Powerful Dahlonega state Sen. Steve Gooch jumps into 2026 Georgia lieutenant governor race
Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch and members of the Senate Republican Caucus at the state Capitol in February. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch is looking to become the state's next lieutenant governor. Gooch announced his campaign for the November, 2026 race with a press release Wednesday.
'I'm running for Lieutenant Governor because Georgia deserves bold leadership that will stand up to the insanity of the Democrat Party, protect our families from the invasion of criminal illegal aliens and keep our economy vibrant and strong,' he said in the release. 'I see a Georgia that is the gold standard for our great country — a state that leads the way in securing our borders, stopping violent crime, abolishing the state income tax and defending the values that make America great.'
The Dahlonega Republican has served in the Senate since 2010 and was elected majority leader in 2022. He owns a private environmental services company in Dahlonega.
The lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the governor and presides over the state Senate.
In his announcement, Gooch calls himself a 'die-hard MAGA supporter,' a 'MAGA champion' and a 'consistent and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump' who is 'unapologetically pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-school choice' and will 'proudly stand with President Trump and will continue fighting to restore the greatness of our country.'
Earlier this year, Gooch was lead sponsor of a bill creating a Georgia license plate stamped with 'America First,' a slogan used by Trump. The bill was recently signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
The same American flag design on the license plate tops his campaign website and the letterhead for his press release.
Gooch's only declared Democratic rival, Sandy Springs state Sen. Josh McLaurin, scoffed at the focus on the White House occupant.
'The Majority Leader appears to have made his MAGA license plate bill the centerpiece of his campaign launch. I think that choice makes the point about how the GOP primary is going to go: it's going to be about who can suck up the most to Trump,' he said.
The GOP primary could be a crowded race, with several powerful Senate Republicans reportedly considering runs.
Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy of Macon, Sen. Blake Tillery of Vidalia and Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming are rumored to be on the list of potential candidates. Any candidate will likely face pressure to appear maximally conservative in a party primary likely to attract the most committed Republican voters.
The current lieutenant governor, Jackson Republican Burt Jones, could run for re-election, but with Kemp approaching his term limit, Jones is widely expected to launch a campaign for governor. If he does, he'll join a slate of candidates that is likely to expand but for now includes Republican Attorney General Chris Carr and Atlanta Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves.
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