James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 87
he considered challenging Kemp in 2022 but backed
off so that former U.S. Sen. David Perdue could take
on the governor head-to-head. In return for facilitating the Trump-inspired gubernatorial challenge,
Trump endorsed Jordan in the Tenth Congressional
District. But that contest was won by businessman
Mike Collins.
The Democratic candidates for Secretary of
State are far less experienced. The more visible
of the pair is former Fulton County judge Penny
Brown Reynolds. Her main claim to fame is that she
received a daytime Emmy nomination for an arbitration reality show that ran for a single season.
the attorney general race
The opportunity to become the state’s top
lawyer has enticed relatively few applicants. Former
Democrat House Minority Leader Bob Trammell
hopes to restart his political career after it was
derailed when Republicans reportedly spent a
million dollars to deny him re-election. He has been
joined by state Rep. Tanya Miller. On the GOP side,
two state Senate leaders want to transition from
private attorney to the state’s attorney. Brian Strickland chairs the Judiciary Committee. Opponent Bill
Cowsert chairs the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, and also chaired the Senate investigations panel that investigated ethically-challenged
Democrat Fulton County DA Fani Willis.
Richard Woods, the state School Superintendent
since 2015, received the most votes among Republican statewide candidates in 2018 and 2022. Yet
despite these successes he has four challengers.
Support for vouchers that would allow students in
low-performing schools to take their per pupil state
funding with them to a private school prompted Democrat-turned Republican and former state Rep. Mesha
Mainor to run. Nelva Lee also wants to expand parental choice over which school a child attends.
She is an outspoken supporter of charter
schools. Randell Trammel, CEO of an education
non-profit, pledges to tackle problems plaguing
many schools. Fred “Bubba” Longgear has the most
first-hand experience with education. He has been
Candler County school superintendent for 11 years
after more than a quarter century as a high school
principal. He also serves as the president of the
Georgia School Superintendent Association.
As this is written, no Democratic candidate has
emerged.
year following the death of Bruce Thompson. She is
the first Latina to hold a statewide office. None of the
four Democrats who have expressed interest in the
position have held high elected office, and this group
includes little-known political consultants Clarence
Blalock and Jane Gibbs along with Anthony Robbins
and Nikki Ponder.
Thus far the Republican incumbents are the only
announced candidates for two other posts. After the
governor endorsed Dooley for the U.S. Senate, incumbent Insurance Commissioner John King decided to
run for reelection. Tyler Harper had been discussed as
a possible candidate for higher office but has chosen to
seek reelection as Agriculture Commissioner.
Georgia has no competitive U.S. congressional
district when it comes to party. There are, however,
two district seats that will be open in 2026 and a third
district where the sharks are circling the Democratic
incumbent.
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins’ U.S. Senate bid opens up
the Tenth District that extends from the eastern edge
of metro Atlanta though Athens and on to Lake Hartwell. State Rep. Houston Gaines, who has been close
to House leadership throughout his tenure, is accumulating an intimidating bankroll. And it’s so large that no
Republican has come forward to contest his path.
Other state & U.S. congressional contests
Governor Kemp appointed one-time journalist
Barbara Rivera Holmes as labor commissioner last
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