Legislative

Originally posted by MCO Group on September 18, 2026

01. Gov. Kemp Endorses Mike Collins in Senate Race

In a significant change from the Georgia governor, Brian Kemp has endorsed Republican Representative Mike Collins in his tight Senate race, according to the Collins campaign.  Kemp, who openly campaigned against Collins during the Republican primary, had not endorsed the representative after his win in June, and it was unclear whether the governor would endorse him at all.  In a statement shared by the Collins campaign, Kemp said he and the candidate "share a commitment to making Georgia an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

02. Rick Jackson Holds Narrow Lead over Keisha Lance Bottoms

Republican nominee Rick Jackson holds a narrow lead over Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia’s gubernatorial race, according to a new survey released by Rasmussen Reports.  The poll of 1,019 likely Georgia voters found that 48% would vote for Jackson if the election were held today, compared to 45% for Bottoms, while 7% said they remain undecided.  Because the three-point spread falls within the survey’s margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points, the race remains a statistical dead heat heading into the November midterms.

03. Board of Regents Names Chancellor Finalist

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia voted to name Thomas A. Fanning as the sole finalist for chancellor of the University System of Georgia. Fanning is set to succeed Chancellor Sonny Perdue, who announced his retirement in April after four decades of public service, and will take the helm of one of the nation’s top public university systems with 25 public colleges and universities, more than 50,000 faculty and staff and more than 382,000 students statewide. Fanning spent 13 years leading Southern Company before retiring in 2023.

04. American Idol Production Company Moving to Georgia

Fremantle, the production company behind American Idol, is reportedly in final discussions with an Atlanta-area studio complex to move from Hollywood to Georgia. Last month, Paramount CEO David Ellison threatened to relocate the company's headquarters to a more business-friendly state such as Georgia, Tennessee or Texas if California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading 11 other states in an effort to block Paramount's $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, did not negotiate a settlement by Oct. 1.

05. Foster Care Committee Examines Rising Costs

The Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia’s Foster Care System heard testimony from child welfare officials and auditors who say that some foster care spending isn’t going where officials expected. Foster care costs statewide have increased 159% since 2022, according to the committee’s chair, state Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick. The increase comes on top of a foster care budget shortfall of more than $85 million, first reported earlier this year, even as the state overall is running a budget surplus.

Originally posted by MCO Group on September 11, 2026

01. Georgia Governor Race in Dead Heat

The open race to succeed term-limited Brian Kemp has narrowed to a coin flip between Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms (former Atlanta mayor) and Republican Rick Jackson (founder of Jackson Healthcare). InsiderAdvantage's mid-August poll put it at a statistical tie — Jackson 46.3%, Bottoms 46.2% — while the FiftyPlusOne polling average as of Sept. 8 shows Bottoms +4. Affordability is the defining frame both campaigns are fighting on.

02. Georgia Income Rate Reduction Plan

The headline structural story is HB 463, the nine-year plan lawmakers passed in the 2026 session that cuts the income rate to 4.99% (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026) and steps it down toward 3.99%. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute frames the plan as potentially eliminating up to one-third of the state's income tax over time. The FY 2027 budget runs on a $38.5 billion revenue estimate, and the state entered the year sitting on roughly $9+ billion in undesignated surplus.

03. Data Centers Continue to be Top Regulatory Issue

In late August, Georgia Power agreed to stronger protections shielding residential ratepayers from data-center costs, raising its guaranteed rate offset to $15/month after the surprise announcement of a massive OpenAI-linked facility in Effingham County with 3,200 MW of new demand. Load-growth projections have exploded from 400 MW (2022 estimate) to 8,500 MW. Simultaneously, the state's data-center sales-tax exemption is projected to cost ~$2.5B in FY26 and nearly $3B in FY27, and a bipartisan wave of 2026 bills (SB 408, SB 410, moratorium proposals) targeted those incentives.

