Bottoms Leads Jackson in Georgia Governor Race
Early returns from Georgia's 2026 midterm elections show Democratic candidates gaining ground across statewide and congressional contests.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Keisha Lance Bottoms opened a commanding lead over Rick Jackson in the Georgia governor race as ballots were counted early Wednesday. The Associated Press declared Rich McCormick the winner in the 7th Congressional District after polls closed Tuesday.
Why it matters
The early results signal how Georgia's statewide and congressional races are shaping up for voters in the state's major suburban counties. Democratic nominees pulled ahead in several down-ballot contests, a development that will shape the balance of power in Georgia's state offices.
The results are unofficial early returns from Tuesday's voting, with the Associated Press calling congressional races after polls closed. Final certified totals for the governor, lieutenant governor, and congressional contests have not yet been reported.
The players
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Bottoms is a Democratic candidate for Georgia governor who opened a lead over Republican Rick Jackson in early returns.
Rick Jackson
Jackson is the Republican candidate trailing Keisha Lance Bottoms in the Georgia governor race.
Rich McCormick
McCormick is a Republican congressman declared the winner of Georgia's 7th Congressional District by the Associated Press.
Lucy McBath
McBath is a Democratic U.S. representative who secured re-election in Georgia's 6th Congressional District.
The details
Democratic challengers captured leads against Republican incumbents for state school superintendent, labor commissioner, agriculture commissioner and insurance commissioner. Voters across eleven state House districts in Cobb County also cast ballots, which included an infrastructure sales tax referendum.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Polls closed and voting occurred across Georgia and Cobb County.
Early Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Ballots were counted and Bottoms opened a lead over Jackson.
Season Trajectory
The early 2026 returns extend a pattern of competitive statewide Democratic contests in Georgia that began in the 2018 gubernatorial cycle. If the leads hold, Democrats would consolidate gains in several down-ballot offices that have shaped the state's partisan balance.
Georgia voters now have early indications of who will hold the governor's office, the 7th and 6th congressional seats, and several statewide offices. The outcome of the infrastructure sales tax referendum in Cobb County will directly affect local transportation funding.
The takeaway
Early leads in Georgia's midterms can shift as ballots are counted, so readers should watch certified totals before drawing firm conclusions about the state's direction.
Further reading
Track the latest developments in the Georgia Elections coverage for context on the statewide contests.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
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