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Nov 3, 2026 · open seat

Georgia — Governor

Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited. Keisha Lance Bottoms won the May 19 Democratic primary; Rick Jackson beat Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the June 16 Republican runoff. Democrats haven't won the governorship since 1998.

Keisha Lance Bottoms
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Democrat · Age 56

Former Atlanta mayor and former director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Would be Georgia’s first woman and first Black governor.

Campaign website →
Rick Jackson
Rick Jackson
Republican · Age 72

Billionaire founder of Jackson Healthcare. Largely self-funding, and on pace to spend nearly $200 million this cycle (Atlanta News First).

Campaign website →
Who's ahead? CookTOSS-UPSabatoTOSS-UPDDHQLEAN D
One forecaster expects the seat to flip to Democrats. Ratings: Cook Political Report (Sept 10), Sabato’s Crystal Ball (Sept 3), Decision Desk HQ (Sept 12). Source →
Jackson
48
Bottoms
45
Rasmussen Reports, Sept 14, 1,019 likely voters, ±3. The Pollsmax average had Bottoms up 49.0–44.6 → Sept 14

Where they stand

Tap a topic that's important to you.

BOTTOMS SAYS
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JACKSON SAYS
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Their big promises

BOTTOMS'S TOP 3
Expand Medicaid
End the Georgia Pathways program and replace it with full Medicaid expansion; create a Georgia Rx Savings Board for drug prices.
Cut grocery taxes
Let cities and counties drop or suspend local sales taxes on groceries and essentials like diapers and formula.
Fully fund schools
Rewrite the school funding formula, guarantee universal pre-K, and exempt teachers from state income tax.
JACKSON'S TOP 3
Cut taxes
Freeze property taxes right away and cut the state income tax in half within four years.
Clean up state government
Term limits, “the strongest ethics laws in America,” and an audit of every state program.
Work requirements
Tie public assistance to work or job training for able-bodied adults, and expand vocational training.
Fundraising
CANDIDATERAISED (CYCLE)SPENT
Keisha Lance Bottoms$5.77M$5.14M
Rick Jackson$118.98M$113.99M

Georgia State Ethics Commission filings through July 31, 2026, compiled by Transparency USA. Jackson put $108 million of his own money into the primary; since June he has also taken outside donations, including $10 million from the Republican Governors Association. Transparency USA → · Axios Atlanta → · AJC →

Sources

  1. Keisha for Governor — Issues · campaign website, accessed Sept 28, 2026
  2. Rick Jackson for Governor — Action Plan · campaign website, updated Sept 15, 2026
  3. 2026 United States gubernatorial elections · Wikipedia (Cook, Sabato, DDHQ ratings)
  4. Georgia governor poll · Rasmussen Reports, Sept 14, 2026
  5. Candidate backgrounds · theGrio; Atlanta News First
  6. Transparency USA · fundraising
  7. Axios Atlanta · fundraising
  8. AJC · fundraising
Positions summarized from the candidates’ campaign websites · September 2026
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