In a closely watched 2026 midterm in Georgia, even down-ballot legislative races are already abuzz

File The general voting is still more than a year away but plenty of hats are being thrown into the proverbial ring to run for U S senator Georgia governor and other top positions But there are other smaller proverbial rings into which more modest hats are also already being tossed All seats in the state House and all in the state Senate will be up for grabs on ballots around the state and the results will shape what laws Peach Staters live under in and beyond as well as the partisan makeup under the Gold Dome At this moment the House includes Republicans and Democrats and the Senate has Republicans and Democrats Official qualifying doesn t begin until the spring but here s a look at various of the candidates who have already declared their intentions to run or filed paperwork with the Georgia Ethics Commission s campaign finance system Replacements for senators seeking higher office Sen John F Kennedy Ross Williams Georgia Recorder Expect to see plenty of new faces in the Senate in particular as ambitious senators shoot their shots at positions of greater power That includes President Pro Tem John F Kennedy of Macon who is stepping down in the hopes of upgrading his title to lieutenant governor Two Republicans have filed paperwork so far to run for Kennedy s seat Former state Rep Lauren Daniel who was defeated in her GOP primary by now-state Rep Noelle Kahaian of Locust Grove is set to face off against attorney Steven McNeel In a post on social media Daniel styled herself as a committed backer of conservative causes In a custom where traditional values are under attack from the radical left and various politicians are afraid to fight I am willing to do just that she disclosed As a staunch conservative mother of four and unabashed supporter of the America First policies championed by President Trump I believe I can represent middle Georgia in an effective way without compromising our values McNeel was not instantly available for comment but according to his bio on the website for the law firm where he works he has a degree in political science from the University of Georgia is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and specializes in bodily injury wrongful death workers compensation and Social Assurance disability law Sen Emanuel Jones Ross Williams Georgia Recorder Two Democrats have filed paperwork to replace Decatur Democratic Sen Emanuel Jones who is among the Democrats challenging Congressman David Scott next year Larry Johnson a former longtime DeKalb County commissioner declared on his website that he hopes to bring his experience leadership and bold vision to Georgia fighting for better schools economic justice and stronger communities But before he can do that he ll need to defeat Kate Denny a nurse and mom from Avondale Estates who garnered attention when she pressed U S Sen Jon Ossoff to do more to oppose President Donald Trump at an April town hall Denny noted she plans to make a formal announcement in the coming days and hit the campaign trail early speaking to voters about kitchen table issues I care deeply about the things that we all care about in this district housing robustness care childcare wages everything that will help all of us come together and elevate ourselves and our neighbors she noted Other notable Senate candidates Rep Will Wade a Dawsonville Republican is seeking to move across the Capitol with a run to replace Dahlonega Republican Sen Steve Gooch who is running for lieutenant governor Lumpkin County Commission Chair Chris Dockery and Dawson County business owner Douglas Sherill have both released plans to run for Wade s seat in the House Sandy Springs Democratic Sen Josh McLaurin has revealed plans to run for lieutenant governor and so far two Republicans have filed paperwork to run for his seat Michael Dvorscak who works in commercial real estate and financial analyst Carson McQueen McLaurin won his seat in with of the vote He didn t have a Republican opponent in Four Republican candidates have filed paperwork to replace Athens Republican Sen Bill Cowsert Michael Broun an attorney at Cowsert s law firm Oconee County Republican Steven Todd Strickland Marc McMain a small business owner and former Walton County GOP Chair and Doug McKillip who previously served in the House as a Democrat and later as a Republican Bret Dunn a former Marine Corps captain and judge advocate general is the sole candidate so far seeking to replace Sen Brian Strickland who is running for attorney general Toombs County Commission Chairman David Sikes is the only one so far to file paperwork for a bid for the seat of Sen Blake Tillery who has filed paperwork to run for lieutenant governor but not officially launched a campaign Whose House Rep Farooq Mughal file photo Ross Williams Georgia Recorder In the House a high-profile grudge match and a race between a -year incumbent and a reality TV dentist could be shaping up to be top races to watch Buford Republican state Rep Sandy Donatucci won her seat by a hair in with more than votes cast she won by just votes over the Democratic incumbent former Rep Farooq Mughal But Mughal is hoping to mount a comeback he officially launched his campaign earlier this month and Democrats are hoping distaste with the party in the White House will help his chances in the swingingest of Georgia s swing districts Economic uncertainty and Trump s reckless tariff policies are straining Georgia businesses Rising healthcare costs and the consequences of Georgia s extreme abortion ban are harming our families Mughal announced in a announcement We need a representative who understands how to bring home support for safer schools stronger neighborhoods and to protect our quality of life from overdevelopment and corporate land grabs I believe in putting people over politics and delivering real solutions for our region State Rep Sandy Donatucci a Buford Republican was one of the new lawmakers sworn in on the first day of the legislative session Monday Jill Nolin Georgia Recorder Donatucci a sales professional and military spouse has pitched herself as a common-sense Republican who will focus on improving the financial market and boosting constituents safety My promise to the people of House District was to stand up for what is best for our families reads a announcement on her website At the State Capitol I am working to bring a common-sense approach to the challenges that we all face Together I know we can find solutions to secure a safer and more prosperous future for our families and group Lithonia Democratic Rep Doreen Carter who was sworn into office in could be facing a challenge from Dr Heavenly Kimes a dentist and one of the stars of Married to Medicine on Bravo The reality TV show follows the lives of Kimes and other women medicinal professionals in Atlanta Numerous incumbents from both parties are set to face challengers in their party primaries and in the November general For now particular of them are just bracing for it including Sandy Springs Democratic Rep Esther Panitch who in a fundraising post on social media revealed she expects a primary challenger to mount a campaign rooted in far-left ideology For the most of part the incumbents will be at a strong advantage but one race House Democrats could be sweating is the one for House District represented by Sandersville Democrat Mack Jackson Jackson survived one of s squeakiest squeakers Jackson surpassed Republican challenger Tracy Wheeler by votes out of more than votes cast So far one Republican may have eyes to squeak past Jackson in Thomas Wilkerson of Warrenton has filed paperwork to run for the House in District The post In a closely watched midterm in Georgia even down-ballot legislative races are already abuzz appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta