Exclusive: Ex-statehouse Dem leader explores statewide run ahead of 2026
Bob Trammell served as House minority leader from 2017-2020
A former state House Democratic leader took the formal steps Tuesday to explore a political comeback ahead of the 2026 election.
Robert Trammell, who led House Democrats from 2017 until his defeat for re-election in 2020, filed paperwork to explore a run for attorney general — an office being vacated by incumbent Chris Carr, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.
Trammell, a lawyer from West Georgia, was a state representative for a single term before ascending to the helm of House Democrats. After Leader Stacey Abrams resigned to focus on her 2018 race for governor, the soft-spoken rural lawyer edged out one of her top deputies to become the leader of an increasingly urban caucus.
Trammell stood out as a rural white Democrat in a caucus increasingly dominated by Black lawmakers from metro Atlanta. This, along with his close margins in his Republican-leaning district, made him a frequent target of GOP-affiliated outside groups. He eventually lost his re-election bid in 2020 to Republican David Jenkins.
A run for attorney general would be Trammell’s first statewide campaign, though he offered no timetable for a potential campaign launch in a statement.
“I'm deeply concerned about protecting our future for our families, our livelihoods, and our rights,” he said. “Establishing an exploratory committee for Attorney General is an essential step in considering the right path forward to protect all Georgians. This is a time for deep and prayerful consideration. As a practicing lawyer, I've always believed the most important tool we have is a listening ear, and that principle will guide me during this exploratory process.”
Trammell is the first known Democrat to express interest in the contest. Jen Jordan, the party’s 2022 nominee for the post, is unlikely to run again, according to people with knowledge of her plans.
Republicans, meanwhile, have at least two state senators to choose from — Brian Strickland, a Henry County native who chairs the powerful judiciary committee, and Bill Cowsert, a former Senate leader from Athens and one of the chamber’s most senior Republicans (not to mention, a brother-in-law to outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp).