Georgia is set to be one of the biggest battleground states in 2026, with one senator, Democrat Jon Ossoff, up for election. Alongside the Senate race, there are 14 House races that almost all include Democrat underdogs or incumbents that could see this state further blue-shift. Given Georgia’s shifting demographics and status as one of the keystone battleground states, a blue wave here could shift the balance in Democrats’ favor, and the results of these races will reveal just how blue Georgia is becoming. The primary elections will take place on May 19, 2026, with races in which no candidate receives over 50% in a primary going to a runoff election on June 16. The general election will take place on November 3rd
For the Senate race, Jon Ossoff stands as a very popular congressman and a Democratic bright spot in Georgia. His bipartisan work and his success in getting funding and successful infrastructure projects to Georgia have built him a bit of a safety net from potential challengers, especially from within his party. However, the Republican primary has three main challengers who could pose a real threat, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, former football coach Derek Dooley, and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter. But with his strong position, Ossoff is likely to retain his seat, especially if a blue wave really does come to fruition.
For the House races, most of the seats are safe within their own party due to how the districts have been drawn in recent years and the relative popularity of many of the incumbents. But notably, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation from her seat in the 14th district could provide a route for a Democratic challenger to flip the seat. Additionally, some of the Democratic incumbents like David Scott are facing insurgent progressive campaigns in their districts, highlighting the generational rift within the Democratic Party and perhaps also serving as a testing ground for these ideas in a historically red state. Out of the 14 races, these are the names to look out for:
- District 1: Michael McCord and Amanda Hollowell
- District 2: Sanford Bishop Jr. (incumbent)
- District 3: Adrienne Buhacoff
- District 4: Hank Johnson (incumbent)
- District 5: Nikema Williams (incumbent) and Andres Castro
- District 6: Lucy McBath (incumbent) and Sonya Halpern
- District 7: Case Norton
- District 8: James Cooper III
- District 9: Nick Alex
- District 10: Lexy Doherty
- District 11: Chris Harden and Barry Wolfert
- District 12: Brianna Woodson, Ceretta Smith, and Chris Stephens
- District 13: David Scott (incumbent)
- District 14: Shawn Harris
Senate
Jon Ossoff, 38, is the youngest Democrat elected to the Senate since Joe Biden in 1973 and the incumbent Senator for the seat that is up for election this year. He, along with Ralph Warnock, are the two main bulwarks of Democratic control in Georgia, and this race is set to be a close one. Before Congress, Ossoff was a national security staffer before working as a managing director of an investigative journalism production company. His policy platform in Congress has been largely successful, revolving around healthcare improvements like capping insulin prices for seniors at $35/month, protecting social security, expanding Medicaid, and expanding mental health services across the state. He has also championed infrastructure and veteran care services. His work on bipartisan issues has earned him a 51% approval rating and a 34% disapproval rating, and he is frequently cited as one of the most bipartisan politicians in Congress. This popularity, compared with a gargantuan $54,052,215 raised through September, has put him in a prime position to retain his seat, with many polls slightly leaning his way. With popularity, youth, money, and demographics all on his side, Ossoff is set to remain the youngest incumbent Senator.
Recent Interviews
Sen. Ossoff: ‘We really are talking about life and death’
Jon Ossoff Bluntly Calls Out Trump For Corruption and Unpopularity
House
District 1
Michael McCord, 36, has long been involved in Democratic politics. Growing up in South Carolina, he worked multiple jobs often, eventually working on many Democratic races across the state since 2008. By 2020, he was running Southern strategy for Tim Ryan’s presidential bid. On top of this, McCord is a business consultant focused on serving small businesses. He likely views this race as an incredible opportunity, given the incumbent Representative, Republican Buddy Carter, is going to be running for a Senate seat this year. McCord will be hoping that his platform of Rural Healthcare Stabilization, ending price gouging, expanding veteran care, ending congressional stock trading, and using all available energy production technologies to improve Georgia’s energy supply will resonate with the fairly rural district. So far, he has raised $112,540, the most out of any Democrat in the race so far and respectable compared to his potential Republican counterparts. While the district is fairly red, with the Cook Political Report giving it a +8 Republican leaning, Buddy Carter’s shift to the Senate means that his opponent won’t be an incumbent who can rely on their track record as well. Additionally, this district has a healthcare and infrastructure crisis at the moment, both of which McCord is looking to address. This means that McCord still has a shot at flipping this seat blue, and depending on how much Republican donors pay attention to this race, his fundraising numbers may be enough to win.
