Georgia Governor Race Ballots Still Being Counted
Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson remain in a close contest as election officials tally ballots statewide.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Should Georgia expand Medicaid to cover about 300,000 uninsured residents?
Election officials are tallying ballots statewide in the Georgia governor's race between Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson. Results are being updated throughout the night after polls closed at 7 p.m.
Why it matters
The winner will shape Georgia's economic and public health policies for the next four years. Republicans have held the governor's mansion for two decades, so the outcome could mark a shift in state leadership.
Bottoms would be the first Black and first female governor in Georgia history if elected, while Republicans have held the office for 20 years. Ballot counting is ongoing, and the final result has not been called.
The players
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Bottoms is a former mayor of Atlanta and the Democratic candidate for Georgia governor.
Rick Jackson
Jackson is a healthcare staffing executive and the Republican candidate for Georgia governor.
The details
Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, has proposed an immediate Medicaid expansion for roughly 300,000 uninsured residents and a higher minimum wage. Jackson, a healthcare staffing executive, is prioritizing workforce development, regulatory reform, and tax relief, and the two have clashed over data center regulations.
Timeline
Polls closed at 7 p.m. on November 3, 2026, and results updates began that evening.
Ballot counting is continuing statewide as of November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Republicans have controlled Georgia's governor's mansion for two decades, making this contest a potential break from that streak. Bottoms and Jackson present sharply different agendas on Medicaid, the minimum wage, and tax policy.
A Bottoms win could bring immediate Medicaid expansion for roughly 300,000 uninsured Georgians, while a Jackson win would prioritize tax relief and workforce programs. Either outcome would directly affect state health coverage and tax policy for the next four years.
The takeaway
The result of this race will determine whether Georgia's health coverage and tax policies shift direction after two decades of Republican governance. Voters following the count can track updates as officials finish tallying ballots.
What happens next
Final results will be determined as Georgia election officials complete ballot counting.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Elections section for context on Georgia's races.
Live Poll
Should Georgia expand Medicaid to cover about 300,000 uninsured residents?
