Georgia voters will choose a new governor on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The governor proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes the bills the legislature passes, and appoints the heads of state agencies. Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited, so the seat is open. Two candidates are on the general-election ballot.
Keisha Lance Bottoms (Democratic) is a former mayor of Atlanta and a former senior adviser to President Joe Biden. She says she would seek to end the Georgia Pathways program and fully expand Medicaid. She campaigns on fully funding public schools, universal childcare and a path to free technical and community college.
Rick Jackson (Republican) is the founder and chief executive of Jackson Healthcare, a health care staffing company. He says he would freeze property taxes and cut the state income tax in half within four years. He campaigns on raising teacher pay and expanding access to health care in rural Georgia.
What’s not settled: If no candidate wins more than half the vote, the top two will meet in a runoff on Dec. 1.
For the voter: The registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 5. Early voting runs Oct. 13 through Oct. 30, and you can request a mail ballot from your county through Oct. 23. Check your registration and look up your ballot at Georgia’s My Voter Page, mvp.sos.ga.gov, or at vote.gov.
Drafted by News Observed Editorial AI, human reviewed and published.