Amanda Hollowell, 47, is an experienced political organizer and the Chief of Campaigns at Color Of Change, the country’s largest online racial justice organization. Her affiliations are myriad, including When We All Vote, 9to5 Savannah, the Savannah, GA Chapter of The Links, Inc., League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia, and Savannah Federation of Democratic Women. These connections have all indelibly given her vast local support, although her fundraising numbers are yet to be published. Hollowell’s platform focuses on climate resilience, healthcare for all, public education, port and worker advocacy, and affordability. With these focuses, she is likely to win over the younger populations, as well as progressives. Climate resilience is a real issue in this district, given its coastal location. But with the district leaning red and her primary opponent having a lot of money already, Hollowell is facing an uphill battle.
District 2
Sanford Bishop Jr., 78, is the incumbent representative and has been since 1993. Practically a permanent fixture in Georgia politics ever since, Bishop Jr. has also been one of the most reliable advocates for the agricultural, infrastructural, and military health of his district. Each of these areas are huge in the 2nd district, and both its blue electorate and Bishop Jr. ‘s popularity (he won his 17th term in office with 55.9% of the vote will make him an extremely tough candidate to beat. His track record also speaks for itself, having secured over $10 billion in federal grants and loans for his district, including funds for rural development and disaster relief. Finally, his funding is hearty, having raised $517,573 through September. With the wind blowing hard at his back, his electorate supporting him, and his political acumen, it is hard to bet against him.
District 3
Adrienne Buhacoff, 49, is a seasoned social worker with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. With this background, she aims to take her expertise, compassion, and dedication to Washington, D.C. and restore faith in government. Her platform is focused on healthcare expansion, term limits, campaign finance reform, affordable healthcare, and protecting individual rights. Given just how red this district has been over the past few elections, Buhacoff’s approach of focusing more on government reform and less on typical Democrat policies is a solid bet. Her opponent in the general election, Republican Brian Jack, is a staunch supporter of the current administration, and disaffected voters may be willing to look past Buhacoff’s Democrat tag and vote across party lines. It will still be a tough battle, however. Jack has won nearly 63% of the vote and nearly every county in the district in the last election, was endorsed by Donald Trump, and has a perfect attendance record in Congress, all lending legitimacy to his campaign. Additionally, Jack has raised $929,776 already, and Buhacoff has yet to publish any fundraising data. If she wants to win, Buhacoff is going to have to rely on a blue wave, more disillusionment from Republicans, and Democratic donors lending her aid.
District 4
Hank Johnson, 71, is the incumbent representative and a tour-de-force in Democratic politics. Sitting on the House Judiciary Committee and as the ranking member of its Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, Johnson has been a national leader on court reform and accountability. This is largely driven by his 27-year-long career as a lawyer before spending 12 years as a magistrate judge. Since his first election in 2007, he has helped bring more than $5 billion in federal investments back to Georgia, including more than $1 billion specifically for his district, and has stayed relevant with legislation fighting the militarization of police recently. Outside of judicial reform, Johnson also is focusing his campaign on the environment, education, and worker safety, and healthcare. His seat is the safest in Georgia, sitting at +27 in favor of Democrats. With $199,516 raised so far and his popularity remaining high after his win in 2022 netted him 75% of the vote, Johnson will likely not have to worry much about this race.
Recent Interviews
Congressman Hank Johnson | Full interview
District 5
Nikema Williams, 47, is the incumbent representative since 2020 for the district that covers three quarters of Atlanta. Having previously served as the Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia State Committee, she is well connected within the party and enjoys robust support as a result. Already she has raised $312,462, and given her margins of victory over the past few elections (upwards of a 71% margin), she is also super popular. Williams’ platform focuses on universal family and healthcare, environmental protection, voting rights, social justice, and public education. While none of her policies are incredibly progressive, they are all progressive enough to attract support in Atlanta while hitting all of the main areas of concern for voters. She also has a lot of experience running campaigns, including fundraising for Obama’s presidential campaigns. With all of this in mind, Williams is more than likely to retain her seat here.
