Georgia primary ballot set: Here’s who is running for governor, Senate, and other Middle Georgia races

Here’s who qualified for Georgia’s May 19 primary election
41NBC Web Producer,
Georgia Elections
Georgia voters will decide party nominees in the May 19 primary election.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- More than 70 candidates have qualified for Georgia’s May 19 primary election, setting the ballot for races ranging from governor and U.S. Senate to congressional, legislative, and judicial contests affecting Middle Georgia voters.

What voters need to know

  • Primary election: May 19, 2026

  • General election: November 3, 2026

  • What voters are choosing: nominees for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, statewide offices and state legislative seats.

Governor

Multiple candidates from both parties have qualified for the race for Governor of Georgia.

Democrats

Republicans

Lieutenant governor

The race for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is open because incumbent Burt Jones is running for governor.

Democrats

  • Josh McLaurin
  • Nabilah Parkes
  • Richard N. Wright

Republicans

  • Brenda Lynn Nelson-Porter
  • David Clark
  • Greg Dolezal
  • John F. Kennedy of Monroe County
  • Michael Tillery
  • Steve Gooch
  • Takosha Swan

U.S. Senate

Incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff has qualified for reelection.

Republicans running in the primary include:

  • Derek Dooley
  • Buddy Carter
  • John Coyne
  • Jonathan McColumn of Warner Robins
  • Mike Collins

U.S. House races affecting Middle Georgia

District 2

Incumbent Sanford Bishop Jr. and Republican challenger Benjamin Day are unopposed in their primaries and will face each other in November.

District 2 includes part of Bibb County, Crawford County, Peach County, Taylor County, Macon County, and Dooly County.

District 8

Democrats Justin Lucas and Kelly Esti will compete to challenge incumbent Republican Austin Scott.

District 10

Both parties have contested primaries for the open seat currently held by Mike Collins, who is running for Senate.

Three Democrats qualified to run for the seat. Alexandra ‘Lexy’ Doherty of Clarke County qualified on March 2. Doherty lists her occupation as candidate and provided a campaign website at lexydoherty.com. John B. Dority of Oglethorpe County qualified on March 6. Dority lists his occupation as a retired engineer. Pamela ‘Pam’ Delancy of Henry County qualified on March 3. Delancy is a military retiree and lists a campaign website at votepamdelancy.com.

Three Republicans also qualified for the race. Houston Gaines of Clarke County qualified on March 2. Gaines lists his occupation as small business development and provided a campaign website at houstongaines.com. Jeffrey Dwayne Baker of Oglethorpe County qualified on March 4. Baker lists his occupation as a plumber and provided a campaign website at jeffbakerforcongress.com. Ryan Christopher Millsap of Newton County qualified on March 4. Millsap lists his occupation as an entrepreneur and provided a campaign website at ryanmillsapforcongress.com.

The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries will advance to the general election. The district includes Baldwin County, Hancock County, Washington County, and Johnson County in the 41NBC coverage area.

District 12

The district is currently represented by Rick Allen, a Republican who has qualified to run for reelection. Several counties in the 41NBC coverage area are part of the district, including Laurens, Telfair, Wheeler, and Treutlen Counties.

Five Democrats have qualified to run in the primary.

  • Brianna Woodson
  • Ceretta Smith   
  • Chris Stephens 
  • Tracell Peace-Nichols 
  • Traci George 

Two Republicans have qualified for the race.

Incumbent Rick Allen of Richmond County qualified on March 3.

Tori Brett Branum of Laurens County qualified on March 4. Branum lists his occupation as a firearms trainer. Watch: 41NBC News talked to Branum when she previously ran for office. 

The Democratic and Republican nominees will be decided in the May primary election. The winners will advance to the general election for Georgia’s 12th Congressional District seat.

Other statewide races

Agriculture commissioner

In the race for Georgia agriculture commissioner, incumbent Republican Tyler Harper of Irwin County qualified on March 4.

Two Democrats have qualified for the primary:

  • Katherine E. Juhan-Arnold of Gwinnett County

  • Sedrick Kent Rowe Jr. of Dougherty County

The Democratic primary winner will face Harper in the general election.