04. Medicaid Expansion Heading to Decision

Georgia's partial expansion, Pathways to Coverage (80-hour work requirement, coverage to 100% of poverty), runs on a temporary federal extension that ends December 31, 2026. In August, state officials warned that new federal Medicaid rules threaten the program's structure, and the administration opened a public comment period (closed Sept. 14) on a waiver amendment to capture enhanced federal funding. Democrats, including Keisha Lance Bottoms, continue pledging full expansion to 138% of poverty, which would draw a 90% federal match versus the ~66% Pathways currently gets.

05. Record-Breaking Year for Economic Development Incentives

On Sept. 3, Kemp announced a record $35.2 billion in FY26 project investments, including $7.8 billion in foreign direct investment, capping a term that saw $125.6 billion and roughly 164,900 jobs recruited across FY22–FY26.

Originally posted by MCO Group on August 28, 2026

01. Georgia Attorney General Announces Largest Big Tech Settlement in History

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced a $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc., the largest state consumer protection settlement in history outside the Big Tobacco settlements of the 1990s. Meta must also implement a sweeping set of safety features designed to protect children on Instagram and Facebook. The agreement resolves claims by 47 States and D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands that the company designed Instagram with addictive features, knowingly exposed young users to serious mental harms, and intentionally misled the public about the safety of its platforms, among other allegations. Under the settlement, the State of Georgia will receive close to $100 million and could receive almost $135 million.

02. Walmart Plans $1.3B Investment in Franklin County

Governor Kemp today announced that Walmart, Inc. plans to build a high-tech, next-generation fulfillment center in Carnesville, creating 1,000 new jobs and bringing $1.3 billion in investment to Franklin County. Walmart’s presence in Georgia includes 209 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs, as well as 11 supply chain facilities, employing more than 65,300 associates statewide. The retailer spends more than $26.2 billion with state suppliers, supporting more than 167,600 supplier jobs in fiscal year 2025.

03. Georgia Chamber Launches Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance

The Georgia Chamber launched the Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance and plans to brief policymakers beginning in September. The industry is responding to growing concerns about electricity rates, water consumption, transparency and local land use. Expect data-center cost allocation, tax incentives and local permitting authority to be major issues during the 2027 legislative session.

04. Everton Blair Wins Race for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District

Everton Blair, a former Gwinnett County Board of Education chair, is headed to Washington to finish out the late Congressman David Scott's term representing Georgia's 13th Congressional District after defeating Marcye Scott, the daughter of the late congressman, in a special election. Blair, a 34-year-old with a doctorate in education from Harvard University, is the third Black, openly gay man elected to Congress and the first to represent a Southern state. He ran a progressive campaign by advocating for Medicare for all, speaking out against Israel's reliance on U.S. tax dollars and its influence in U.S. politics, and pledging to voters that he would be a voice in Washington against President Donald Trump's policies.

05. Hyundai Weighs Expanding Georgia Manufacturing Complex

Hyundai is considering a major expansion of its Georgia manufacturing complex near Savannah as US tariffs increase the cost of importing vehicles from South Korea. The automaker could raise the planned annual capacity of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America from 500,000 vehicles to between 700,000 and 800,000 by 2028, surpassing Tesla’s Fremont, California, plant as America’s busiest car factory.

Originally posted by MCO Group on August 21, 2026

01. Ossoff Opens Seven-Point Senate Lead

An InsiderAdvantage poll sponsored by the conservative-leaning James Magazine Online that surveyed 800 likely Georgia voters showed Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff at 50%, Republican Rep. Mike Collins at 43%, and 7% undecided. Collins must improve with women and younger voters while national Republicans decide how heavily to invest.

02. Georgia Governor's Race Tied

The same survey finds Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms tied at 46%, with 8% undecided. Ticket-splitting is the central strategic variable: the poll suggests that some voters currently favor Ossoff for Senate but are not automatically supporting Bottoms for governor. Kemp's political organization, endorsements, fundraising network, and economic record could therefore become decisive assets for Jackson. Data centers are also entering this campaign. Bottoms recently supported a pause on development, illustrating how utility costs, water use, land use, and local control could become wedge issues in the governor's race. 