Recent Interviews
Rep. Nikema Williams talks government shutdown
Andres Castro, 33, is a newcomer to the political scene in comparison to Williams. His mother was an undocumented immigrant and he himself was a first-generation college student who studied computer science from Kennesaw State University. After spending around a decade in the tech sector, Castro is now aiming to launch a political career focused on progressive values. His platform has three main pillars: Universal public health, affordable housing, and a 25$ minimum wage. He also is pro-AI, pro-immigration, pro-government accountability, and pro-Palestine. In this race, he is looking to capitalize on policies that are increasingly popular with younger generations that make up a decent chunk of Atlanta. His funding is fairly meager so far, with only $23,280 raised, but his district is extremely blue. If Castro is able to win the primary, he will more than likely win the seat, but that condition will be hard to fulfill. This race is one that represents a larger trend across the party, that being the battle between old and the new progressive wave. It will be interesting to see just how close this race is, and if Castro is able to leverage more local support, he may just snatch the seat from Williams.
District 6
Lucy McBath, 65, is the incumbent representative for the district, having won her election in 2024. Previously, she earned her bachelor’s degrees in political science and English from Virginia State University before working as a flight attendant, a professional advocate for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, and an author. McBath has championed gun safety reform following her son’s death in 2012, and having survived breast cancer twice, McBath advocates for lowering prescription drug costs and protecting coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. She also is pushing for revitalizing Metro Atlanta’s infrastructure, codifying reproductive rights, and increasing resources for teachers. Much like the previous case, while none of her policies are incredibly progressive, they are meaningful for the district that also represents a chunk of Atlanta and many of its northern and western suburbs. So far, she has raised $419,294, with no other challengers having raised anything yet. With her margins of victory growing every election to a 75%-25% victory in 2024, she is undoubtedly popular and is likely to remain representing Georgia’s 6th District.
Sonya Halpern, 58, is a state senator in Georgia representing the state’s 39th district. She previously worked at Cox Enterprises as an advertising executive, but she also has vast volunteer experience that includes the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Andrew J. Young Foundation, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, and the National Black Arts Festival. At the state level, Halpern is the Vice Chair of the Urban Affairs Committee, and a member of the Appropriations, Banking and Financial Institutions, Education and Youth, and Health and Human Services committees. Her policies focus on expanding healthcare and education access, criminal justice reform, protecting voting rights and economic equality. With her volunteer and political experience, she is no stranger to making change through politics, and her connections will likely serve her well. But her opponent is very well funded while Halpern has yet to release any funding figures. The journey to winning the seat will be steep, but if voters want an establishment Democrat out in favor of somewhat new blood, Halpern may be capable of winning the primary, and thus the district.
District 7
Case Norton, 36, is a union camera technician who’s spent 19 years in the industry and wants to run a campaign focused on the working man. His campaign revolves around economic populism, affordability, and government reform. Chief amongst his concerns is accountability in government, which he aims to achieve through ending Citizens United and introducing term limits. Norton also wants to tackle corporate loopholes, institute universal healthcare, protect union rights, lower the cost of living, and protect the film & TV industry. These are all policies that will play somewhat well in the district, given its urban makeup north of Atlanta. But the seat had been held by Republicans from 1995 until 2021 before the now-incumbent Republican Rich McCormick won his election. This does not mean it’s a lost cause, however. While some polls say the district leans Republican by 11 points, the 2018 midterm election for this seat was won by only 433. Additionally, demographic changes will favor Democrats, so despite Norton’s lack of experience, he could still be able to win the primary and become a face for Democratic voters in this district. However, the general election will be tough to win between the district’s Republican leanings and McCormick’s $830,277 raised so far.
