other
  • Vigorously defend constitution and freedoms
  • Continue to hold elected officials accountable
Healthcare
  • End the opioid crisis
Housing
  • Lower property tax burden for homeowners
Economy
  • Eliminate Georgia's state income tax
  • Cap property taxes for seniors
  • Bring manufacturing jobs back to Georgia
Housing
  • Repeal taxes and fees on homebuyer closing costs
Education
  • Expand tax credits for parental school choice
  • Purge 'woke curriculums' from schools
Other
  • Ban puberty-blocking drugs for transgender youth
  • Make Georgia affordable and safe
Public Safety
  • Double recruitment for Georgia State Patrol with signing bonuses
Economy
  • Completely eliminate Georgia's state income tax
Public Safety
  • Reduce fentanyl deaths through tough criminal penalties
  • Support tougher crime laws and law enforcement
Education
  • Strengthen parental rights in education
Other
  • Protect women's sports from transgender participation
Healthcare
  • Expand Medicaid to cover 300,000+ uninsured Georgians
Education
  • Eliminate state income tax for teachers
Housing
  • Crack down on corporate landlords buying single-family homes
  • Expand affordable housing units statewide
Other
  • Roll back Georgia's six-week abortion ban
Environment
  • Address data center impacts on electricity costs and environment

Key Issue Positions

Public Safety
Strong law-and-order conservative who has made crime-fighting central to his tenure as AG
Created Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (first in state history), gang enforcement unit, corruption unit, organized retail theft unit
Tax Policy
Support tax reduction across income, sales, property, and regulatory categories
Lower taxes for families and businesses while maintaining essential services and economic development
Election Integrity
Refusal to back Trump's 2020 election overturning efforts; defended Georgia election integrity
Like Raffensperger, Carr spurned Trump's efforts and focused on defending 2020 election certification
Affordability
Recognizes affordability as top voter concern; emphasizes housing and cost-of-living relief
Property tax caps and economic development to bring down costs
Election Integrity
Defender of Georgia's election systems and 2020 results; opposes Trump's overturning demands
Refused Trump's pressure to overturn election; certified accurate results; testified to Jan. 6 committee; wrote 'Integrity Counts' memoir
Tax Policy
Support elimination of income tax and reduction of property taxes, especially for seniors
Build on Kemp's tax reduction legacy while focusing on property tax relief
Conservative Values
Self-describes as 'Christian conservative' and 'only candidate certified pro-life'
Opposed abortion and pushed tax cuts as state legislator; emphasizes managerial competence
Tax Policy
Eliminate state income tax entirely by specified date (contrast with Gov. Kemp's gradual approach)
Proposed eliminating income tax like Florida, Tennessee, and Texas
Education Policy
Strengthen parental rights and conservative curriculum control
Co-sponsored legislation to allow biblical classes in high schools; opposed teaching about systemic racism
Public Safety
Tough-on-crime conservative; advocate for harsh penalties
Focus on gang enforcement, human trafficking prosecution, and rigid sentencing
Affordability Crisis
Supports expanding access to housing, healthcare, and reducing burden on families
Emphasis on expanding Medicaid, affordable housing, and cost-of-living relief
Abortion Rights
Opposes Georgia's six-week abortion ban
Calls for restoration of pre-Dobbs abortion access standards
Public Safety and Policing
Supported increased police accountability during 2020 unrest
Navigated protests and policing debates as Atlanta mayor; faced criticism from both left and right

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Raffensperger has opposed Trump's election overturning demands and certified accurate results
Contradiction: Yet in his 2026 governor campaign, Raffensperger pledges to 'work alongside President Donald Trump' to bring jobs, deport criminal aliens, and 'restore law and order,' attempting to mend fences

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Bottoms stated she served her full four-year mayoral term and would not run for reelection by choice
Contradiction: She declined to run for a second term in 2021, becoming the first Atlanta mayor since 1973 not to seek reelection, marking an unusual political choice for her position

What Opponents Say

Burt Jones (Republican opponent)

Carr's tax policy would shift burden from people to business and damage economic development

Jones argued that Carr's approach to property tax caps could 'decimate city budgets'

Democratic Governors Association

Carr represents status quo Republican leadership

Democrats argue establishment Republicans cannot win statewide in Georgia's current environment

Rick Jackson (Republican opponent)

Raffensperger is compared to Judas for his actions on 2020 election

Jackson's campaign ads drew this comparison to attack Raffensperger over his refusal to overturn election

Burt Jones (Republican opponent)

Raffensperger is 'Team Never Trump' and unreliable on loyalty to Trump agenda

Jones positions himself as authentic Trump supporter in contrast to Raffensperger

Democratic Governors Association

Raffensperger's entry 'injects a new level of chaos' into a 'messy primary'

Saw his candidacy as benefiting Democrats by dividing Republicans

Chris Carr (Republican opponent)

Jones is using unlimited campaign funds from his leadership committee to unfairly dominate the primary

Filed lawsuit August 2025 challenging the constitutionality of Jones' fundraising advantage

Democratic Governors Association

Jones' 'partisan, disastrous record could not be more out-of-touch with Georgians'

Responded to Jones entering the race by criticizing his legislative agenda in the state Senate

Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman

Voters expressed unhappiness with crime, garbage collection, and Buckhead secession efforts during Bottoms' tenure

Shipman endorsed Esteves in May 2026, suggesting Democrats need a 'fresh start' and 'new energy'

Republican critics

Bottoms' handling of 2020 protests and crime showed weak leadership on public safety

Used by Republican opponents to argue against her governorship

Endorsements

Gov. Brian Kempindividual

No endorsements listed.

Donald Trumpindividual
Atlanta Political Communityindividual