Oregon and Georgia Report Surge in Midterm Voter Turnout
Voters in Oregon and Georgia are turning out in historic numbers for the 2026 midterms, creating highly competitive races for governor and legislative seats.
Voter participation for the 2026 midterm elections has surged in both Oregon and Georgia, with early numbers suggesting turnout may exceed previous midterm cycles.
In Oregon, nearly 40% of voters had cast ballots by October 30. Tommy Gong, the Lane County Clerk, stated that voter interest and participation currently resemble a presidential election more than a gubernatorial one. Projections indicate turnout will surpass the 70% rate recorded in 2022. While Democratic incumbent Tina Kotek is favored to defeat Republican challenger Christine Drazan for governor, Democratic incumbent Val Hoyle is expected to maintain his U.S. House seat against Republican Monique DeSpain.
Georgia has also seen historic early voting, with the Secretary of State of Georgia reporting more than 2.8 million accepted ballots as of November 1. This 37.5% turnout, concentrated heavily in Atlanta and its suburbs, has tightened the gubernatorial race between Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms. In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Jon Ossoff holds a commanding lead over Republican Mike Collins. The high participation levels have raised the possibility of Democrats flipping the Georgia House of Representatives, which may prompt Governor Brian Kemp to convene a post-election special session before January.
