Two candidates are on Georgia's ballot for governor. Georgia elects its lieutenant governor in a separate race.
The Stated Record analysis: Toss-up
Updated September 14, 2026
Who is running?
Printed ballot candidates
Rick JacksonRepublican
Keisha Lance BottomsDemocratic
Write-in candidates are certified separately by the Secretary of State, whose 2026 election calendar sets that certification for September 21, 2026.
Source: Georgia Secretary of State November 2026 candidate list
Checked September 14, 2026
Voter guide
The candidates, side by side
Background comes from government or official office records, and from the campaign's own biography where the bullet says so. Goals are summarized from each campaign's own platform page and stay attributed to the campaign. The record lines are official votes, sponsorships, and filings with the government source attached. Money is shown as filed, by the type the FEC records for the contributing committee, and is not evidence of why any position was taken. Money rows are itemized receipts from political committees; transfers from joint fundraising committees and the conduit entries for earmarked individual contributions sit on their own rows and are not additive with the rest; other memo entries, reimbursements, and receipts from organizations that are not political committees are excluded; each candidate's note gives the filing window and the reconciliation to the FEC summary.
His campaign says he helped pass a law that helps former foster youth pay for college. Jackson for Governor, Inc.
He won the Republican runoff on June 16, 2026, with 52.6 percent of the vote. Georgia Secretary of State
What they say they want to do
Freeze property taxes, cut the state income tax in half within four years, end state taxes on tips and energy, and pause the gas tax when fuel prices spike. Jackson for Governor, Inc., Jackson for Governor, Inc.
Profile links show what is public now, not a complete archive. Each link was confirmed through the campaign site unless a note says otherwise. Individual social posts enter the evidence record only with a post URL, date, context, and review note.
Issue comparison
What each campaign says
These are attributed platform positions, not promises The Stated Record has verified or endorsed.
Would expand Medicaid under a Georgia-designed plan that steers adults who can work toward jobs, rebuild rural care and use state buying power to cut drug costs.
Would freeze property taxes, cut the state income tax in half, end state taxes on tips and energy, pause the gas tax when fuel prices spike and freeze public college tuition.
Would fully fund schools, update the school funding formula, end state income tax for teachers and open a path to free technical and community college.
Would expand state help for local police through the GBI, back universal background checks and a red flag law, and expand diversion for nonviolent cases.
Would bar a governor from profiting from state contracts, require divestment before taking office and make the state's online spending records easier to use.
The number of cards varies with what each candidate's official record supports, and every card carries the same required parts: what they say, what the official record shows, one label from the fixed list, and its limit. Each card is labeled narrowly, by rule. A single vote, sponsorship, or filing can match one claim without proving a candidate's whole record, and a card never says why someone did something.
As mayor she testified to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on June 11, 2021, and answered a question there about urban heat. In 2019 she told the Senate Democrats' climate panel about extreme heat, flooding and Atlanta losing 14% of its native tree species.
Limit: At the 2021 House hearing she spoke about heat. Her warnings about flooding and tree loss were in 2019 testimony to a Senate Democrats' panel, not a formal Senate committee.
Her campaign says she launched the Resurgence Grant Fund, which let small businesses apply for up to $40,000 and has given nearly $30 million to more than 1,000 businesses and nonprofits.
“Launched the Resurgence Grant Fund that allowed small businesses to apply for up to $40,000 of assistance during the pandemic, which has provided nearly $30 million to more than 1,000 businesses and nonprofits”
Invest Atlanta, the city's development agency, says she announced the fund on July 27, 2020, with grants of up to $40,000. In 2022 it said the fund's 2020 and 2022 rounds had given nearly $30 million to over 1,000 businesses and nonprofits.
Her campaign says she advanced reforms including the city's first chief transparency officer, and established an inspector general and tighter rules on city credit cards.
“Established stronger accountability measures in city government, including creation of an Inspector General and reforms to restrict and tighten oversight of city-issued credit cards”
Atlanta's code shows all three became law while she was mayor: a transparency officer in September 2018, credit card rules banning personal use in January 2019, and an independent Office of the Inspector General in February 2020. The charter has the mayor approve or veto each law, and her office said she signed the inspector general law.
Limit: Council members sponsored all three laws. Her January 2020 order says the inspector general law was introduced in coordination with her administration, and city releases say she proposed the transparency law and signed the inspector general law.
