Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan outlines vision for families in democratic governor run

Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan is officially entering the 2026 race for governor, this time as a Democrat after years as a Republican leader who became nationally known for standing up to former President Donald Trump.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan is officially entering the 2026 race for governor, this time as a Democrat after years as a Republican leader who became nationally known for standing up to former President Donald Trump.

Duncan says his campaign is centered on what he calls Georgia’s biggest challenges: affordability, healthcare access, and political extremism.

Duncan says that he is running for governor to focus on three primary issues, the affordability crisis, the healthcare crisis, and the Donald Trump crisis.

A former professional baseball player and entrepreneur, Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. During his time in office, he helped expand healthcare access in rural communities, supported legislation to save struggling hospitals, and played a key role in passing Georgia’s historic hate crimes law.

Duncan gained national attention after refusing to support efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results, despite pressure from Trump and party leaders, a move that ultimately led to his break with the Republican Party.

Since switching parties, Duncan has acknowledged evolving views on major issues, including gun policy and abortion.

He now supports universal background checks, red flag laws, and safe firearm storage requirements, saying earlier positions were influenced by political pressure rather than public safety. On abortion, Duncan has said lawmakers should not make decisions for women’s healthcare.

One of Duncan’s major proposals includes creating a “jumpstart fund” using approximately $1.7 billion from Georgia’s rainy day reserves to help families with childcare and housing costs while expanding Medicaid coverage.

Duncan says his campaign is built around bipartisanship, transparency, and restoring trust in government.

Early voting for Georgia’s 2026 gubernatorial election begins in October, with several candidates expected to enter the race in the coming months.