The candidates running for governor of Georgia in the 2026 election include: Republican candidates:
- Burt Jones, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
- Chris Carr, Georgia Attorney General
- Ken Yasger, member of the Georgia Army National Guard
Democratic candidates:
- Michael Thurmond, former DeKalb County CEO and former Georgia Labor Commissioner
- Jason Esteves, state senator
- Derrick Jackson, state representative
- Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor
- Olujimi Brown, church founder
Governor Brian Kemp, the current Republican governor, is term-limited and cannot run again. Notably, prominent Republicans like U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have declined to run and instead seek reelection to other offices. The Democratic field is competitive with multiple candidates including Thurmond, who emphasizes issues like cost of living and healthcare access.
