August 14, 2026

An open-seat race with historic stakes for the Peach State | General Election: November 3, 2026 For the first time in nearly a decade, Georgia voters will choose a governor without an incumbent on the ballot. Brian Kemp, who has helmed the state since 2019, is term-limited and constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term. That single fact transforms November 3, 2026 into one of the most consequential elections in modern Georgia history, an open seat, a purple battleground state, and two candidates who could not be more different in background, funding, or vision for what Georgia should become. This is not an abstract civics exercise. This race will determine whether Georgia expands Medicaid to cover hundreds of thousands of uninsured residents, whether public school teachers finally get the economic respect they deserve, whether reproductive rights are protected or further curtailed, and whether the values of Black Georgia, which have powered Democratic victories from the statehouse to the U.S. Senate, translate into the highest office in the state. Let’s break it all down. DEMOCRAT Keisha Lance Bottoms Attorney | Former Mayor of Atlanta | Senior Advisor to President Biden | FAMU & Georgia State Law Keisha Lance Bottoms is, in many ways, the embodiment of Black Atlanta’s rise. The daughter of R&B legend Major Lance, she grew up steeped in the culture and community that defines the city. Her path to this race is as credentialed as it gets: she served as a magistrate judge, won a seat on the Atlanta City Council, and then made history as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022, navigating the city through a global pandemic, a racial justice uprising, and the constant pressure of leading one of the most scrutinized cities in America. After her mayoral tenure, she served as a senior advisor in the Biden White House, deepening her federal policy experience. She’s a graduate of Florida A&M University (HBCU-proud) and Georgia State University College of Law. When Bottoms entered the Democratic primary for governor, she didn’t just win, she won decisively, capturing approximately 57% of the primary vote and avoiding a runoff entirely. Perhaps most telling: roughly 92% of her donors gave under $100. Her campaign is not bankrolled by corporate PACs. It is powered by people, real Georgians investing small amounts in a candidate they believe in. REPUBLICAN Rick Jackson Founder & CEO, Jackson Healthcare | Faith-Based Philanthropist | Former Foster Child Rick Jackson’s biography is a genuine American story of hardship and success. He grew up in the foster care system, built Jackson Healthcare into one of the nation’s largest healthcare staffing companies, and has parlayed that business success into philanthropic ventures, including significant work supporting foster youth. His personal story is compelling, and he tells it well on the campaign trail. What is also a fact: Rick Jackson is a billionaire who chose to self-fund his entire primary and runoff campaign, spending over $108 million of his own money to win the Republican nomination. He defeated Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in the Republican runoff on June 16, 2026, with 52.7% of the vote. Since securing the nomination, he has announced an additional $87 million TV and digital general-election ad buy beginning August 1, 2026, potentially making his total spend of approximately $195 million the largest ad buy in Georgia political history. He received a high-profile endorsement from former President Donald Trump, which Democrats have already begun leveraging as an attack line. Where the Race Stands: The Polling Picture Independent forecasters unanimously rate this race a Toss-up. The polling average as of August 4, 2026 shows Bottoms with a modest lead but the race is absolutely within striking distance for either candidate. Here is what the data shows: Pollster Poll Dates Sample Bottoms (D) Jackson (R) Undecided/Other AARP / Fabrizio-Impact Research (Bipartisan) July 23, 2026 1,060 LV ±3% 48% 46% 6% State Navigate July 10–13, 2026 448 LV ±4.6% 51% 44% 5% Wick Insights June 30–July 8, 2026 1,175 LV ±2.9% 43% 43% 14% Fox News / Beacon Research June 27, 2026 1,002 RV ±3% 52% 47% 1% Echelon Insights (R-leaning) April 9–21, 2026 407 LV ±6.5% 49% 43% 8% Sources: 270toWin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pollsmax. Polling average (Aug. 4, 2026): Bottoms +6.1 (D 50.5% / R 44.4%). All polls subject to margin of error. Race rated Toss-up by Inside Elections, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and The Cook Political Report. Bottom Line on the Polls: Bottoms leads in the majority of recent surveys, but the AARP bipartisan poll, the most methodologically rigorous, shows a two-point race within the margin of error. The 14% undecided in the Wick poll is the most critical number on the board. Those voters will decide this election. And in Georgia, we know exactly which communities hold the key to moving those numbers. Where They Stand: A Policy-by-Policy Breakdown A side-by-side comparison of each candidate’s positions on the issues that matter most to Georgia voters Forget the ads. Forget the spin. Here is what each candidate has actually said and proposed on the issues that directly affect Black Georgia families, workers, students, patients, and voters. Read this table carefully and share it with someone who needs it. Issue Area Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) Rick Jackson (R) Education Free technical and community college pathway for all Georgians. Eliminate state income tax for teachers to invest in and retain classroom educators. Boost early literacy programs. Increase overall public school funding. Expand access to Pre-K. Freeze state income tax now; work toward full elimination. Free tuition, room, and board at public colleges for Georgia foster youth. Ban DEI curriculum in public schools. Strengthen Georgia Parents’ Bill of Rights. Limited specifics on broader K–12 funding levels. Healthcare Expand Medicaid fully — covering an estimated 300,000+ uninsured Georgians. End Georgia Pathways (the work-requirement program). Launch a rural healthcare access initiative. Invest significantly in maternal health. Protect and expand reproductive healthcare access. Market-based healthcare reform. Has not committed to Medicaid expansion. Advocates use of technology and AI to improve