03. OpenAI's Georgia Power Contract Receives Additional Scrutiny

The Georgia Public Service Commission's review of Georgia Power's proposed contract serving OpenAI's planned Effingham County campus was extended to August 26. The review occurs under the commission's rule requiring advance submission of new data-center contracts exceeding 100 megawatts. The project is reportedly valued at $20 billion, is expected to begin operating in 2028, and could require 3.2 gigawatts delivered in phases through 2032.

Separately, Atlanta moved to establish a Data Center Task Force. The immediate pressure points are:

Cost allocation: Whether residential and small-business customers are insulated from generation and transmission costs.

Contract transparency: Much of the OpenAI agreement reportedly remains redacted.

Resource planning: The size of the load raises questions about generation, grid reliability, water, and natural-gas infrastructure.

Local authority: Municipalities and counties are considering task forces, moratoria, and zoning restrictions.

Election-year politics: Candidates are beginning to differentiate themselves on whether Georgia should accelerate, regulate, or pause new projects. 

04. Transportation Funding Opportunities

On August 17, Georgia DOT opened a new application window for federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funding. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, transit agencies, regional transportation authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, and other transportation-related public entities. Eligible projects include roundabouts, intersection improvements, traffic-signal systems, intelligent transportation systems, and other projects that reduce congestion or emissions. Applicants generally need a 20% local match. In the previous combined funding round, GDOT selected 40 projects for approximately $74.1 million in CMAQ and Transportation Alternatives funding.

Meanwhile, 15 participants completed the second cohort of Building Georgia, a statewide initiative by GDOT, the Atlanta Regional Commission, and the Technical College System that prepares workers for careers in highway maintenance, construction, right-of-way, equipment maintenance, and related infrastructure. Local governments should screen eligible projects immediately and secure matching funds before the application window closes. For contractors and employers, the workforce announcement underscores the state's effort to address labor constraints associated with Georgia's infrastructure program. 

05. Kemp Announces Hall County Manufacturing Project

The Kemp administration announced on August 17 that Cirkla will create 140 jobs in Hall County, reinforcing three established Kemp themes: advanced manufacturing, job creation outside Atlanta's core, and Georgia's ability to attract international and supply-chain investment. Hall County's continued growth will also increase pressure on transportation capacity, utilities, housing, and workforce development.

Originally posted by MCO Group

01. Governor’s race centers on healthcare, affordability and data centers

Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms presented competing agendas at the Georgia Chamber’s meeting in Athens. Bottoms called Medicaid expansion central to her affordability platform and proposed temporarily pausing new data-center construction while Georgia studies its effects on utility bills, water and the environment. Jackson opposed a moratorium, emphasized economic development, and positioned himself as the successor to Gov. Brian Kemp’s business policies.

02. Latest polling gives Democrats an advantage

The latest public AARP poll numbers suggest Democrats currently benefit from younger voters, but Republicans have an advantage among the older Georgians most likely to vote.

Bottoms at 48% and Jackson at 46%, within the margin of error.

Sen. Jon Ossoff at 52% and Republican Mike Collins at 43%.

Among voters 50 and older, Jackson leads Bottoms 55%–42%, while Collins leads Ossoff 53%–45%.

03. Georgia’s energy and data-center debate intensifies

Georgia Power broke ground on new natural-gas generation and battery storage at Plant Bowen. Supporters argue the project is necessary for reliability and growing electricity demand, particularly from data centers. Environmental and consumer groups remain concerned about emissions and whether residential customers will subsidize infrastructure built primarily for large industrial users. Data-center regulation is likely to return as a major issue during the 2027 legislative session.

04. Controversy grows around Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins

Mike Collins faces continued pressure over extremist and antisemitic social-media posts reportedly made by his son-in-law, who has appeared around campaign activities. Collins has said the individual does not speak for him, but Democratic groups and Black clergy are demanding a fuller response. The controversy threatens to distract Collins from his healthcare and economic message while he trails Ossoff in current polling.

