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.