Georgia’s 2026 Primary: Record Spending, Runoffs and a Statewide Political Crossroads

Georgia’s May 19, 2026 primary will choose the U.S. Senate seat held by Jon Ossoff, the open governor’s office, and two Supreme Court seats. State law requires a 50 percent majority; early returns show no candidate will meet it, prompting June 16 runoffs.

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The primary follows a Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the Voting Rights Act, intensifying focus on the Supreme Court races. Georgia’s electorate is more competitive, with Democrats out-turning Republicans by about 15 percent in early voting.

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Republican Senate contenders are Rep. Mike Collins, Rep. Derek Dooley (backed by Gov. Brian Kemp) and Rep. Buddy Carter. GOP governor hopefuls include Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (Trump-endorsed), health-care billionaire Rick Jackson, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr. Democrats field former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, ex-Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, state senator Jason Esteves and labor commissioner Mike Thurmond.

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Republican governor ads have topped $113 million, including $61 million for Jackson and a $20 million self-loan from Jones. Jackson has spent over $80 million of his own money. Early voting exceeded one million, 56.7 percent Democratic vs. 41.7 percent Republican. Senate polls show Collins 32 percent, Dooley 26 percent, Carter 21 percent; governor polls have Jackson 31 percent, Jones 27 percent, Raffensperger 16 percent.

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Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed Derek Dooley for Senate; President Donald Trump has not endorsed any gubernatorial candidate. Former President Joe Biden backed Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor. State Democratic Chair Charlie Bailey called the Judicial Qualifications Commission’s statements partisan. The commission said it reviewed complaints against two Supreme Court hopefuls.

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Buddy Carter accused Mike Collins of misusing taxpayer funds in a House ethics complaint; Collins denied it. Rick Jackson’s heavy spending drew rebuke from Republicans Raffensperger and Carr, who warned intra-party attacks could alienate voters. Democrats cite Bottoms’ brief mayoral tenure and Biden ties as vulnerabilities.

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AP describes Collins as the Senate frontrunner, while NPR notes Dooley’s recent surge, showing divergent poll snapshots.

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• “If taxpayers can’t trust you to properly steward their money, how can they trust you to be a U.S. senator?” — Buddy Carter, U.S. Representative (Georgia)

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• “I can tell through your voice that you know how the polling is going out there.” — Mike Collins, U.S. Representative (Georgia)

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• “Our campaign is building momentum at the right time, as voters know that Keisha is the strongest candidate to defeat whatever Trump Republican emerges from the GOP primary and win the governorship for Democrats this November,” — Rashad Taylor, campaign manager for Keisha Lance Bottoms

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• “a cynical attempt by a mere bureaucratic arm of the Georgia Republican establishment to hide the truth about this race from Georgia voters.” — Charlie Bailey, State Democratic Party Chair

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If no candidate reaches 50 percent, Georgia will hold runoffs on June 16. Gov. Kemp announced a June 17 session to consider 2028 redistricting, while the two Supreme Court seats will be decided by the primary. The outcomes will shape the state’s partisan balance for the 2026 midterms.

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