05. Infrastructure cybersecurity emerges as a state-policy concern

Officials are investigating whether a disruptive outage affecting the Clayton County water system was connected to a broader cyber campaign targeting water utilities. The incident will likely increase pressure for state funding, cybersecurity standards and emergency-response requirements for local water systems.

Originally posted by MCO Group on July 10, 2026

01. General Election: Jackson vs. Bottoms

Rick Jackson's win over Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the GOP gubernatorial primary runoff formally locks in a Jackson-vs.-Keisha Lance Bottoms general election. Jackson — the wealthy founder of Alpharetta-based Jackson Healthcare — carried the runoff with roughly 53% despite President Trump and Governor Brian Kemp's endorsement of Jones, an outcome that echoed the Collins-over-Dooley result on the Senate side and reinforced that Trump's imprimatur is no longer dispositive in a Georgia GOP primary. For the first time since 2002, Georgia has an open gubernatorial seat where a Democrat is genuinely competitive on Day 1 of the general.

02. Fox News Poll Frames Race as True Toss-Up

A Fox News survey released just before the holiday and dominating political conversation this week shows Bottoms and Jackson inside the margin of error, tracking the Ballotpedia "toss-up" rating issued at the end of June. Bottoms benefits from unusually high name ID and early organizational advantages, but analysts continue to flag Trump's Georgia approval and the state's Republican structural lean as the ceiling on her path.

Client implication: Independent expenditure activity in metro Atlanta media markets will accelerate. Clients with exposure to healthcare, Medicaid expansion, and cost-of-living policy should brief their principals now — both nominees are leaning into affordability messaging.

03. Special Session QR-Code Ballot Fix Unraveling

A late amendment to the elections bill passed in the June special session — intended to defuse the QR-code ballot crisis before November — is drawing fresh scrutiny this week. GPB's July 6 reporting details how the last-minute change could meaningfully shift how votes are cast and counted, and voting-rights groups and county election directors are signaling that further guidance from the Secretary of State's office will be needed before absentee ballots go out.

04. No Movement on Local Homestead Property-Tax Relief

The special session adjourned without placing local homestead exemption referendums on the November ballot — a significant defeat for county-level relief advocates and a live issue this week as local governments finalize FY27 millage rates. WABE's coverage frames this as an unresolved fault line between the Governor's office, House leadership, and county commissions heading into the 2027 session.

05. Kemp’s Post-Session Posture: Economic Development & Legacy-Building

With the special session in the rearview and his preferred successor (Jones) out of the race, Governor Kemp is leaning into economic development announcements — Yancey Engineered Solutions' 300-job Crisp County project is the most recent example — and quietly recalibrating his political operation. His pre-runoff endorsement of Jones did not carry the day, and this week the political class is watching whether, and how enthusiastically, he engages Jackson in the general.

What We’re Watching

• Secretary of State guidance on QR-code implementation
  
• Bottoms' positions on healthcare and Medicaid expansion
  
• July revenue numbers (due mid-month) — a soft print reshapes the 2027 budget conversation
  
• House and Senate Study Committee meetings agendas will be posted dealing with issues related to healthcare reform, PBM oversight, access to prescription medications, and local taxation, funding and budgeting
  
• Gov. Kemp is expected to release budget instructions to state agencies for AFY 2027 and FY 2028
  

Originally posted by MCO Group, June 17, 2026

Below is a concise update on Georgia’s June 16, 2026, primary runoff elections and a preview of the November 3 general election. Several marquee races are now set, and Georgia will again be a closely watched crucial battleground this fall.

Top line: Billionaire businessman Rick Jackson won the GOP Nomination for Governor despite endorsements by President Trump and Governor Brian Kemp for Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.  Georgia’s general-election matchups are now set, with Republicans expected to pivot toward the center as they face well-funded Democratic nominees, including Sen. Jon Ossoff and former Mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms, in November, who have launched a unified Democratic ticket.  Both of Gov. Kemp's endorsed statewide candidates were defeated on Tuesday.

