In Cobb County, the 2026 primaries are shaping up to be more than routine elections, they are a referendum on leadership, priorities, and the future direction of one of Georgia’s most influential suburban counties.
With key races for both the Cobb County Commission and the Board of Education, voters are being asked to decide not just who leads, but how Cobb County is governed in the years ahead.
District 1: West Cobb Showdown between Gambrill and Hungerford
Nowhere is that contrast sharper than in Commission District 1, where incumbent Keli Gambrill faces Republican challenger Clark Hungerford.
Gambrill has leaned into a message of stability, emphasizing in local media coverage that she is not viewed as a “disruptor.” At the same time, reporting from the Marietta Daily Journal has noted that she is seen by some as difficult to work with on a commission that has often been divided.
Gambrill has pushed back on that characterization, at times pointing to Lisa Cupid as the one she believes is difficult to work with.
However, those tensions are not new. Gambrill has also had disagreements with prior Republican leadership, including former chairman Mike Boyce and former commissioner Bob Ott, particularly over how agenda items should be handled.
Taken together, that history raises a broader question for voters: whether the strained relationships are simply a product of the current board, or part of a longer-standing governing style.
Hungerford offers a clear contrast, running on what he describes as leadership, collaboration, and results. His campaign has centered on West Cobb receiving its fair share of tax dollars, with a focus on:
- Solutions to the gridlock traffic that continues to choke the district
- Investment in parks and community infrastructure
- A more effective, team-oriented approach to governance
The choice is increasingly clear:
- Experience and independence
- Or collaboration and a push for results
District 3: Proven Record vs. Calls for Change
In Commission District 3, incumbent JoAnn Birrell faces a Republican primary challenge from Chris Wasserman.
Birrell brings a long record of advocacy and results for East Cobb, something her supporters argue speaks for itself.
Wasserman’s campaign is rooted in the idea that change is needed, but that argument has left some Republican voters questioning whether change is warranted given Birrell’s track record. On Wasserman’s campaign website, he says he will bring his successful business experience to the Cobb Board of Commissioners, making the cobb County government more efficient.
Democrat Kevin Redmon awaits the winner in the general election.
