In brief
Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, has declared his candidacy for the governorship in the upcoming 2026 election. Known for opposing Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, Raffensperger's campaign will focus on conservative values, including a bold agenda aimed at law and order. His entry into the race adds intensity to a primary already featuring notable candidates like Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Attorney General Chris Carr. Raffensperger faces challenges from within the Republican Party, including a recent ban on him running under its banner.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state who rejected Donald Trump’s call to help overturn the state’s 2020 election results, announced Wednesday that he is running for governor in 2026.The wealthy engineering entrepreneur aims to resonate with business-focused Republicans who previously dominated GOP primaries in Georgia, while promising a very conservative campaign despite enduring scorn from Trump and his supporters. Raffensperger’s decision intensifies the primary landscape in a state that has seen a continuous line of Republican governors since 2002.In a video announcement, Raffensperger proclaimed, “I’m a conservative Republican, and I’m prepared to make the tough decisions. I follow the law and the Constitution, and I’ll always do the right thing for Georgia no matter what.”Despite facing Trump’s wrath, he won reelection in 2022 but will again test GOP primary voters’ tolerance for a candidate targeted by the former president. His first hurdle may be qualifying for the primary as Georgia’s Republican Party voted in June to effectively exclude him from running under its banner, though the party chairman suggested this decision might be revisited.In addition to Raffensperger, two prominent Republicans are already in the race — Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who declared himself a “duly elected and qualified” elector for Trump in 2020, and Attorney General Chris Carr, who sided with Raffensperger in rejecting the challenges to election results. Other candidates include Clark Dean, Scott Ellison, and Gregg Kirkpatrick.As Raffensperger enters the political fray, he aligns himself with a bold conservative agenda, pledging to eliminate the state income tax, cap property tax for seniors, and curb many progressive policies, including bans on puberty blockers for minors seeking gender-affirming care. He also resurfaces promises to support Trump’s agenda to stimulate job growth and enforce stricter immigration measures.Raffensperger, who has resided within the conservative sphere prior to his rise to national recognition, has developed a strategy to capitalize on voter familiarity and personal funding for his campaign. After selling his concrete reinforcement company in 2023, the 70-year-old is poised to present himself as a steadfast figure regardless of the backlash faced since the contentious electoral period.Reflecting on his tenure, Raffensperger's principled stand has made him a target within political circles, and his upcoming campaign will gauge the evolving dynamics of the Republican electorate in Georgia.
