# GA-Gov — 2026 Georgia Governor's Race > [!note] Stub > This is a short entry that hasn't been fully written yet. The seat is open because Gov. Brian Kemp cannot run again. Democrat **[[Keisha Lance Bottoms]]**, the former Atlanta mayor, won the May 19 primary outright with 56.2 percent. Republican **Rick Jackson** finished second in the May 19 primary and then beat Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the June 16 runoff, 52.6 to 47.4 percent. **Ratings:** Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and Sabato's Crystal Ball all rated it a Toss Up. The Associated Press lists it among the open seats Democrats are targeting in their push for a majority of governorships. **If no one wins a majority:** Ballotpedia lists a general-election runoff date of December 1, 2026. ## Result > [!success] Called: Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) wins, a Democratic pickup > NBC News and CNN projected on election night, November 3, 2026, that Democrat [[Keisha Lance Bottoms]] defeated Republican Rick Jackson, flipping Georgia's governorship to the Democrats for the first time in 24 years. She becomes the nation's first Black woman elected governor. Vote totals are unofficial until Georgia certifies the result. Sources: [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/keisha-lance-bottoms-georgia-governor-win-democrats-flip-jackson-rcna603348) · [Atlanta News First](https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/11/04/keisha-lance-bottoms-makes-history-nations-first-black-female-governor/). Live coverage: [[2026 Midterms Live - Election Results War Room]]. ## Sources - [Ballotpedia: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_gubernatorial_election,_2026) - [NPR: the 36 races for governor](https://apps.npr.org/primary-election-results-2026/governors.html) - [Associated Press via PBS NewsHour: Democrats try to take majority of governors' offices (Nov. 3, 2026)](https://pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrats-try-to-take-majority-of-governors-offices-for-first-time-in-two-decades) ## Connections - [[2026 Governor Races Hub]] - [[2026 Midterms Live - Election Results War Room]]