District 8
James Cooper III, 56, has run for this seat twice as a candidate for the Green Party in 2018 and 2020, but now he is trying his hand with the Democratic Party behind him. A longtime activist who worked on both the local and federal level, notably for Bernie Sanders’s and Jill Stein’s presidential campaigns, Cooper is a proud progressive. He supports it all: universal healthcare, a universal basic income, the Green New Deal, protecting civil rights and consumer protections, criminal justice reform, police reform, and campaign reform. His campaign thus far, however, is flagging. As of September 30, he had only raised $101, and his opponent, incumbent Republican Austin Scott, had raised $464,857. Additionally, his district has backed Scott by respectable margins since 2011, and still leans quite red. If Cooper is to mount a miraculous comeback, he will need to leverage every volunteer and progressive connection he has to even stand a chance. These connections may yield him enough to win the primary, but the general election will be degrees of magnitude harder, so his race may be more of a test for progressive ideas in rural Georgia.
District 9
Nick Alex, 61, is a retired banking technology product executive eyeing an upset against incumbent Republican Andrew Clyde. Nick graduated from Virginia Tech University majoring in business and finance before working with banks including Bank of America, Truist Bank, and U.S. Bank. Now, he wants to leverage his professional experience in politics to bring affordability back to the district. Alex’s race is a prime example of Democratic candidates leaning on affordability wherever they can, even in a heavily Republican district. His platform focuses on fair wages, affordable housing, and stronger economic security, alongside expanding access to public services and increasing government transparency. But his platform is relatively narrow and not particularly deep, and with his relatively small campaign funds barely reaching $46,840, it will be hard to galvanize and connect with voters. Still, his chances are not zero, and with all of his policies grounded in reality and modern issues, there is still a path for Alex to potentially win the general election.
Recent Interviews
William Daughtry interviews Nick Alex, LIVE!
District 10
Lexy Doherty, 31, is familiar with running in this district. Her last campaign here happened in 2024, where she garnered 37% of the vote. With a Master’s degree in Economic Geology and having previously worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Georgia and as an educational consultant with Doherty Educational Consultants, she is looking to build on her modest success last cycle. Doherty’s big five policy pillars are rural economic development, healthcare, protecting natural resources, protecting bodily autonomy, and restoring good representation and governance (guided by her time working as a poll worker). The focus on rural economic development will land well in a district that is 44% rural, and her connections in the Democratic stronghold of Athens will also help her here. Additionally, incumbent Republican Representative Mike Collins is running for Senate, meaning she will be fighting new blood. However, that Republican opponent, State Representative Houston Gaines, is gaining support fast in a district that leans heavily red. If a tsunami-level blue wave hits as forecasted, Doherty may just be able to ride it across the finish line.
District 11
Chris Harden, 47, just recently declared his candidacy for this race, but he seems to be one of the frontrunners in the primary. An attorney from Cherokee County, he labels himself as a moderate Democrat who is first in his family to graduate from college. Harden’s platform revolves around affordability, public education, healthcare access, women’s health, and addressing the constitutional crisis. His billing as a moderate Democrat will help him in the heavily red district, but the incumbent Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk is fairly popular. The district is also 96% urban, meaning that there will likely be at least some Democratic voters in those areas. But it is still an uphill climb in the general election. In the primary, he may win a lot of support given his moderate status and his local roots, having grown up poor in Georgia. Harden could very well be a dark-horse candidate if he can raise funds quickly enough.
Barry Wolfert, 60, is bringing a New York attitude and a lifetime of hard work to the race. After studying at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, Wolfert worked in the hospitality industry before co-founding the Wolfert & Wrenn Real Estate Team at Keller Williams in 2013. He’s lived in Georgia for over 20 years, and has seen how rising housing prices affect people. This is why he is focused on three areas: bringing down housing costs, protecting healthcare and social security, and expanding the ACA. Wolfert’s rhetoric leans pretty right for a Democrat, citing waste and fraud in the healthcare industry, which could help win over many voters in this district. His narrow focus on mainly affordability and social services will also allow him to present a very coherent message to voters in a district that may want new leadership. No funding data is available for any of the Democratic candidates, but Wolfert does have business acumen and connections in Atlanta. If he is able to leverage those connections and endear himself to the local population, Wolfert could possibly coast to a primary victory.
