Former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) is weighing a potential bid for Georgia governor in 2026. However, this time around, he would not be under the Republican banner. In a striking political turn, the former lt. governor told the Politically Georgia podcast that he is seriously considering running as a Democrat.
The change in party comes from deep disillusionment with the modern Republican Party and President Donald Trump (R).
“I’m certainly not going to run as a Republican. I’ve given up on them as much as they’ve given up on me,” he said during the podcast appearance. The former lt. governor has been an outspoken critic of the president since the 2020 election. He previously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris (D) for president in 2024 and even addressed the Democratic National Convention last year.
His frustration extends beyond the president, however. “From the right, I’ve got everybody embracing Donald Trump and that’s just an unacceptable strategy for me for a number of reasons,” he said, criticizing the GOP-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act as “an abomination of any sort of conservative values.”
Though he hasn’t made a formal decision, he acknowledged that he's receiving encouragement from across the political spectrum.
“I’ve certainly heard the rumor. And I’m certainly fielding phone calls from folks across the state that are asking the same question,” he said of a potential campaign.
He ruled out an independent run, citing the difficulty of getting on the statewide ballot. But he left the door open to a Democratic candidacy if the party would have him. “If given the opportunity to be taken seriously by the Democrats and have an opportunity to shift the platform, I’d certainly think about it,” he said.
The former lt. governor has pitched a “Main Street Democrat” identity, focused on economic issues and affordability.
