2026 Georgia Qualifying Report

Qualifying for the 2026 election cycle has reshaped Georgia’s political landscape, producing many open seats, 
competitive primaries, and high-profile statewide contests. Coupled with the retirement of numerous legislators and members seeking higher office, this cycle will bring significant turnover across all levels of state government.

ACROSS THE BALLOT AT A GLANCE

• Governor: Open seat with crowded Democratic and Republican primaries
• Lt. Governor: Open seat with multiple current state senators and representatives competing
• Secretary of State and Attorney General: Competitive primaries expected
• US Senate: Incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff faces multiple Republican challengers
• US House: Several open seats due to retirements and candidates seeking other offices
• Georgia General Assembly: Dozens of incumbents face primaries, and more than 30 legislative seats are open

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Georgia legislature will experience substantial turnover in 2026

Senate

• 11 open seats
• 14 incumbents with a Primary Election
• 26 incumbents with a General Election
• 9 incumbents reelected without opposition

Many of the open Senate seats are the result of members running for statewide office, particularly Lt. 
Governor and Attorney General

House of Representatives

• 22 open seats
• 32 incumbents with a Primary Election
• 106 incumbents with a General Election
• 41 incumbents reelected without opposition

Several high-profile retirements, including House leadership positions and long-serving members, have 
created open races across the state

STATEWIDE OFFICES
The Governor’s race is open, creating the most competitive statewide contest of the cycle

• Major Democratic contenders include several current and former elected officials, including former Atlanta 
  Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, and DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond
• The Republican primary is similarly crowded, featuring Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and political outsider Rick Jackson

The Lt. Governor’s race has drawn an unusually large field of legislators, including multiple state senators. Other 
statewide contests are also expected to be competitive, including the Secretary of State and Attorney General.

FEDERAL RACES
Georgia will also see several open congressional seats, increasing the stakes in federal races

• US House District 1 (Savannah) is open as Rep. Buddy Carter runs for US Senate
• US House District 10 (Athens-Clarke County) is open as Rep. Mike Collins seeks the Senate seat
• US House District 11 (Calhoun, Canton) is open following Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s retirement
• US House District 14 (Rome, Dalton) will be decided in a special election

Additionally, US Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection and will face the victor of a crowded Republican primary

OUTLOOK
With open seats at nearly every level of government, the 2026 election cycle is poised to produce significant turnover in Georgia politics. The combination of open statewide offices, congressional turnover, and legislative retirements makes 2026 one of the most dynamic election cycles in Georgia in more than a decade.