Democrat Seeks to Break 27-Year Republican Streak in Georgia Governor's Race

Strategic Insights -

A twenty-seven-year streak of Republican control in the Georgia governor's office and the Georgia General Assembly may be about to come to an end, as former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan announces his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. Duncan, a former Republican who switched to the Democratic Party last year, is running on a platform of expanding abortion access and reversing the state's six-week ban on abortions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Geoff Duncan, a former Lt. Gov. of Georgia, is running for the Democratic nomination for governor, aiming to break the 27-year Republican streak in the state.
  • Duncan was a vocal critic of President Trump and the MAGA wing of the Republican Party, and was expelled from the Georgia Republican Party.
  • As governor, Duncan would sign an executive order clarifying doctors' ability to provide care to pregnant women without fear of prosecution and introduce legislation repealing the state's six-week ban on abortions.
  • Duncan has been a vocal supporter of expanding abortion access, and has spoken at the Democratic National Convention in support of former Vice President Kamala Harris.
  • Other Democratic gubernatorial candidates have responded to Duncan's announcement, with some criticizing his past support for conservative measures and his early backing of the Heartbeat Bill.

Statistics:

  • The last Democrat to win a Georgia governor's race was Roy Barnes in 1998.
  • Georgia has been under Republican control for governor and the Georgia General Assembly for 27 years.
  • 34% of Georgia voters identify as Democrats, 31% as Republicans, and 35% as independents (Source: Pew Research Center).
  • 64% of Georgians believe that abortion should be legal in most or all cases (Source: Public Policy Polling).

Sources:

  • Axios: "Georgia Republican Party expels Geoff Duncan"
  • The Atlanta Voice: "Georgia Republican Party expels Duncan"
  • AJC: "From Republican LT. Gov. To Democrat: My Neighbor Is Easier Now"
  • Axios: "Trump calls former Georgia Lt. Gov. a 'total loser' after switching to Democratic Party"
  • Fox News: "Trump calls former Georgia Lt. Gov. a 'total loser'"