Key Results & Election Outlook

U.S. Senate: Incumbent Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff will face GOP Nominee Mike Collins after defeating Gov. Kemp-backed Derek Dooley. Ossoff is the only Democratic senator running for re-election in a state that President Donald Trump won in 2024.

Governor: Republican Nominee Rick Jackson will face Keisha Lance Bottoms in November after defeating Trump and Kemp endorsed Lt. Governor Brian Kemp in the most expensive primary campaign for Governor in the state’s history.  Jones won election day voting by 8+ percent but it was not enough to overcome Jackson's early voting totals.

Lieutenant Governor: State Sens. Josh McLaurin (D) and Greg Dolezal (R)  will face off in November after winning their respective runoff elections. Dolezal defeated John F. Kennedy for the GOP nomination, and McLaurin defeated Nabilah Parkes for the Democratic nomination.

Secretary of State: State Rep. Tim Fleming will face Penny Brown Reynolds in November after winning their respective runoffs.

Commissioner of Insurance: State Rep. Keisha Waites will face Incumbent John King after beating DeAndre Mathis.

School Superintendent: Incumbent Richard Woods will face Lydia Powell after fending off a strong primary challenge.

Commissioner of Labor: Nikki Porter will face incumbent Bárbara Rivera Holmes.

Public Service Commission District 5: Josh Tolbert will face Shelia Edwards after defeating Bobby Mehan in this open PSC seat to replace Tricia Pridemore.

State Senate: There will be 10 new members of the state Senate after this year’s primary season, with very little change expected in the November elections. Republicans should maintain their current 33-23 majority. However, if Democrat headwinds at the top of the ticket create significant coattails, the Senate could have Democrat presiding officers, in which Republican leadership would likely rewrite the Senate Rules to empower the Committee on Assignments, the powerful group responsible for determining the structure, membership, and leadership of all other standing committees within the Senate.

State House: There will be at least 21 new House members when the legislature convenes in January 2027, with Democrats hoping to pick up key battleground state House seats in Metro Atlanta suburbs. The House Republican Caucus will focus on defending the seven most vulnerable incumbents: Kimberly New (HD-40), Sharon Cooper (HD-45), Scott Hilton (HD-48), Deb Silcox (HD-53), Matt Reeves (HD-99), Sandy Donatucci (HD-105), and in SW Georgia, Gerald Greene (HD-154). Absent a complete blue wave, House Republicans should maintain a 16-20 seat majority.

What This Means for You

Georgia’s November ballot is now largely set, shifting attention from primary dynamics to general-election messaging, spending, and turnout.

For clients, the most consequential races remain governor, U.S. Senate, lieutenant governor, and key regulatory offices that influence litigation, utilities, data centers, labor, education, and election administration.

Businesses with a Georgia footprint should monitor how the campaigns frame economic development, energy demand, tort reform, workforce policy, and public-sector oversight heading into 2027.

Please let us know if you would like a tailored briefing on the runoff landscape, general-election implications, or sector-specific policy risks and opportunities in Georgia.

In Case You Missed It

Special Session

The Georgia General Assembly will be in Special Session beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, with a targeted adjournment of Friday, June 26, 2026, although it may be extended. Special sessions are limited to the subjects listed in the proclamation issued by the Governor (GA. CONST. art. 5, §2, ⁋7(a)). In this case, Gov. Kemp stated the following subjects to be considered:

• Redrawing congressional and state legislative maps for the 2028 election cycle.
  
• Election laws.
  
• LHOST laws as prescribed in Code Section 48-8-109.52, enacted by the 2026Georgia Laws Act 461 (SB 33).
  
• Ratification of the executive orders suspending the gasoline tax; and
  
• For the Senate to consider and confirm various gubernatorial appointments.
  

Special and Study Committees

Special and Study Committees could begin their work as soon as this week with the legislature in town. A link to the details about Committees can be found here.

