Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan Launches Democratic Governor Bid

Geoff Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, has announced his 2026 gubernatorial campaign as a Democrat, marking a significant party switch after being expelled from the GOP due to his criticism of President Donald Trump and endorsement of Kamala Harris in 2024. Duncan positions himself as a candidate focused on lowering costs for childcare, healthcare, and housing, and pledges to make Georgia a frontline of democracy opposing Trump and extremism. His entry adds to a crowded Democratic primary field including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and others, while the general election is seen as highly competitive. On the Republican side, business executive Clark Dean has launched an outsider campaign for governor, emphasizing conservative principles and promising to put Georgia families first, though he is relatively unknown politically compared to rivals like Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has Trump's endorsement, and Attorney General Chris Carr. The upcoming race to succeed term-limited Governor Brian Kemp is shaping up as a key contest with a diverse set of candidates on both sides vying for influence in this important battleground state.