Election 2026: Georgia Governor

Republican businessman Rick Jackson leads former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the race to become the next governor of Georgia.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that, if the election were held today, 48% of Likely Georgia voters would vote for Jackson, while 45% would vote for Bottoms. Seven percent (7%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The founder of a healthcare business, Jackson won the Republican nomination after a hard-fought primary against incumbent Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Jackson is supported by 89% of Republicans, while 88% of Democrats would vote for Bottoms. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 43% would vote for Jackson and 41% favor Bottoms, while 16% are not sure.

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The survey of 1,019 Georgia Likely Voters was conducted on September 14, 2026 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

The “gender gap” in the Georgia governor’s race is a net 22 points, with men favoring Jackson by a 15-point margin, 53% to 38%, while women voters favor Bottoms by a seven-point margin, 51% to 44%.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of whites, 18% of black voters, 38% of Hispanics and 39% of other minorities would vote for Jackson, while Bottoms is supported by 27% of whites, 77% of black voters, 52% of Hispanics and 49% of other minorities.

Jackson’s strongest support comes from older voters. Among those 65 and older, the Republican gets 63% to 34% for Bottoms. Conversely, among Georgia voters under 30, Bottoms leads 58% to 34%.

Breaking down the Georgia electorate by income categories, Jackson gets a majority among voters earning between $50,000 and $200,000 a year, while Bottoms leads among those with annual incomes over $200,000.

Married voters favor Jackson by a 17-point margin, 57% to 39%, while unmarried voters favor Bottoms by a 49% to 42% margin.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of those who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election would vote for Jackson, while 82% of Kamala Harris voters would vote for Bottoms.

A win for Democrats in this fall’s midterm congressional elections will mean another impeachment of President Trump, according to a majority of voters.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Darline Graham leads Democratic challenger Annie Andrews in the contest for the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

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