Originally posted by MCO Group on May 29, 2026

1. Burt Jones vs. Rick Jackson in Governor Race

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson are headed to a June 16 Republican runoff after neither cleared 50%. This week, both campaigns pivoted hard: Jones consolidated rural/MAGA support and the Trump-world apparatus, while Jackson leaned on his foster-youth biography and self-funding advantage to keep pressure in the Atlanta, Augusta, and Columbus media markets. Clients should watch endorsement cascades from losing primary candidates and whether Gov. Kemp signals a lane.

2. Collins–Dooley Senate Runoff and the Ossoff Matchup

The U.S. Senate primary also went to overtime, with Derek Dooley and Rep. Mike Collins advancing to the GOP runoff to take on Sen. Jon Ossoff. This week, the national money started moving. This is the most expensive race in the country and will define paid media inventory in Atlanta through November.

3. Statewide Election Audit Kicks Off

The Secretary of State's office formally launched the risk-limiting audit of the May 19 primary results this week. Given that two of the highest-profile races on the ballot are headed to runoffs decided by relatively narrow margins, the audit is drawing more scrutiny than usual and is feeding directly into the second item Kemp put on the special-session call (see #4).

4. Special Session Prep: Redistricting + Ballot QR Codes

Kemp's May 13 proclamation calling lawmakers back on June 17 continued to drive the policy conversation all week. The call covers two items: redrawing congressional maps for the 2028 cycle following the Louisiana Supreme Court redistricting ruling, and addressing QR codes on ballots, a long-running fight between election-integrity advocates and the SOS's office. This week, House and Senate leadership quietly circulated draft map concepts and conducted whip counts on the QR code language. Expect map leaks in the first week of June.

Action item for clients with federal footprints: model exposure under at least two plausible CD scenarios.

5. Bottoms Positioning and the Down-Ballot Democratic Slate

Keisha Lance Bottoms spent this week pivoting to general-election posture, including unity events, fundraising calls with the DGA, and early framing against both potential GOP nominees. Worth tracking alongside her rollout: the Democratic slates for Lt. Gov., AG, and SOS — open-seat races up and down the ticket are giving the party its deepest statewide bench in a generation, and coordination decisions being made this week will shape independent-expenditure activity into the summer.

Bottom Line for Principals

Every one of this week's top stories points to the same operational reality — Georgia is in a 17-day sprint to two consequential runoffs and a special session immediately on its heels. Client engagement plans for June need to assume the Capitol is functionally in session from June 16 forward, and any policy ask that touches elections, maps, or healthcare should be sequenced with the runoff calendar in mind.

Originally posted by MCO Group on May 20, 2026

Georgia’s 2026 May 19th primary is full of more uncertainty than certainty, with several high-profile races heading to June 16th run-off races with two exceptions – Incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D) and Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms easily won their party nominations with 1,040,074 and 606,801 votes, respectively. Overall election results are still being tabulated, but over 1.02 million voters, or roughly 14 percent, of active voters cast early ballots.

Georgia’s 2026 General Election will decide all statewide elected officers and all 236 members of the Georgia General Assembly. The non-partisan judicial races for two Supreme Court seats and one Court of Appeals seat, along with several superior court and state court races, were decided in the Primary Election. Georgia primary candidates need to secure a 50-plus-one vote to avoid a runoff election.

Primary Results

U.S. Senate Republican Primary

Congressman Mike Collins (40.43) will face Governor Kemp-backed outsider Derek Dooley (30.22). President Trump did not endorse a candidate in this primary battle. All eyes will be on whether the President endorses Collins in this run-off election given the friction between Trump and Kemp over the 2020 election results.

Governor Republican Primary

Lt. Governor Burt Jones led the Republican ticket by securing 38.33 percent of the vote despite being outspent 3-1 by businessman Rick Jackson. Collectively, both candidates spent a historic $100 million dollars to secure the party's nomination in a crowded six-candidate race. Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger finished third with 14.97 percent of the vote and Attorney General Chris Carr placed fourth with 11.87 percent of the vote. President Trump endorsed Jones five times during the primary election and is expected to support Jones in the runoff election. This primary race is expected to exceed $150 million.

