With just over six months until Georgia’s 2026 primary elections, new polling reveals a wide-open field in both party races for governor, though Lt. Gov. Burt Jones holds an early lead among Republicans thanks to an endorsement from President Donald Trump. The poll, conducted by the University of Georgia for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, also shows a significant percentage of voters remain undecided.
On the Democrat side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has taken a strong lead with 40% support among likely primary voters. Bottoms, who recently served as a senior adviser to the Harris-Walz campaign, holds a nearly 30-point advantage over her closest rival, former DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond, who stands at 11%. The rest of the field is trailing in single digits.
Despite Bottoms’ early lead, 40% of Democrat voters remain undecided, signaling potential shifts ahead as the field narrows and campaigns intensify.
Among Republicans, the race is even more fluid. A full 55% of likely GOP primary voters have not yet picked a candidate. However, Burt Jones leads with 22% following Trump’s early endorsement. Secretary of State Michael Thurmond follows with 15%, while Attorney General Chris Carr pulls in 7%.
With current Governor Brian Kemp term-limited after two consecutive terms, the governor’s mansion is up for grabs for the first time in eight years. Republicans are aiming to keep control of the office, while Democrats are attempting to reclaim it for the first time in two decades.
Georgia’s primaries are scheduled for May 19, 2026. If no candidate earns over 50% of the vote, the top two contenders will head to a runoff, with the eventual winner facing off in the November general election.
