Georgia 2026 Election Results

Nov 06, 2026

3 mins

Election Day in Georgia mirrored much of the rest of the country. It was an extraordinary night for Democrats, arguably their biggest electoral victory in a generation. Democrats captured every statewide constitutional office, took control of the State House and made significant gains in the Senate.

U.S. Senate

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff easily defeated Congressman Mike Collins in his bid for reelection. Ossoff’s margin of victory exceeded even the most optimistic predictions, finishing with nearly a 20-point advantage. There is speculation that he may seriously consider a presidential run in 2028.

Governor

Keisha Lance Bottoms made history by becoming the first Black woman elected governor of any state. Her victory was particularly remarkable given the approximately $100 million financial disadvantage she overcame during the campaign.

Lieutenant Governor

State Sen. Josh McLaurin defeated Greg Dolezal to become Georgia’s next lieutenant governor. However, the powers of the office are largely determined by the Senate itself. With Republicans retaining control of the chamber, McLaurin may not enjoy the same level of influence and authority as his predecessor.

Insurance Commissioner

One of the more surprising outcomes of the night was the defeat of two-term incumbent John King by former State Rep. Keisha Waites. Waites will assume responsibility for one of the most powerful offices in state government, overseeing the regulation of an industry that touches virtually every Georgian.

Attorney General

Tanya Miller, a former prosecutor, was elected Georgia’s next attorney general. Her election marks the beginning of what could be a significant political career, and she is likely to emerge as an important figure in the Georgia Democratic Party for years to come.

Other Statewide Elections

As noted above, one of the most noteworthy aspects of the remaining statewide contests was the defeat of incumbents in the races for agriculture commissioner, state school superintendent and labor commissioner. Incumbency provided surprisingly little protection.

Georgia House

Democrats needed to flip 10 seats to gain control of the chamber and, at the time of this writing, appear to have gained 13. Along with the change in the governor’s office, this will have the most significant ripple effect, resulting in the election of a new speaker of the House and, presumably, an entirely new slate of committee chairs. With some votes still being counted, the current makeup stands at 95–84, with one seat headed to a runoff.

Georgia Senate

The Senate came within one seat of flipping to Democratic control, leaving Republicans with a narrow 29–27 majority. This tight margin suggests a strong likelihood of legislative gridlock. While Democrats will have greater influence with control of the governor’s office and the House, Republicans will retain the ability to block legislation.

What it means

Most people in Georgia’s public policy arena have never experienced Democrats controlling the executive branch or a legislative majority. This new political landscape, coupled with a divided legislature, will likely bring some growing pains. It will take time for the dust to settle and for both parties to determine how best to work together to move the state’s business forward. It promises to be an exciting and challenging time. For those of us in the government relations and advocacy world, success will require patience, adaptability and deft maneuvering.