Supreme Court of Georgia | Court of Appeals of Georgia | Superior Court

Incumbent Supreme Court Justices Charlie Bethel (51.11) and Sarah Warren (59.32) were reelected Tuesday night in a non-partisan General Election. Challengers Mircale Rankin and former state senator Jen Jordan ran on an unconventional joint partisan ticket to unseat the incumbent justices.

Judge Elizabeth Gobeil was reelected to the Court of Appeals over challenger Fatima Felton 56.50 to 43.50. There was an upset in the Superior Court Atlanta Judicial Circuit with Janice Moore (59.97) defeating the favored incumbent Craig Schwall (40.33).

U.S. House of Representatives – Ga-01 OPEN

The Son of former Rep. Jack Kingston, Jim Kingston, will be the nominee to face the run-off victor between Joyce Griggs (34.45) and Amanda Howell (24.66). This is a heavily Republican district, and Kingston is expected to win in November. This seat was vacated by Rep. Buddy Carter to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.

U.S. House of Representatives – Ga-10 OPEN

State Rep. Houston Gaines easily won this heavily Republican district by garnering over 67 percent of the vote. Gaines was Vice Chair of the state House Republican Caucus before running for Congress. This seat was vacated by Rep. Collins to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.

U.S. House of Representatives – Ga-11 OPEN

Dr. John Cowan (42.78), a neurosurgeon, will face Rob Ackerson (21.81) in the Primary Run-Off. Ackerson is the chief of staff to current Congressman Barry Loudermilk. Loudermilk did not seek reelection. PSC Commissioner Tricia Pridemore failed to make the run-off and was heavily criticized for her votes in support of Georgia Power and data centers while on the PSC.

U.S. House of Representatives – Ga-13 OPEN

State Rep. Jasmine Clark overwhelmingly secured the nomination for this heavily Democratic-controlled congressional seat. The late U.S. Rep. David Scott held this seat for 12 consecutive terms. Georgia Senator Emanuel Jones (D) secured only 7.5 percent of the vote.

Georgia Public Service Commission – District 3

Democrat Peter Hubbard will face former PSC Commissioner Fitz Johnson in the November General Election. Hubbard defeated the incumbent Johnson in a special election held on November 4, 2025. Hubbard was elected on a platform focused on unaffordable energy costs, largely due to the rise of AI and data centers.

Georgia Public Service Commission – District 5

Republicans Josh Tolbert (47.17) and Bobby Mehan (31.06) will face off in the runoff election in June. The winner will run against Democrat nominee Sheila Edwards in November. Tolbert is an engineer with extensive energy expertise. Tolbert supports data centers but believes rate payers should be protected. Mehan is actively opposed to data centers. Edwards opposes “corporate welfare” and believes utility companies should recoup costs from data center expansion.

Lt. Governor Republican Primary

Former Senate President Pro-Tempore John F. Kennedy (27.29) will face Senator Greg Dolezal in the June Primary Run-Off Election. Dolezal, a close ally of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, surprised several insiders by securing 23.08 percent of the vote. Kennedy led the fight for Kemp’s backed tort reform package in 2025. Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tilliary garnered the support of trial lawyers but fell short with 19 percent of the vote. U.S. Military veteran state House Rep. David Clark and son-in-law of U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach fell short with 15.78 percent. Former Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch finished fifth with 11 percent of the vote.

Lt. Governor Democrat Primary

Georgia Senators Josh McLaurin (41.44) and Nabiah Parkes (39.44) will face one another in June. Parkes was a late qualifier in this race as she first announced her candidacy for Insurance Commissioner.

Secretary of State Republican and Democrat Primary

Rep. Tim Fleming, former Gov. Kemp's Chief of Staff will face party switcher Vernon Jones for the GOP nomination in the June run-off election. Jones is a former Democrat State representative and CEO of DeKalb County. Gabriel Sterling, Secretary of State COO under Secretary Raffensberger, finished 4th of 5 candidates with 11.9% of the vote.

Former Fulton County Judge Penny Brown Reynolds will face Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett in a runoff for the Democratic nomination.