District 12
Brianna Woodson, 31, is a mental health professional and a political organizer. Boasting a large online following that stems from her Instagram page covering social issues, Black history, and policy, she is a local Georgian looking to unseat incumbent Republican Rick Allen. Her platform centers heavily on healthcare and addiction, given her own personal past struggles with the latter, but she also seeks better public education, housing assistance, justice reform, and community safety. Many of these issues, along with her identity and her connections, will garner a lot of support in this district. While it leans red, 36% of the district is African American, and her focus on Black history and social issues are extremely relevant in Georgia. Through September, Woodson had only reportedly raised $5,799, but that could have changed much since then. But she faces a tough road ahead, given the incumbent has won every election since 2014 and has raised a considerable amount of money. This race could be one with potential to surprise Allen, given he hasn’t had to run a close race since his first. With this in mind, if Georgia were to experience a blue wave, this district could be one to watch.
Ceretta Smith, 57, is a veteran of the U.S. Army, a former union official, and a substitute teacher. Faith is a large part of her identity, as she studied at the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology before pursuing a graduate degree from the Calvary Bible Institute and another degree from Deeper Bible College in 2024. Smith also has affiliations with organizations like the American Federation of Government Employees, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Sistah Soldiers United Organization. In terms of policy, her platform is fairly standard for a Democrat this election. Affordability, government accountability and election reform, and healthcare access all play major parts. But Smith also wants to focus on veterans affairs, labor protections, and infrastructure. These will all land well in this district, and her connections with organizations, veterans, and the religious community will all help aid her in this election. Through September, she has only raised $3,095, so she will need to get moving on the fundraising front, but in the primary race, all of the other candidates have raised less than $6,000 through the same period, so she’s not in bad shape here. She has lots of experience running campaigns, having run twice at the state level. Additionally, the demographics of this district (largely religious and black) will earn her some goodwill from the electorate. If she’s able to make a name for herself, she could also be a candidate set to surprise Allen in the general election.
Chris Stephens, 47, is a former police officer and emergency dispatcher who also has experience running an LGBTQ+ community center. He’s built his own small business, while juggling degrees in political science and a Master’s in Public Administration. This focus on community service is now bringing Stephens into the race for this seat with a platform hyperfocused on the smaller-scale. Infrastructure improvements, boosts to education and trade schools, tax reform, veterans affairs, healthcare access, and agricultural support all make appearances on his platform. He’s raised $4,457 so far, better than Smith but not quite enough to run a full campaign just yet, but time will tell if he is able to raise more given his relatively limited connections with politics and organizations across the district. Much of his appeal comes from being an “everyman” who owns a small business, worked as a police officer, and went to trade school. With this in mind, he will likely have decently moderate support from voters in the primary, but he may have better chances as the Democratic candidate in the general election, given his moderate appeal in a majority white and Republican area. If he is able to escape the primary, he could force Allen to refocus on holding his seat in a surprisingly competitive election.
District 13
David Scott, 80, has held this seat since 2002 and has no doubt that he will be able to retain it. He has won each election by increasing margins, winning almost 80% of the voteshare in the last few. He earned an MBA from Wharton before moving to Atlanta and starting his own advertising business, Dayn-Mark Advertising. Throughout the 70s and into the early 2000s, he also became a state level representative, eventually becoming a federal representative in 2002. Since then, he has become a high-level Democrat. He serves as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, a Senior Member of the Financial Services Committee, and a Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. For Scott, healthcare and constituent services are key policy successes of his, but he also prioritizes bringing federal community project funds back to local areas, boosting the rural agricultural sector, and backing environmental conservation efforts. His popularity speaks to his success on these fronts, and he has raised a warchest of $373,566. But this district is largely urban, meaning his agricultural policies will have less district-level pull, and in a primary field as packed as this one, with 11 Democratic candidates, he will have attacks coming from all directions. His age and decreasing engagement with politics worry some voters, but he has a long list of successes to draw on. For now, this seat seems to be safely Scott’s, and unless a challenger is able to pull support from a bunch of the other challengers and present a unified opponent, Scott will likely still be the representative come November.
