Tuesday’s Georgia primaries were marked by record spending on the Republican side and unusually high turnout driven by energized Democratic voters. Many of the marquee contests are expected to move to runoffs on June 16, setting the stage for competitive fall races that could shape control of the governor’s office and the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Jon Ossoff.
More than a million Georgians voted before Election Day, and Democrats cast roughly 56.7% of those early ballots compared with 41.7% for Republicans — a gap of about 15 percentage points. That Democratic advantage echoes turnout trends seen so far in 2026 primaries nationwide.
Senate: Ossoff faces a fractured GOP
Ossoff is widely viewed as one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents this fall, but much of the attention and money in the race has gone to a contentious Republican primary. Rep. Mike Collins leads in polls and fundraising reporting. He is followed by Derek Dooley, who has the backing of outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp, and Rep. Buddy Carter. With the field likely headed to a runoff, former President Trump has not yet made an endorsement.
Governor: self-funded Republicans reshape the contest
Georgia’s open governor’s race — Gov. Kemp is term-limited — has become exceptionally expensive. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has Trump’s endorsement and had been the frontrunner, but billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson entered the race and has poured more than $80 million of his own money into ads and mailers. Jones has also loaned his campaign nearly $20 million. Other Republican statewide officials such as Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger remain in the mix.
Both parties have stressed electability. Republicans argue their nominees must both motivate the conservative base and appeal to swing voters as Georgia becomes more competitive; many see the race as a toss-up. The gubernatorial contests on both sides appear headed toward runoffs. The Democratic field includes former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, ex-state Sen. Jason Esteves and a list of other contenders; the ballot also lists former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan among candidates in the broader discussion about electability.
Nonpartisan court races draw attention
Two seats on the Georgia Supreme Court — technically nonpartisan contests — drew heightened scrutiny after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision narrowed part of the Voting Rights Act. Republican-appointed incumbents Charlie Bethel and Sarah Warren faced Democratic challengers Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin, who have attracted endorsements from national Democrats and progressive groups. The stakes grew when Gov. Kemp said lawmakers would return to the statehouse June 17, one day after the scheduled runoff, to consider redrawing maps for the 2028 cycle.
Redistricting is already a flashpoint: Georgia’s current U.S. House map includes nine safely Republican and five safely Democratic districts. Observers note that other Southern states have rapidly redrawn maps that reduce Democratic representation, and Georgia’s post-runoff legislative session raised concern about similar moves.
Why turnout matters
Democratic enthusiasm has been a defining feature of this primary season, driven in part by voter unease with the national Republican agenda under President Trump’s second term. In Georgia, Democrats’ early-vote edge and strong turnout reflect that energy and build on gains from the November 2025 election, when Democrats flipped two seats on the state Public Service Commission.
With record fundraising, heavy self-funding by wealthy Republican entrants, and energized Democratic voters, Georgia’s primary season has set up high-stakes runoffs and a competitive fall. The outcomes will be watched closely for what they signal about turnout, candidate choices, and control of key statewide offices.