The candidates running for governor in Georgia for the 2026 election include: Republican candidates:
- Chris Carr, Georgia Attorney General (declared)
- Burt Jones, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia (publicly expressed interest, decision expected after 2025 legislative session)
- Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the Small Business Administration and former U.S. senator (publicly expressed interest)
- Potential candidates include Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. representative
Democratic candidates:
- Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor and former Biden administration official (declared)
- Jason Esteves, state senator from the 6th district (declared)
- Olujimi Brown, church founder (declared)
- Publicly expressed interest from Stacey Abrams, former Minority Leader of the Georgia House and previous gubernatorial nominee, Derrick Jackson, Lucy McBath, and Mike Thurmond
- Potential candidate Van Johnson, mayor of Savannah
Incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited and cannot run for a third consecutive term
. Bottoms is the highest-profile Democrat so far and would be the first Black governor of Georgia if elected. The race is shaping up as a key contest in this swing state with both parties fielding notable candidates
