BREAKING NEWS: Former Republican Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, Geoff Duncan, has officially announced his candidacy for governor in 2026 as a Democrat, marking a significant shift in Georgia’s political landscape. This announcement comes just hours ago, intensifying the race in this crucial battleground state.
In a powerful video released earlier today, Duncan stated, “Georgia Republicans threw me out of their party,” emphasizing a growing divide within the GOP. He pledges to focus on pressing issues affecting Georgians, including skyrocketing costs of child care, medicine, and housing. Duncan’s campaign aims to position Georgia as “the front line of democracy” while fighting against extremism.
Duncan, who served as lieutenant governor under outgoing GOP Governor Brian Kemp from 2019 to 2023, has been vocal against former President Donald Trump and recently endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 election. His party switch follows a tumultuous relationship with the Georgia GOP, which culminated in a vote to expel him after he criticized Trump’s actions surrounding the 2020 election results.
Reflecting on his political evolution, Duncan wrote in a recent op-ed for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “My journey to becoming a Democrat started well before Donald Trump tried to steal the 2020 election in Georgia.” He pointed to the discord between Kemp’s administration and Trump’s campaign regarding the certification of President Joe Biden‘s victory.
Duncan’s entry into the race adds significant weight to the Democratic primary, which already includes notable candidates such as former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former state Senator Jason Esteves. On the Republican side, Lt. Governor Burt Jones is running with Trump’s endorsement against state Attorney General Chris Carr.
As the race heats up, Duncan asserts, “Georgians deserve leaders with the courage to take on Donald Trump and do what’s right.” He aims to become the first Democratic governor in Georgia since Roy Barnes in 1998, promising to tackle the rising costs that burden families across the state.
The upcoming election is expected to be fiercely contested, with over $80 million spent in the last gubernatorial race, making it one of the most expensive contests in the nation. Georgia Democrats are optimistic about their chances, having secured both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats in recent elections.
As this story develops, all eyes will be on Duncan as he navigates his new role and engages with voters across Georgia. The implications of his campaign could reshape the political dynamics in one of the country’s most pivotal states.
