(The Center Square) – Republicans and Democrats are getting a jumpstart on the 2026 elections, announcing their candidacies now.
Democratic state Rep. Jasmine Clark announced Monday she is running for the U.S. congressional seat held by Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.
Scott, 79, has not said if he is running. Clark, a biology professor, did not mention him in her campaign announcement but aimed her comments at President Donald Trump and his policies.
“Are we going to surrender to Trump and MAGA as they attack Georgia families or will we fight back?” Clark said in a social media post. “I’ll stand up to Trump and MAGA when they try to cut Medicare, destroy Georgia jobs and gut medical research into cancer and Alzheimer’s.”
Clark has opposition for the Democratic primary from Sen. Emanuel Jones, who announced his candidacy earlier this year. He has nearly $17,000 in his campaign war chest, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Both parties will have other contested primaries in 2026, from the governor’s race to the contest for U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s seat.
Democrats have three confirmed gubernatorial candidates and others who have not formally announced. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said last week she is running. She joins a race with state Sen. Jason Esteves, D-Atlanta, and Olu Brown, founding pastor of Impact Church of Atlanta.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced last year he is running for the Republican nomination for the state’s top job. He has no official opponent yet, but Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to run for the position. Kemp is term-limited and cannot run again.
Two Republican members of Senate leadership are vying for Jones’ job. Senate Pro Tem John Kennedy said Friday he is running.
“My first priority has always been to put hardworking Georgians first and that’s what I will continue to do as Georgia’s next lieutenant governor,” Kennedy said.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch made his bid for Jones’ job official in May.
“I’m running for lieutenant governor because Georgia deserves bold leadership that will stand up to the insanity of the Democrat Party, protect our families from the invasion of criminal illegal aliens and keep our economy vibrant and strong,” Gooch said.
Two prominent Republicans are in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King and Republican U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who represents a south Georgia district that includes Savannah and the coast, will go against each other to see who challenges U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in November 2026.
The date for the Georgia primaries has not been set.