Attorney General Republican & Democrat Primary

State Senator Brian Strickland (71.59) soundly defeated state Senator Bill Cowsert (28.41) to win the party’s nomination. Strickland will face state Rep. Tanya Miller (D) in November. Strickland is an attorney in private practice. Miller is a former prosecutor with impressive high-profile child predator convictions. This is a race to watch in November.

State School Superintendent Republican and Democrat Primary

Republican incumbent Richard Woods (49.88) narrowly missed a run-off election against Fred “Bubba” Longgrear (29.10). Longgreer was backed by House Republican Leadership, including Speaker Jon Burns. The winner of the run-off election will face Democrat nominee Dr. Lydia Powell. Dr. Powell, a lifelong educator and administrator, secured over 50 percent of the vote in a three-way primary race.

Insurance Commissioner Republican and Democrat Primary

Incumbent John King (R) will face the winner of the Democrat Primary Run-Off Election between state Rep. Keisha Waites (42.03) and veteran and insurance and financial services executive DeAndre Mathis (19.81). King endorsed Rick Jackson for Governor.

Agriculture Commissioner Republican and Democrat Primary

Incumbent Tyler Harper (R) ran unopposed and will face Democrat nominee Katherine E. Juhan-Arnold. Katherine runs a nonprofit focused on connecting farmers with markets to provide fresh locally grown food. Harper endorsed Burt Jones for Governor.

Labor Commissioner Republican and Democrat Primary

Incumbent Barbara Rivera Homes (R) ran unopposed and will face the winner of the Democrat primary run-off election between Nikki Porcher (30.76) and Michelle Sanchez (25.84). Porcher is a former educator and runs a nonprofit and is known for her work in the community. Sanchez is a former member of the Hall County Board of Elections and the founder of Georgia Families Unidas.

General Assembly Elections

Republicans control the State Senate 33-23 and the State House 100-80. Of the contested primary and open elections, Republicans lost one incumbent seat and Democrats lost zero. There will be one Republican House runoff and five Democratic House runoffs. Seats of note for the General Election are HD-40, HD-99, and HD-105.

Originally posted by MCO Group on May 8, 2026

01. Speaker Burns Announces 2026 Study Committee Appointments

House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) announced appointments to study committees for the 2026 interim. The House Blue-Ribbon Study Committees, Joint Study Committees and House Study Committees will work throughout the interim to gather the facts and hear from citizens, experts and stakeholders on key policy areas impacting Georgia.

02. Gov. Kemp Signs Bills Strengthening Literacy and K-12 Schools

Governor Brian Kemp signed 9 pieces of legislation into law to support literacy and math education, expand educational opportunities, and support students and teachers in Georgia's K-12 education system. "The bills I signed today implement proven strategies to improve literacy and math scores, reduce distractions in the classroom, expand pathways to graduation, and further support hardworking educators and families. These are just the latest steps we've taken to create opportunity for all Georgians, no matter their zip code,” Kemp said.

03. AJC Poll Shows Keisha Bottoms Leads Democratic Field for Governor

An AJC poll released Monday showed Keisha Lance Bottoms with 39% support among likely Democratic primary voters, far ahead of former DeKalb County Chief Executive Michael Thurmond at 10%, former state Sen. Jason Esteves at 8% and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan at 7%. About one-third of voters remain undecided.

04. State Begins Issuing Tax Refunds of up to $500

For the fourth time in five years, Georgia officials have begun issuing special income tax refunds of up to $500 as the state continues to spend down its substantial budget reserves. Earlier this year Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law authorizing these special tax refunds, which are made possible because the state has accumulated billions of dollars in budget surpluses in recent years.

05. April Net Tax Revenues Up 5.9%

The State of Georgia’s net tax collections in April totaled almost $3.95 billion, for an increase of $220.2 million, or 5.9%, compared to FY 2025, when net tax collections totaled $3.73 billion for the month. Year-to-date, net tax revenue totaled $28.45 billion, for an increase of $683.7 million, or 2.5%, compared to last year, when net tax collections totaled roughly $27.77 billion through ten months of FY 2025.