ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� Four years ago, Democrat Stacey Abrams commanded the spotlight with her campaign for Georgia governor, dumping millions of dollars into the race as the media followed her every move.
But there is little of that energy so far in 2026. Even though Democrats may have a better shot at winning, there is far less attention and money as their candidates compete for the nomination in next month’s primary.
Their struggles raise the possibility that the Democrats could miss another chance to win the Georgia governor’s office for the first time since 1998.
National Democrats say they are not going to let that happen. Kentucky , who leads the Democratic Governors Association, said Georgia is 鈥渋n play鈥� and the money will be there for the party’s eventual nominee.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to make sure the Democratic candidate in Georgia has the funding they need to compete,鈥� Beshear told The Associated Press on Saturday as he visited Atlanta to keynote a party dinner.
While Republicans have flooded the state with nearly $100 million in advertising, Democrats have spent only $1.24 million. Most observers believe no Democrat will win a majority in the rapidly approaching May 19 primary, prolonging the party’s uncertainty.
Former Atlanta could be headed toward a June 16 runoff, thanks to superior name identification and being the only Black woman running in a party that has historically relied on support from Black women. But the scramble for a second spot appears wide-open, with likely contenders including former Republican , former state and former state labor commissioner and CEO of suburban DeKalb County .
Democrat could face big Republican money
On the Republican side, health care billionaire or pledged $50 million toward his bid, twice as much as any previous primary candidate for Georgia governor. There is also , who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump; ; and .
It is a contrast to 2022, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. She ended up , her second defeat to Kemp.
But Democrats say they are not worried this year even if they are outspent.
鈥淚’ll still win,鈥� Bottoms said after a campaign event Monday, echoing other Democrats who say money can’t paper over voter discontent with Republicans.
She argues that she is a 鈥渂attle-tested leader鈥� who gained national experience in President Joe Biden’s administration. Like other Democrats, she cites expanding health care, affordable housing and better education as among her top issues.
鈥淲hen given the opportunity to lead, I led on behalf of not just the city of Atlanta, but people across the state, and I am ready to go and fight for all of our communities to make Georgia a better place for our children,鈥� Bottoms said Wednesday.
The Democratic race doesn鈥檛 feature notable policy splits along the lines of the that have opened around the country. It is not even a like in the Texas Senate primary that over Jasmine Crockett. Only Esteves, who started nearly unknown statewide, has been willing to attack the other candidates.
The noncombative nature of the other candidates was on display Wednesday night in a televised debate that included only Bottoms, Duncan and Thurmond. Duncan made only the most oblique criticisms of Bottoms’ record as mayor. After Thurmond blamed Duncan for supporting a bill allowing people to , he said in a postdebate interview that the criticism wasn’t aimed at Duncan directly.
Esteves tries to go from unknown to contender
Esteves is banking on a late surge to propel him to the runoff. He has spent about $1 million on a burst of advertising, the only significant spending by any Democrat thus far. The 42-year-old, who is Black and Puerto Rican, argues he can build the 鈥渕ultiracial, multigenerational coalition” needed to win the young and diverse electorate in Georgia.
He often references his experience as a middle school teacher and small business owner in addition to his time as a lawyer, school board member and state senator.
鈥淎 lot of the challenges that Georgians are facing, I am facing in real time,鈥� Esteves said in a Wednesday interview. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking for someone who not only wants to solve their issues, but can identify personally with their issues.鈥�
Esteves is the only Democrat attacking Bottoms on how she managed crime, disorder and the COVID pandemic as mayor before her surprise decision not .
鈥淭he fact that she did not run for reelection confirmed people鈥檚 belief that when the going gets tough, she stepped out on the city,鈥� Esteves said.
Bottoms defends her stewardship and says she declined to run again 鈥渂ased on what was best for me personally and my family.”
Esteves has also repeatedly taken aim at Duncan, saying Duncan 鈥渙versaw some of the passage of the worst bills鈥� while lieutenant governor, including Georgia鈥檚 after fetal cardiac activity is detected. Although dozens of state lawmakers are backing Esteves, his top surrogate has been Shanette Williams, the mother of Amber Nicole Thurman, a woman who in 2022 after taking abortion pills and developing an infection.
New Democrat Duncan seeks 鈥榯rust鈥�
Duncan is best known for his 2020 election loss to Biden. He has spent the past year and argues he is the only Democrat who can win over enough moderate voters to give his new party a win. In recent weeks, Duncan has begun to pick up some endorsements from moderate Democrats and unions.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to only earn your vote, I want to earn your trust,鈥� Duncan said in Wednesday night’s debate.
Thurmond calls himself a 鈥渢hrowback鈥� and says his experience in state and local government, including leading the state child welfare agency, serving as labor commissioner and helping to bail out the DeKalb County school district as superintendent, would let him move quickly to enact Democratic priorities.
鈥淚 have a track record of service to the people of Georgia, and I believe this election would turn not on promises, but on performance,鈥� Thurmond said in an interview after Wednesday’s debate.
He has been trying to knit together a coalition of rural voters and older Democrats. Among those backing him are Roy Barnes, the last Democratic governor, and Andrew Young, the former mayor of Atlanta and one of the last surviving leaders of the 1960s Civil Rights movement. ___ A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Jason Esteves’ father is Puerto Rican and his mother was Black. His father is Puerto Rican and Black, while his mother was Puerto Rican.
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