Former Georgia lieutenant governor — Republican turned Democrat — considering governor’s run

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Geoff Duncan, who recently made national headlines when he switched political parties, has confirmed he is considering making a Georgia gubernatorial run.

“We’re thinking about it,” Duncan said in an exclusive interview with On The Record With Atlanta News First, which airs Sunday, Aug. 24, at 11 a.m. “We haven’t made any firm decisions.

“There are issues after issues that I’ve got a track record of wanting to work on. I’m going to be honest and authentic and certainly I’m going to be a more moderate individual than probably other folks that are going to run for governor in 2026, if that’s a decision we make.”

If Duncan does enter the race, he would join five other Democrats who are seeking their party’s gubernatorial nomination: former state Labor Commissioner and DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond; state Sen. Jason Esteves; state Rep. Derrick Jackson; former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; and businessman/pastor Olu Brown.

All are minority candidates with strong ties to Atlanta.

Earlier this month, Duncan - who had already been expelled from the Georgia GOP - said he has officially joined the Democratic Party of Georgia.

Duncan’s party switch comes in a state that President Donald Trump lost in 2020 by only a few thousand votes, and one that he handily returned to the GOP column in 2024 on his way to an unprecedented return to the White House.

Duncan was Georgia’s 12th lieutenant governor, serving from 2019-23; he chose not to run for reelection in 2024, which cleared the way for then-state Sen. Burt Jones to ascend to office. Jones is now running for Georgia governor, seeking to succeed the term-limited Brian Kemp in next year’s nationally watched gubernatorial election.

Duncan was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2013-17. He played professional baseball for six years after playing college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, until a shoulder injury ended his career.

After leaving office, Duncan became a political commentator for CNN. He has been openly critical of Trump regarding the 2020 presidential election.

Last year, Duncan delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

In January 2025, the Georgia Republican Party’s executive committee passed a resolution to expel Duncan from the state party.

Besides Jones, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is also running for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Trump endorsed Jones earlier this month.

Watch On the Record With Atlanta News First every Sunday at 11 a.m. on Atlanta News First and its streaming platforms.

Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.

Atlanta News First podcasts are available now on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | YouTube