Georgia primaries: Republicans target Senate seat, Democrats seek governor nominee

Georgia will hold primary elections on Tuesday (June 3), setting the stage for a consequential midterm election in November.

The most closely watched race is the Republican contest to pick a challenger to Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. Ossoff’s 2020 victory came amid a liberal surge in a traditionally conservative state.

Also in focus is the Democratic primary for governor. Many in the party view this as a generational opportunity to capture the state's top office, as term-limited Republican Governor Brian Kemp cannot seek re-election.

Issues of affordability, election administration and redistricting have also emerged in the primaries.

Senate race: Senator Ossoff, the incumbent Democrat, runs unopposed in his party primary and is nearly certain to be the general election nominee. Five Republicans are vying for the nomination, including two sitting House members: Buddy Carter and Mike Collins. Both closely align with President Donald Trump's message, focusing on who would be the most loyal ally. Collins leads in fundraising and endorsements but is dogged by an ethics investigation over alleged misuse of congressional funds. Governor Kemp has endorsed former college football coach Derek Dooley, who casts himself as a more moderate choice. Other candidates include former Army General Jonathan McColumn and businessman John Coyne.

Governor race: On the Democratic side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms leads a crowded field. She served in former President Joe Biden's administration and is seen as a Trump foil from her mayoral tenure, pushing back against his false claims about the 2020 election results. Her opponents include former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan (a former Republican). Both present themselves as more moderate than Bottoms. State Senator Jason Esteves runs on the left flank. On the Republican side, billionaire Rick Jackson and Trump-backed incumbent Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones are the frontrunners. Other candidates include Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger — who clashed with Trump after the 2020 election — and state Attorney General Chris Carr.

Election significance: In 2020, Democrats shocked the state by winning both Georgia Senate seats (Ossoff and Warnock), along with Biden's victory — the first for a Democrat since 1992. However, Trump easily carried Georgia in 2024 over Vice President Harris. The 2026 midterms will test the state's political winds. Democrats hope to reclaim the Senate majority from Republicans, and holding Ossoff’s seat is key. Republicans currently control both the House and Senate; if Democrats take either chamber, it would reshape the final two years of Trump’s term.

State-level races: The posts of governor, attorney general and secretary of state all influence future election administration. Redistricting is also contentious: Governor Kemp has called a special session in June to redraw Georgia's congressional map before the 2028 election, following a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act. Democrats warn this could dilute minority voting power.

Polling: In the Republican Senate primary, Collins leads with about 22%, followed by Carter at 12.5% and Dooley at 11%. If no candidate surpasses 50%, a runoff will be held June 16. In the Democratic governor primary, Bottoms leads with average support near 50%. On the Republican side, billionaire Jackson leads, with Jones close behind.

Other races: All 14 of Georgia's House seats, along with state Senate and House seats, statewide commission positions and judicial seats, are on the ballot.

Schedule: Georgians have cast a record 1 million early votes. On official election day, polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time (11:00 – 23:00 GMT). The Associated Press will call races after polls close.