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ATLANTA — Representative Lucy McBath from Georgia has made the decision to suspend her exploratory campaign for the governorship in 2026, creating a cloud of uncertainty over the Democratic candidate landscape in the state.
While McBath has paused her gubernatorial aspirations, her spokesperson, Jake Orvis, noted that she could still consider running in the future. The congresswoman needs to prioritize her husband Curtis’ health following complications from a recent cancer operation.
A prominent advocate for gun control, McBath holds a four-term congressional seat and initially filed paperwork on March 5 to start fundraising efforts for her potential run for governor.
Despite stepping back from her gubernatorial bid, McBath will continue her work as a congresswoman, as confirmed by her spokesperson.
In Georgia’s political landscape, current Republican Governor Brian Kemp is finishing his second term and will not seek reelection. On the Republican side, Attorney General Chris Carr has already announced his candidacy for the governorship in 2026, while Lt. Governor Burt Jones is anticipated to enter the race as well.
Among the Democrats exploring the possibility of a run are former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Senator Jason Esteves, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. Notably, Democrat Stacey Abrams, who unsuccessfully challenged Kemp in both 2018 and 2022, remains open to a potential third campaign.
McBath first entered Congress in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Karen Handel to claim a seat in Atlanta’s northern suburbs that was once held by Newt Gingrich. After a redistricting process following the 2020 Census, McBath shifted her focus to a primary contest against fellow Democrat Carolyn Bordeaux, which she won decisively. Following further court-ordered redistricting, she was realigned to a district on the western side of Atlanta drawn by Republican interests.
This series of electoral shifts means McBath has represented a diverse and larger constituency than is typical for a member of Congress, potentially positioning her as a formidable candidate in a statewide race.
Similar to Abrams, McBath would be vying to make history as the first Black female governor in any U.S. state.
At 64 years old, McBath gained national recognition as a gun control advocate after her son, Jordan Davis, was tragically killed in 2012 due to gun violence. The incident occurred when a man reacted violently to the music being played by Davis and his friends at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida. McBath, who formerly worked as a flight attendant, has received substantial support for her political initiatives from billionaire and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
She has also championed the passage of a 2022 law aimed at tightening background checks for young gun purchasers, restricting firearm access to certain domestic violence offenders, and enabling the implementation of red flag laws to assist authorities in confiscating weapons from individuals deemed dangerous.
During the 2024 Democratic National Convention, McBath led a group of survivors and family members impacted by gun violence, sharing their experiences in a prominent speaking slot.
Source
abcnews.go.com