Jasmine Clark, 43, is a Georgia State Representative and microbiologist running on a platform built around science-driven policy, active engagement, and progressive issue leadership. Within politics, her career has long been an uphill battle. Despite facing a powerful incumbent Republican who outspent her more than 2:1 in 2018, Clark won, and then defended the seat again three more times. Her experience outside of politics is largely in medicine, having served as an Emory University professor and as an assistant clinical professor at its nursing school. This background has brought her focus to science-driven policy, namely in regards to public health and scientific fact in government, but also to taxing the rich, protecting healthcare, election reform, affordability, and education at all levels. Social issues are also relevant, having served as a member of the Georgia Alliance for Social Justice. For this election Clark has raised $318,381, placing her third in terms of funding but well above the rest of the field. But her experience in politics, her connections in organizations and in the scientific community, and her name recognition all will likely make her a formidable opponent for Scott and any eventual Republican challengers.
Recent Interviews:
1-on-1 with State Rep. Jasmine Clark | Full interview
Everton Blair Jr., 32, is certainly bringing the youth to this fight, but is also equally bringing experience. Born and raised in Gwinnett County, Blair taught high school math in Atlanta Public Schools before becoming Chair of the Gwinnett County School Board. He holds a bachelor’s in applied mathematics (B.A.) and a Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) from Harvard University and a Master’s in Policy, Organization, and Leadership (M.A.) from Stanford University. Blair’s platform is fairly progressive, with a focus on public education, government accountability, healthcare, civil rights, and affordability. What is exceptionally notable about his campaign is that despite refusing corporate PAC money, he has raised the second highest amount of money out of any Democratic candidate at $342,144. This seems to imply that donors see him as a worthy successor to Scott, and Blair’s focus on bringing “generational change” could lean into that and garner a lot of momentum going into the election. He is also a native Georgian, a public educator, and despite having limited government experience, Blair has educational certifications from highly-ranked schools that could make up the district. With the winds blowing at his back like they are, Blair may just be set to take this seat from Scott and bring about a new generation of Georgian politicians.
Recent Interviews:
1-on-1 with Everton Blair, candidate for 13th District | Extended interview
District 14
Shawn Harris, 59, has a tough uphill battle ahead of him, but it is a familiar one. Harris is a 40-year veteran that served in Afghanistan, Liberia, and Israel, retiring as a Brigadier General. Harris also holds a B.S. in Agribusiness Education from Tuskegee University, a Master’s in Educational Leadership, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His last run at this seat in 2024 ended after only garnering 35% of the vote, which is fairly respectable given his moderate appeal and the district’s +19 leaning to Republicans according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index. So putting up a decent campaign in the most Republican congressional district in Georgia is impressive, and this time he won’t be facing an incumbent with a track record to lean on and the media presence that Marjorie Taylor Greene had. Harris’ platform focuses on agriculture, affordability, healthcare, veterans, and national/border security. The latter three areas will play particularly well, and his rhetoric on the national security front focuses on standing up to China, modernizing the immigration system, and combating the fentanyl crisis by expanding port screening and Narcan access. All three of these are issues that Republicans have been quite vocal on, meaning that Harris may be able to draw many disillusioned Republicans to his campaign. His experience in running campaigns and the connections he made have shown in the massive $1,292,262 he raised through September, almost 16 times the amount the most well-funded Republican challenger raised through that same period. If this seat were to flip, it would certainly be a surprise, but given Harris’ moderate appeal, Greene’s resignation, and Harris’ huge amount of funding, he may just be able to shock analysts.
Recent Interviews:
Shawn Harris goes On The Record With Atlanta News First, Jan. 11, 2026
US Congress SHAWN HARRIS Interview
Engagement Resources:
- Ballotpedia- serves as an initial go-to for candidates & races at all levels:
- Cook Political Report- CPR evaluates races by competitiveness:
- Georgia Public Broadcasting is a state network of PBS member television stations and NPR member radio stations covering local news: GPB Politics | Georgia Public Broadcasting
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a well-respected online newspaper based in Atlanta, Georgia: Georgia Politics from the AJC