Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced on Sept. 17 that he is running for state governor in the 2026 election.
Raffensperger, who was previously an engineering entrepreneur, said he is a “job creator.”
“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 said in an announcement video.
The politician cited his faith as the driving force in his decisions; the video narrator says it “guides everything he does.”
The lawmaker’s video also cited the loss of his son to drug addiction as part of the reason for his “personal mission” to stop deadly drugs from entering Georgia.
In addition to economic issues, such as tax reduction, the gubernatorial candidate said he plans to ban men from women’s sports and ban transgender-related surgery for minors.
Several Republicans have already entered the race, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, Clark Dean, Scott Ellison, and Gregg Kirkpatrick.
During the 2020 election debate, Jones announced himself as an elector for President Donald Trump, while Carr was in Raffensperger’s camp and rejected challenges to the results.
Carr could be one of Raffensperger’s biggest opponents in the race. The state attorney general announced his intent to run in November 2024.
“As a proven conservative, building on the legacy of Brian Kemp, Nathan Deal, and Sonny Perdue, I’m running to create jobs for hardworking Georgians, keep our families and our neighborhoods safe, and vigorously defend our constitution and our freedoms,” Carr stated.
Trump has endorsed Jones for the position, saying in an Aug. 11 post on Truth Social, “Burt [has been] tested at the most difficult levels and times—He is a WARRIOR, a successful Businessman, former SEC Championship winning Georgia Bulldogs football player (Known for his toughness!), and now, as Lieutenant Governor, Burt has proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of his wonderful State and Nation.”
The Democratic primary also has several candidates in the mix, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, and former state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.
Former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who also pushed back against Trump’s efforts to challenge the state’s 2020 election results, entered the race on Sept. 16 as a Democrat.
Raffensperger began his time in politics in 2012 when he joined the Johns Creek City Council.
After three years in office, in 2015, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.
The Georgia politician won the 2018 election to become the secretary of state and secured the position for a second term in 2022.