Attorney general

The race is open because Chris Carr is running for governor.

Democrats:

  • Bob Trammell
  • Herbert Adams Jr.
  • Tanya Miller

Republicans:

  • Brian Strickland
  • Bill Cowsert

Insurance commissioner

In the race for Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner, incumbent Republican John King qualified for reelection.

Five Democrats have entered the primary:

  • Ambuj ‘AJ’ Jain
  • Clarence Blalock
  • DeAndre Mathis
  • Keisha Sean Waites
  • Thomas Gabriel Dean

Labor commissioner

In the race for Georgia Commissioner of Labor, incumbent Republican Bárbara Rivera Holmes qualified for reelection.

Five Democrats have qualified:

  • Brett A. Hulme
  • Christian D. Smith
  • Jason Matthew Moon
  • Michelle Michi Sanchez
  • Nikki Porcher

Candidate Clarence Blalock initially qualified but later withdrew from the race.

Secretary of State

The current office holder, Brad Raffensperger, is running for governor, so this is an open race.

Republicans running include:

Democrats running include:

State school superintendent

The race for Georgia State School Superintendent also features multiple candidates.

Three Democrats have qualified:

  • Anton Anthony of Burke County
  • Lydia Catalina Powell of Fayette County
  • Otha Thornton of Coweta County

Five Republicans have qualified:

  • Fred Jackson Longgrear of Candler County
  • Mesha Mainor of Fulton County
  • Nelva Melissa Lee of Henry County
  • Randell Eugene Trammell of Bartow County
  • incumbent Richard Woods of Tift County

Georgia State House

Multiple races are also set in the Georgia House of Representatives affecting Middle Georgia.

Several incumbents have qualified to seek reelection, while challengers have entered a number of primaries across Middle Georgia districts.

District 133

In Georgia House District 133, incumbent Republican Danny Mathis of Bleckley County qualified for reelection. Mathis lists his occupation in funeral services.

He will face Republican challenger Robert Wayne Pruitt of Dodge County, who lists his occupation as a small business owner.

District 134

In Georgia House District 134, Republican incumbent Robert Dickey of Musella qualified for reelection. Dickey is currently unopposed.

District 142

In Georgia House District 142, Democratic incumbent Miriam Paris of Bibb County qualified for reelection. Paris lists her occupation as a realtor.

She will face fellow Democrat George Elton Thomas Jr. of Bibb County in the Democratic primary. Thomas lists his occupation as a leasing director.

The winner of that primary will face Republican Calvin Dennis Palmer of Bibb County in the general election.

District 143

In Georgia House District 143, Democratic incumbent Anissa Jones of Bibb County qualified for reelection. Jones lists her occupation as a doctor of chiropractic and is currently unopposed.

District 144

In Georgia House District 144, Republican incumbent Dale Washburn of Bibb County qualified for reelection. Washburn lists his occupation as a real estate broker and consultant and is currently unopposed.

District 145

In Georgia House District 145, Democratic incumbent Tangie Herring of Bibb County qualified for reelection.

Republican Eric Shannon Wilson of Monroe County also qualified. Wilson lists his occupation as a business owner.

District 146

In Georgia House District 146, Republican incumbent Shaw Blackmon of Houston County qualified for reelection. Blackmon lists his occupation as president of National Bank Products Inc. and is currently unopposed.

District 147

In Georgia House District 147, Republican incumbent Bethany Ballard of Houston County qualified for reelection.

Two Democrats qualified for the primary: Renita Duncan, a retired command sergeant major, and Tim Riley, a retired professional counselor.

District 149

In Georgia House District 149, Democratic incumbent Floyd Griffin Jr. of Baldwin County qualified for reelection.

Griffin will face Democratic challenger Ross Sheppard, a realtor from Baldwin County, in the Democratic primary.

The winner will face Republican Randy Keith Peters of Baldwin County in the general election.

District 150

In Georgia House District 150, Democratic incumbent Patty Stinson of Taylor County qualified for reelection. Stinson lists her occupation as a business owner.

Republican Cary Lee Moore of Sumter County also qualified and lists his occupation as an insurance agent.

