Former Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, who switched to the Democratic Party after clashing with Trump and the Make America Great Again movement, said he is the only gubernatorial candidate capable of building the coalition Democrats need to flip the position.
The Governorship has not been held by a Democrat in Georgia since Roy Barnes left office in 2003.
Democrats are ready to win in 2026, and so am I. I am the only one in this race who can build the coalition we Democrats need to take back the Governor’s Office for the first time in nearly 3 decades. pic.twitter.com/VvEkZ6oFlB
— Geoff Duncan (@GeoffDuncanGA) April 23, 2026
"I think Democrats are tired of getting second place trophies. They know they can't solve a single problem or have a single area of focus," Duncan said. "I'm focused on meeting Georgians where they're at: the affordability crisis, the healthcare crisis and the Donald Trump crisis."
He also emphasized the benefits of having held the lieutenant governorship before, saying he can show up on the first day ready to work because he won't have to learn the ropes of the position.
"This whole country has been whipsawed in every direction," he said. "I think Georgians want to see adults in the room show back up and start making decisions."
He said appealing to both sides of the aisle is the key to a Democrat win, with softening the majorities in Congress a key goal.
"The only way to win an election, a governorship, in Georgia is to get more than the base," Duncan said. "I'm building that coalition every day."
The primaries for both parties are scheduled for May 19, with early voting starting Monday, April 27. Keisha Lance Bottoms holds the lead in the Democratic Primary above Duncan, according to the most recent polls.
