Former Republican Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan Runs as Democrat for Governor

May 18, 2026

Former Republican Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan is running for governor as a Democrat, a move following his opposition to Donald Trump's 2020 election claims. Duncan, who faced death threats and was excommunicated by the state GOP, has reversed his stance on abortion and now faces a primary led by Keisha Lance Bottoms. His candidacy tests whether a former Trump critic can find a new home in the Democratic party.

Duncan's Democratic gubernatorial candidacy

▪The Democratic primary in Georgia is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
▪In 2024, Geoff Duncan campaigned for Kamala Harris and spoke at the Democratic national convention.
▪Geoff Duncan, a former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, is running for governor as a Democrat.

Trump opposition consequences

▪Geoff Duncan rejected Donald Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election.
▪Duncan and Georgia's Republican Governor Brian Kemp refused Donald Trump's demands to set aside the 2020 election results.
▪Geoff Duncan testified in the Georgia racketeering case which brought criminal charges against Donald Trump and his allies.
▪Duncan testified that his family received death threats and public harassment after Donald Trump lied about him on Twitter.

Republican party expulsion

▪Georgia Republican party officials have expunged records of Geoff Duncan's past nominations to elected offices.
▪The Georgia GOP has barred Geoff Duncan from attending Republican events or entering party-owned property.
▪Duncan stated the Republican Party is "gone" and "there will be nothing left when Donald Trump's done with it."

Georgia party-switching history

▪Georgia had an unbroken line of Democratic governors from the Reconstruction era until 2002.
▪In 2002, Sonny Perdue, who had switched from Democrat to Republican in 1998, was elected governor of Georgia.

Policy reversals on abortion

▪Duncan stated he was "wrong to think a room full of legislators knew better than millions of women on the issue" of abortion.
▪Geoff Duncan also now supports expanding Medicaid access in Georgia.
▪Duncan has pledged to reverse the 2019 "heartbeat law," which he previously helped pass, that outlaws most abortions after about six weeks.

Democratic primary competition

▪The Republican primary for governor includes billionaire Rick Jason, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.
▪State representative Ruwa Romman criticized Duncan, stating he helped pass the same laws he now opposes.
▪Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor and Biden official, leads the Democratic primary for Georgia governor.