District 155

In Georgia House District 155, Democrat Joe Powers of Laurens County qualified. Powers lists his occupation as media and sales.

Two Republicans also qualified for the race: incumbent Matt Hatchett of Laurens County and challenger Charles C. Cook, who lists his occupation as logistics.

Georgia State Senate

District 15

In Georgia State Senate District 15, several candidates have qualified for the seat currently held by Ed Harbison.

Harbison announced he will retire following the 2026 legislative session after more than 33 years of service in the Senate.

“I am grateful to have served in the Georgia Senate for over 30 years, representing the citizens of the 15th District,” Harbison said in a statement announcing his retirement. “Being able to serve West Georgia as a legislator has been the greatest honor of my life.”

Harbison was first elected to the Senate in 1992. Prior to serving in the legislature, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and received the Purple Heart for his service in the Vietnam War.

District 15 includes parts of the 41NBC coverage area, including Macon County and Taylor County.

Three Democrats have qualified for the race:

  • Alyssa Williams, a business consultant from Muscogee County
  • Edward D. Harbison, a human resources director from Muscogee County
  • Tremaine ‘Teddy’ Reese, an attorney from Muscogee County

Republican Charles Herbert Hand III of Taylor County also qualified. Hand lists his occupation as a construction superintendent.

District 18

In Georgia State Senate District 18, incumbent Steven McNeel of Bibb County qualified for reelection.

McNeel was elected to the seat in a special election in February.

He will face Republican challenger Eugene Allison of Upson County, who lists his occupation as retired.

District 20

In Georgia State Senate District 20, Republican incumbent Larry Walker III of Houston County qualified for reelection. Walker lists his occupation as an insurance agent and is currently unopposed.

District 25

In Georgia State Senate District 25, Republican incumbent Ricky Williams of Baldwin County qualified for reelection. Williams lists his occupation as a funeral director and is currently unopposed.

District 26

In Georgia State Senate District 26, Democratic incumbent David Lucas of Bibb County qualified for reelection.

Two Republicans have qualified for the race:

  • Nancy Hicks of Bibb County, who lists her occupation as retired
  • Tracy Conkle Wheeler of Hancock County, who lists her occupation as an entrepreneur

The Republican primary winner will face Lucas in the general election.

Two candidates qualify for Towaliga Judicial Circuit superior court judgeship

The race is for the seat held by Judge Thomas H. Wilson.

Both candidates qualified as part of Georgia’s nonpartisan judicial elections.

  • Jonathan Lang Adams of Monroe County lists his occupation as a judge.
  • Natalie Fears Sundeen of Monroe County lists her occupation as an attorney and provided a campaign website at natalieforjudge.com.

Superior court judges in Georgia run in nonpartisan elections, meaning candidates do not run under a political party label.

Voters in the Towaliga Judicial Circuit will choose between the two candidates during the May election.

Counties in the 41NBC coverage area affected by these races

Several of the races on Georgia’s May 19 primary ballot affect counties across the 41NBC coverage area.

Bibb County

  • U.S. House District 2

  • U.S. House District 12

  • Georgia Senate Districts 18 and 26

  • Georgia House Districts 142, 143, 144 and 145

Houston County

  • Georgia Senate District 20

  • Georgia House Districts 146 and 147

Baldwin County

  • U.S. House District 10

  • Georgia Senate District 25

  • Georgia House District 149

Laurens County

  • U.S. House District 12

  • Georgia House District 155

Taylor County

  • Georgia Senate District 15

  • Georgia House District 150

Washington County

  • U.S. House District 10

Hancock County

  • U.S. House District 10

  • Georgia Senate District 26

Johnson County

  • U.S. House District 10

Monroe County

  • Towaliga Judicial Circuit Superior Court race

Georgia primary election FAQ

When is the Georgia primary election?
Georgia’s primary election will be held on May 19, 2026.

What does qualifying mean in Georgia elections?
Qualifying is the period when candidates formally file paperwork and fees to run for office.

What happens after the primary election?
Primary winners become their party’s nominee and advance to the general election on November 3, 2026.

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