In brief
Brad Raffensperger, the Republican Secretary of State of Georgia, has announced his candidacy for governor in 2026. Despite having rejected Donald Trump's plea to overturn the 2020 election results, Raffensperger aims to appeal to business-oriented Republicans with a conservative agenda that includes eliminating the state income tax and purging 'woke curriculums' from schools. He faces competition from other Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Attorney General Chris Carr and remains a controversial figure due to his prior defiance of Trump. On the Democratic side, candidates like former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Jason Esteves are entering the race.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state who rejected Donald Trump’s call to help overturn the state’s 2020 election results, announced on Wednesday that he is running for governor in 2026. The wealthy engineering entrepreneur may attract business-oriented Republicans, but he promises a strongly conservative campaign despite Trump's scorn.I’m a conservative Republican, and I’m prepared to make the tough decisions. I follow the law and the Constitution, and I’ll always do the right thing for Georgia no matter what, Raffensperger stated in a campaign video.Despite winning reelection in 2022, Raffensperger, targeted by Trump, faces challenges qualifying for the primary, as the Georgia Republican Party voted to ban him from running under its banner, a move the party chairman indicated may not proceed.Other top Republican candidates include Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who backed Trump in 2020, and Attorney General Chris Carr, who sided with Raffensperger in rejecting election challenges.In his campaign, Raffensperger aims to introduce what he calls a “bold conservative agenda,” advocating for eliminating state income tax, capping property taxes, and banning certain forms of gender-affirming care. He also plans to collaborate with Trump to boost job growth and focus on law enforcement.On the Democratic side, candidates include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Jason Esteves, the latter having resigned from his position in the state Senate to concentrate on his gubernatorial campaign. Collectively, this growing field sparks intrigue ahead of the 2026 election.
