Will Democrats win the Georgia Governorship in 2026?

[Zedonathin2020]

If so, who could that Democrat possibly be?

[Suburbia]

Not Stacey Abrams, probably. She's done.

Ego and fame got in her head. Should have stayed low.

Can't be Stacey Evans either because black people won't turn out.

Jon Ossoff, if he is tired of DC.

A young handsome governor is what Democrats need heading into the 2030s.

[Heebie Jeebie]

Nikema Williams could pull it off. 

[Tekken_Guy]

Lucy McBath?

[David Hume]

Not Stacey Abrams, probably. She's done.

Ego and fame got in her head. Should have stayed low.

Can't be Stacey Evans either because black people won't turn out.

Jon Ossoff, if he is tired of DC.

A young handsome governor is what Democrats need heading into the 2030s.

Heavily depends on the R nominee. Raffensperger would be favored to win, just like Kemp.

[Paloney]

Not Stacey Abrams, probably. She's done.

Ego and fame got in her head. Should have stayed low.

Can't be Stacey Evans either because black people won't turn out.

Jon Ossoff, if he is tired of DC.

A young handsome governor is what Democrats need heading into the 2030s.

Heavily depends on the R nominee. Raffensperger would be favored to win, just like Kemp.

I think Burt Jones, the next Lt. Gov, will almost certainly be the nominee. He's supported by all wings of the party and even got an endorsement from Kwanza Hall.

[David Hume]

Not Stacey Abrams, probably. She's done.

Ego and fame got in her head. Should have stayed low.

Can't be Stacey Evans either because black people won't turn out.

Jon Ossoff, if he is tired of DC.

A young handsome governor is what Democrats need heading into the 2030s.

Heavily depends on the R nominee. Raffensperger would be favored to win, just like Kemp.

I think Burt Jones, the next Lt. Gov, will almost certainly be the nominee. He's supported by all wings of the party and even got an endorsement from Kwanza Hall.

How did he manage to do this? He's an election denier.

[Ferguson97]

Jimmy Carter

[MargieCat]

What about Keisha Lance Bottoms?

I also think Lucy McBath would be a good choice.

[Heebie Jeebie]

I kind of think McBath is too old to be a good nominee--a first-time gubernatorial candidate really shouldn't be older than 56 or so.

[Skill and Chance]

I kinda doubt it.  Yes, the state will have 4 years to get even bluer, but I expect Raffensperger to run (remember, they have open primaries) and he would get a ton of crossover votes from Dems.

At this point, the gubernatorial election Dems should really care about winning is 2030.  That would make it possible to finally flip the legislature.

[Figueira]

I kinda doubt it.  Yes, the state will have 4 years to get even bluer, but I expect Raffensperger to run (remember, they have open primaries) and he would get a ton of crossover votes from Dems.

At this point, the gubernatorial election Dems should really care about winning is 2030.  That would make it possible to finally flip the legislature.

Winning in 2026 is a great way to make winning in 2030 likely.

[Spectator]

It depends on the candidates. Would probably take a suburban Democrat or someone from non-Atlanta. James Beverly maybe could.

Also depends on if Republicans are stupid enough to run Burt Jones who would put it at considerably more risk than a Raffensperger nomination would.

[ReaganLimbaugh]

Burt Jones wouldn't have a chance.  He is a total fake and it will catch up to him.  Look to an ambitious R Congressman to be the nominee.

[BloJo94]

It depends on the candidates. Would probably take a suburban Democrat or someone from non-Atlanta. James Beverly maybe could.

Also depends on if Republicans are stupid enough to run Burt Jones who would put it at considerably more risk than a Raffensperger nomination would.

I don’t think Ratffensperger is interested in any other office. Attorney General Chris Carr seems more likely to take the “not extremist” lane.

Rich McCormick might go for it, but I think he is more likely to challenge Ossoff.

[Devils30]

It depends on the candidates. Would probably take a suburban Democrat or someone from non-Atlanta. James Beverly maybe could.

Also depends on if Republicans are stupid enough to run Burt Jones who would put it at considerably more risk than a Raffensperger nomination would.

I don’t think Ratffensperger is interested in any other office. Attorney General Chris Carr seems more likely to take the “not extremist” lane.

Rich McCormick might go for it, but I think he is more likely to challenge Ossoff.

Kemp would have the inside track on 2026 senate if he wants it.

[FloridaMan1845]

If they nominate Stacy Abrams again, no, and she’ll drag Jon Ossoff down with her.

[Spectator]

If they nominate Stacy Abrams again, no, and she’ll drag Jon Ossoff down with her.

I doubt she’d get the nomination a third time.

[Landslide Lyndon]

If they nominate Stacy Abrams again, no, and she’ll drag Jon Ossoff down with her.

I doubt she’d get the nomination a third time.

Yeah, it seems like Democrats are ready to move on from her.
It's a bit unfair considering that she was instrumental in turning Georgia blue but that's life.

[Orwell]

If they nominate Stacy Abrams again, no, and she’ll drag Jon Ossoff down with her.

I doubt she’d get the nomination a third time.

Yeah, it seems like Democrats are ready to move on from her.
It's a bit unfair considering that she was instrumental in turning Georgia blue but that's life.

Well, retread candidates don’t really work and I’m not betting on Abrams 3rd times a charming it. I like Stacey Evans more and she has a good legislative track record on education, but no chance in such a racially polarized state.

[FloridaMan1845]

If so, who could that Democrat possibly be?

Why’d you cross out your Santos for Senate endorsement ((

[ListMan38]

Probably down to the environment, and if Rs nominate a competent candidate.

The Dem sweep of the 2021 runoffs was a combination of it being the peak of the post-2020 ballot harvesting fearmongering (which I'm certain hurt turnout), plus Loeffler's big insider trading scandal. In 2022, the issue for Rs was that Walker was a horrible candidate.

[Lechasseur]

I think it depends on who the GOP nominates.

Raffensperger imo would win the race and keep the governorship GOP.

But if the GOP nominates a poor candidate for the office, then I would suspect the Democrats win the election.

[Ragnaroni]

I'll say this : they have to be black.

Stacey would run again but it would be Lean-R imo

[MT Treasurer]

Probably down to the environment, and if Rs nominate a competent candidate.

The Dem sweep of the 2021 runoffs was a combination of it being the peak of the post-2020 ballot harvesting fearmongering (which I'm certain hurt turnout), plus Loeffler's big insider trading scandal. In 2022, the issue for Rs was that Walker was a horrible candidate.

This is doubtful given that Perdue lost by a similar margin. In fact, the 2021 runoffs arguably foreshadowed the historic Republican national underperformance in the November 2022 elections.

As for the question, it’s very possible even in a R-friendly environment. At this point, I don’t think there are many Republicans in GA who could win a primary and also avoid a runoff (-> automatic D advantage) in the GE.