In 2019 she pledged $1 billion toward 20,000 affordable homes by 2026. The city's December 2020 report counted $497 million in city-controlled funds and 6,007 homes since January 2018, about half still in the pipeline. In March 2021 she said nearly $500 million in locally controlled public funds had gone to affordable housing, with more than 6,000 new or preserved homes.
Limit: The $1 billion goal counted private and charity money as well as public money, so a total raised is not the same as city spending. The city's counts include money committed but not yet spent, and homes not yet finished.
Her campaign says she appointed Atlanta's first chief health officer to coordinate the city's response to chronic disease, asthma, HIV and other health problems.
“Appointed Atlanta’s first Chief Health Officer to better coordinate the city’s response to chronic disease, asthma, HIV, and other public health challenges”
On July 25, 2019, her office said she had appointed Dr. Angelica Geter Fugerson as the city's first chief health officer. The job was to build coalitions against new HIV cases, asthma, diabetes and other chronic illness.
Limit: Under state law, Fulton and DeKalb counties run public health in Atlanta. The officer's job was to advise the mayor and act as a bridge to the counties.
In May 2019 the city council unanimously approved her plan to give $100,000 to the Fulton County Board of Health for PrEP and counseling for people at high risk. Her office called it her legislation; Councilmember Antonio Brown sponsored it.
Limit: The city records read here do not say whether this was its first HIV prevention spending. The same release lists a separate $10,000 city grant for a mobile HIV testing unit.
Her campaign says she started Atlanta's Child Savings Account program, which opened bank accounts with seed money for Atlanta Public Schools kindergartners.
“Started Atlanta’s Child Savings Account program, which created bank accounts for Atlanta Public Schools kindergartners and provided seed money to open each account”
On Nov. 15, 2021, her office said the city council had approved her plan to give $2 million to the nonprofit Operation HOPE to set up the program. On Nov. 19 she announced its launch with Atlanta Public Schools: qualifying kindergartners get a savings account with a $50 deposit. The release says the city's $2 million was made possible by community incentives she negotiated in the Gulch redevelopment deal.
Limit: Only qualifying kindergartners get an account: the family or the school must meet income and equity criteria. Operation HOPE sets up the accounts and puts in the $50, and the city's releases do not say how many children got one.
Her FY21 budget, passed in June 2020, expanded the city's pretrial diversion program citywide, the city's reform site says. By July 2021, police in every zone could send people to the Policing Alternatives and Diversion program instead of jail. On Nov. 1, 2021, the council authorized her to sign a deal with Fulton County for a diversion center, which she said would help people charged with minor, non-violent offenses.
Her campaign says she brought in leading civil rights attorneys and policing experts to advise the Atlanta police on use of force and de-escalation.
“Brought in some of the country’s leading civil rights attorneys and policing experts to advise on Atlanta Police Department tactics and policies, including use-of-force standards and de-escalation training”
In June 2020 she set up a use-of-force advisory council by administrative order and ordered new police rules, including de-escalation. The council's report says its members included lawyers, with co-chairs from Gideon's Promise and the Southern Center for Human Rights. On Nov. 18, 2020, she announced the city had retained the Police Executive Research Forum to review police policy and training.
Her campaign says she worked with the United Way to expand the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, putting in $2 million so young people get $200 a month while they train.
“Partnered with United Way of Greater Atlanta to expand the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) and provided a $2 million investment to offer young people $200 monthly stipends”
On Nov. 19, 2021, she announced $2 million of the city's American Rescue Plan money for the program, run with the United Way of Greater Atlanta. Young people get $200 a month while in mentoring, job training and entrepreneurship courses.
The city adopted the Clean Energy Atlanta plan in March 2019. It includes a letter from her and says the city will form an advisory board. The mayor's sustainability office lists board meetings from March 18, 2021.
Limit: The 100% by 2035 goal came from a council resolution on May 1, 2017, before she took office. The plan itself says her office recommended moving the citywide target to 2050.
Chronology
How the field took shape
Bottoms testifies on climate
As mayor, she tells the Senate Democrats' climate panel about heat, flooding and tree loss in Atlanta.
Georgia Secretary of State. Marked official by the state. Read from the results site's data feed on 2026-09-23. Democratic governor: Bottoms 608,264 of 1,081,811 votes (56.2%). Republican governor: no one reached 50%, so the top two went to a runoff.
