Lucy McBath Suspends Exploratory Bid for Georgia Governor's Race

The congresswoman cites her husband's health challenges as the reason for pausing her 2026 gubernatorial ambitions while leaving the door open for a future campaign.

• Lucy McBath has suspended her exploratory campaign for the 2026 Georgia governor's race to focus on her husband's recovery from cancer surgery complications.
• McBath has not ruled out a future run for governor and will continue serving as a member of Congress.
• Her decision has created uncertainty in the Democratic field, which includes potential candidates such as Keisha Lance Bottoms, Jason Esteves, and Michael Thurmond.
• McBath first gained national prominence as a gun control advocate following the 2012 death of her son, Jordan Davis, and has been a key Democratic figure since flipping a Republican-held congressional seat in 2018.
• The 2026 Georgia governor's race is shaping up to be highly competitive, with Republican contenders such as Attorney General Chris Carr and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones already positioning themselves to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp.

4 Articles

Roll Call Washington Examiner The Hill