Democrat McLaurin Wins Georgia Lieutenant Governor Race
Josh McLaurin defeated Republican Greg Dolezal and will succeed Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Josh McLaurin defeated Republican Greg Dolezal in the Georgia lieutenant governor race, leading by 11 percentage points when the Associated Press called the race around 10 p.m. on Tuesday. McLaurin will succeed Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.
Why it matters
The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and holds significant control over legislation, since the office assigns bills to committees and chooses committee leaders. McLaurin's win changes which party controls that influence in Georgia.
McLaurin led Dolezal by 11 percentage points when the Associated Press called the race around 10 p.m. Tuesday, making him the 14th Georgia lieutenant governor. The extraction does not include final vote totals or certified results.
The players
Josh McLaurin
An Atlanta-area Democrat and attorney who previously served in the Georgia Senate and House, and who won the lieutenant governor race.
Burt Jones
The Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia whose successor McLaurin will become.
Greg Dolezal
The Republican nominee for Georgia lieutenant governor who lost to McLaurin.
The details
McLaurin, an attorney from Sandy Springs, previously served in the Georgia Senate representing a district including portions of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell, Sandy Springs and northeast Atlanta, where he was secretary of the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee. He flipped a Georgia House seat in 2018 and beat Democratic state Sen. Nabilah Parkes in the May primary before facing Dolezal in an October debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club.
Timeline
May 2026: McLaurin defeats state Sen. Nabilah Parkes in the Democratic primary.
October 2026: McLaurin and Dolezal debate at the Atlanta Press Club.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election held; race called around 10 p.m.
Election Trajectory
McLaurin's victory extends the pattern of Democratic gains in Atlanta-area suburbs that began with his own 2018 flip of a Georgia House seat. It marks a shift in control of one of the state's most influential statewide offices.
As lieutenant governor, McLaurin will assign bills to committees and choose committee leaders in the Georgia Senate, shaping which legislation advances. Georgians will see a new presiding officer in that chamber when he takes office.
The takeaway
Control of the Georgia Senate's agenda depends heavily on who holds the lieutenant governor's office, so this race has direct consequences for pending state policy. Readers following state legislation should watch how McLaurin uses committee assignments once he takes office.
Further reading
Explore more coverage of Elections in Georgia and across the state.
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