Georgia Secretary of State. Marked official by the state. Read from the results site's data feed on 2026-09-23. Republican governor: Jackson 373,543 of 709,554 votes (52.6%).
Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission. Where Georgia candidates for governor file their campaign finance reports. This desk has not read or added those reports.
Jackson for Governor, Inc.. Captured 2026-09-23. Identified by its "Paid for by Jackson for Governor, Inc." line. Links his X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts.
Jackson for Governor, Inc.. Captured 2026-09-23. His platform, about 1,400 words across 17 headings. It links a fuller nine-page plan (jackson-action-plan-pdf).
Jackson for Governor, Inc.. Nine pages, linked from his action plan page. The file was made on Sept. 4, 2026. Adds his Medicaid expansion plan, tax cuts on tips and energy, and data center standards. sha256 562e6ee30e68.
Keisha for Governor. Captured 2026-09-23. Identified by its "Paid for by Keisha for Governor" line. Links her X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts. keishaforgeorgia.com redirects here.
Keisha for Governor. Captured 2026-09-23. The detail page behind the environment item on her track record page. The site files it at /issues/small-business.
U.S. House of Representatives, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. The committee's hearing page. Lists "The Honorable Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor of the City of Atlanta" as a witness, with her testimony and biography.
U.S. House of Representatives. Her two-page written statement. Covers clean energy goals and asks Congress for direct aid to cities. It does not mention flooding, heat or trees; she spoke about heat at the hearing itself (house-climate-hearing-transcript-2021). sha256 fe9bb15e1c1d.
U.S. Government Publishing Office. The printed record of the June 11, 2021 hearing. On page 40 Rep. Huffman asks the mayors about the urban heat island effect, and she answers that Atlanta is studying it with Spelman College and Georgia Tech. Her oral statement also covers asthma and poor air quality. She does not mention flooding or trees. sha256 537158e0da82.
Senate Democrats. Her written testimony as mayor, nine pages, dated July 17, 2019. Covers extreme heat, the loss of 14% of Atlanta's native tree species, and flooding. The panel was set up by Senate Democrats; it was not a committee of the Senate, so this is not a record of Congress. sha256 f5a1bc00b0e3.
City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances, published by Municode). Section 8-101 establishes the Office of the Inspector General. Its history note begins with Ord. No. 2020-09 (19-O-1729), dated Feb. 6, 2020. Later changes came in 2023 and 2025. Read from Supplement 107 on 2026-09-23.
Atlanta City Council (legislative records). The council's file for the transparency law. Headed "An ordinance by Councilmembers Andre Dickens, Joyce M. Sheperd, Marci Collier Overstreet" and 12 more. Adopted 14-0 on Sept. 17, 2018. The officer is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council.
Atlanta City Council (legislative records). The council's file for the credit card law. Headed "An ordinance by Councilmembers Andre Dickens and J.P. Matzigkeit". Adopted 13-0 on Jan. 22, 2019.
Atlanta City Council (legislative records). The council's file for the task force that later recommended an inspector general. Headed "A resolution by Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet". Adopted 13-0 on Feb. 18, 2019. The mayor appoints five of its 12 members and its chair.
Atlanta City Council (legislative records). The council's file for the inspector general law. Its heading lists all 15 council members; the Sponsors field names Jennifer Ide, Marci Collier Overstreet and Howard Shook. It says a task force set up under resolution 19-R-3148 recommended an inspector general. Adopted 14-0 on Feb. 3, 2020 and sent to the mayor's office. It does not show her signature.
City of Atlanta, Office of the Mayor. Her executive order of Jan. 13, 2020. Says the inspector general law was introduced in coordination with her administration and urges the council to pass it. Archived copy of the city's file; the city's site blocks this desk. sha256 6805d146df18.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release. Says the transparency officer comes from legislation she proposed. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release. Calls the task force hers and lists her credit card reforms and the appointment of the city's first Chief Transparency Officer. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release. Says she signed the inspector general law. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances, published by Municode). The mayor approves or vetoes each ordinance within eight days of adoption. The code dates for the three laws fall 8, 6 and 3 days after the council votes.
City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances, published by Municode). Sets rules for city purchasing and credit cards and bars personal use. Every section derives from Ord. No. 2019-13 (19-O-1004), dated Jan. 28, 2019.
