Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones has officially stepped into the 2026 governor’s race, unveiling his campaign with a video announcement Tuesday. The video features clips from his time in public service, footage of him alongside President Donald Trump, and nods to his days as a University of Georgia football player, underscoring his Georgia roots and conservative credentials.
Jones, elected lieutenant governor in 2022 after serving ten years in the state Senate, emphasized a message of progress and continued leadership.
“Today, I see a Georgia where families are prospering. A Georgia where businesses are moving here and growing here. A Georgia where our families are safer thanks to tougher crime laws. And our schools are stronger because we’ve empowered parents’ rights,” Jones said in his announcement. “What do I call all that we’ve accomplished together? Just a start.”
Jones laid out his priorities if elected: eliminating the state income tax, tackling the fentanyl epidemic, and ensuring fairness in women’s sports by keeping biological males from competing in girls’ athletic programs, policies that resonate strongly with Georgia’s conservative base.
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GOP Primary Showdown: Jones vs. Carr
Before Jones can set his sights on the governor’s mansion, he’ll need to win over Republican primary voters. His primary opponent, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, has already made significant strides in fundraising and campaign groundwork. Carr entered the race in November and recently announced a haul of $1.25 million from February through June, bringing his total to nearly $3.5 million.
“This campaign has always been about Georgia, and these numbers show just how motivated folks are to keep Georgia strong,” Carr said.
Carr, originally appointed by former Gov. Nathan Deal and twice elected by voters, is running as a tough-on-crime conservative. His campaign team is already contrasting his record with Jones’ by calling attention to leadership style and experience.
“Chris Carr is a smart, principled conservative with a proven record of leadership,” said Carr spokesperson Julia Mazzone. “He’s spent his career serving the people of Georgia, not himself.”
However, some Cobb voters have questioned Carr’s effectiveness as Attorney General by his failure to act on some key local issues, including the release of the findings from a GBI investigation of Cobb’s Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor.
With official qualifying not until spring, the field could expand. Some Republican insiders point to potential contenders like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene or Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, each bringing different dynamics to the race.
Possible Heavyweights Loom on the Horizon
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has hinted at a potential gubernatorial run, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she’s seriously considering it.
“I love my district, but I love my state,” she said. “It’s definitely something I think is smart for me to consider.”
Her strong alignment with President Trump would give her a natural base in a GOP primary, though general election viability remains a question.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who clashed with Trump after the 2020 election, remains a wildcard. Although censured by the state GOP, his name continues to surface as a potential candidate, especially among moderates.
Democrats Eye a Comeback in Changing Georgia
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are eager to flip the governor’s office after two decades of Republican leadership. Though previous nominee Stacey Abrams lost by nearly 8 points in 2022, Democrats are hoping to tap into demographic shifts and urban voter turnout.
State Sen. Jason Esteves and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms lead the Democratic pack so far, both reporting $1.1 million in fundraising between February and June. Esteves wasted no time criticizing the GOP frontrunners.
“Whether it’s Burt Jones or Chris Carr, the truth is they’re both running on out-of-touch agendas that will raise costs, leave millions uninsured, and abandon working families,” he claimed.
Other Democrat hopefuls include State Rep. Derrick Jackson and, surprisingly, former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who suggested he might run as a Democrat after falling out with the GOP over 2020 election integrity issues.
Georgia’s 2026 Governor’s Race: High Stakes, Clear Choices
As the primary season heats up, Georgia voters will soon face a clear contrast: a conservative vision focused on public safety, lower taxes, and defending traditional values, or a progressive push for bigger government and expanded entitlements.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is betting that Georgia families want leadership grounded in results, not rhetoric. With a proven record and the backing of influential conservatives, Jones may well be the candidate to carry the GOP banner in 2026, and keep Georgia moving in the right direction.
