Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms Tied in Georgia Race

The Georgia gubernatorial race between Republican nominee Rick Jackson and Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms is a virtual dead heat ahead of the November 3, 2026, election. A Rasmussen poll places Jackson at 48% and Bottoms at 45%, with 7% of voters remaining undecided.

Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive, is self-funding his campaign and has spent nearly $200 million, including a $90 million summer ad blitz. Bottoms has countered with attack ads targeting Jackson's healthcare staffing background and has proposed local grocery tax suspensions. While both candidates support raising teacher salaries, they diverge on tax policy and Medicaid expansion.

Beyond healthcare and affordability, the expansion of industrial data centers has become a central issue, with 70% of voters expressing concern over water and electricity consumption. The candidates are scheduled for their first and only confirmed side-by-side appearance during a live town hall debate hosted by Atlanta News First on October 6.

In a separate contest, incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff maintains a six to nine point lead over Republican challenger Mike Collins. Governor Brian Kemp has formally endorsed Collins and the broader Republican slate.