City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances, published by Municode). Creates a transparency officer to oversee the city's compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act. From Ord. No. 2018-41 (18-O-1266), dated Sept. 25, 2018.
Invest Atlanta. Invest Atlanta is the city's development authority and runs the fund. Dated July 27, 2020: grants up to $40,000, paid from the city's federal CARES Act money.
Invest Atlanta. Dated Aug. 30, 2022. A 2022 round of more than 420 grants totaling $8.2 million, paid from federal American Rescue Plan money. Says the 2020 and 2022 rounds together gave nearly $30 million to over 1,000 businesses and nonprofits.
Invest Atlanta. Dated June 25, 2019. The plan's goals include investing $1 billion from public, private and philanthropic sources in affordable housing.
City of Atlanta. Her March 31, 2021 address. Says nearly $500 million in locally controlled public funds had gone to affordable housing since she took office, and more than 6,000 homes were new or preserved. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta. Dated December 2020. Says the city and its agencies committed or invested over $497 million in city-controlled funds for 6,007 affordable homes since January 2018: 2,859 created or preserved and 3,148 in the pipeline. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk. sha256 841cc05a3248.
Invest Atlanta. Dated April 26, 2019. Says her pledge was $1 billion for 20,000 affordable homes by 2026, and that the administration had reached 20 percent of that goal.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release of July 25, 2019. Names Dr. Angelica Geter Fugerson as the city's first chief health officer and says Fulton and DeKalb counties run public health under state law. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release of May 20, 2019. The council approved $100,000 to the Fulton County Board of Health for PrEP; Councilmember Antonio Brown sponsored the resolution. Also lists a $10,000 city grant for a mobile HIV testing unit. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release of Nov. 15, 2021. The council approved $2 million to Operation HOPE for savings accounts with a one-time $50 deposit for kindergartners from low-income households. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release of Nov. 19, 2021. Launches the savings accounts with Atlanta Public Schools and Operation HOPE, and puts $2 million of American Rescue Plan money into the Youth Entrepreneurship Program with the United Way. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta, One Atlanta criminal justice reform site. The city's reform site, dated July 2021. Says officers in all police zones may divert people to PAD instead of jail. Its topic list also shows the diversion center's groundbreaking in April 2023.
Atlanta City Council, Council Communications. The council's release of Nov. 1, 2021. Resolution 21-R-4118 authorizes the mayor to sign an agreement with Fulton County for a diversion center. Archived copy; the council's site blocks this desk.
Fulton County Government. Dated Nov. 5, 2021. The county board adopted its resolution on Nov. 3. Quotes Mayor Bottoms on helping people charged with minor, non-violent offenses.
City of Atlanta, One Atlanta criminal justice reform site. June 2020. She issued an administrative order to convene an advisory council on the city's use of force policies.
City of Atlanta, One Atlanta criminal justice reform site. June 2020. Her orders adopting use of force reforms, including de-escalation and a duty to intervene in unreasonable deadly force.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release of Aug. 5, 2020. Seven administrative orders address 16 of the council's 33 recommendations. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta. The council's 2020 report, linked from the city's reform site. Lists its members, including co-chairs from Gideon's Promise and the Southern Center for Human Rights, and says they included lawyers. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk. sha256 e3aebe744bf0.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Communications. Her office's release of Nov. 18, 2020. The city retained the Police Executive Research Forum for a "top to bottom" review of police policy and training. Archived copy; the city's site blocks this desk.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Resilience. Says the city adopted Clean Energy Atlanta in March 2019, and that a May 1, 2017 council resolution set the 100% clean energy goal and told the mayor's office to write the plan.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Resilience. The plan, linked from the sustainability office's site. Opens with a letter from Mayor Bottoms, recommends that the city form an advisory board, and recommends moving the citywide 100% target from 2035 to 2050. sha256 dc05bd2081db.
City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Resilience. Says the board grew out of the Clean Energy Advisory Board. Lists meetings from March 18, 2021.
ADVERTISEMENT
The details
Election facts. Original sources.
Election date
November 3, 2026
Launch rating
Cook Political Report: Toss Up; dated August 27, 2026
Ballot source updated
State ballot candidate workbook revised September 1, 2026 by its own file properties; reviewed September 14, 2026.
Candidate field
Printed candidates checked against the state's own November ballot list.