(The Center Square) – Candidates are beginning to announce their intention to run for Georgia governor in 2026.
Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited and cannot run again.
One Republican has officially thrown his hat into the race. Attorney General Chris Carr said in November he would seek his party’s nomination.
“As a proven conservative, building on the legacy of Brian Kemp, Nathan Deal and Sonny Perdue, I’m running to create jobs for hardworking Georgians, keep our families and our neighborhoods safe, and vigorously defend our constitution and our freedoms,” Carr said.
Carr is the only announced candidate but he is not expected to be the only one. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has long been discussed as a possible candidate. Jones is serving his first term as lieutenant governor. He previously served in the Senate from 2013 until 2023.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta said this week he is running. He has served in the Senate since 2023.
He outlined his platform on his campaign website.
“It starts with tackling the high cost of living – to give our kids a better life than we had,” Esteves said. “That means improving access to health care and protecting women’s reproductive freedom, lowering housing costs, investing in schools all across this state, and making it easier to start a business – and grow it.”
So far, Esteves does not have an official challenger, but former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Knight Bottoms has told multiple media outlets she is exploring a possible run.
Stacey Abrams, who lost to Kemp in 2018 and 2022, has not said if she will run for a third time.
