Trump's influence is prominent in the race for Georgia's governor in 2026, as Duncan and Raffensperger announce their candidacies
Former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, now a Democrat, and incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger have announced their campaigns for Georgia governor, setting the stage for a contentious primary and a potential test of President Donald Trump's influence in Georgia politics.
Duncan, who switched parties earlier this year, is pitching himself as a centrist in the governor's race. He announced his campaign at an unusual venue for a former Republican, Black Coffee in South Atlanta, a coffee shop known for its portraits of Georgia's two Democratic U.S. senators and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Coffee shop owner Jamin Butler has praised Duncan for his outreach to the community and the coffee shop.
In his campaign launch video, Raffensperger, who is best known for resisting Trump's pressure to overturn Georgia's 2020 presidential results, stated, "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."
Both Duncan and Raffensperger have had past clashes with President Trump. Duncan has stated that he was wrong to think a room full of legislators knew better than millions of women regarding abortion rights, and has promised to repeal the six-week abortion ban if elected as governor. Raffensperger, on the other hand, has never forgiven Trump for rejecting his demands to "find" votes in 2020 and has already faced mockery from the former president as a "total loser" for switching parties.
Democrats are suggesting that Raffensperger will need to "out-MAGA" rivals such as Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to survive a Republican primary. However, political science professor Ben Taylor at Kennesaw State University has stated that both Duncan and Raffensperger may have difficulty making it out of their respective party primaries, given their past positions and the divisive political climate.
The name of the third Democratic candidate running against Duncan and Raffensperger for the Governor of Georgia is not explicitly stated in the provided search results. The 2026 gubernatorial race in Georgia is shaping up to be another test of Trump's grip on Georgia politics, given Duncan's opposition to Trump and Raffensperger's defiance of him. The race is expected to be closely watched by political observers nationwide.
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