Scratch that? Lucy McBath might not run for Georgia governor after all
GA Dem pauses expected gov run, leaving field in flux
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath on Monday pumped the brakes on her long-expected run for Georgia governor citing her husband’s complications from cancer treatment, adding a fresh layer of uncertainty to the upcoming race for the state’s top job.
McBath was the first major Democrat to begin setting up an exploratory committee and was expected to follow up with a full-scale campaign launch as soon as this month. But she said Monday that her husband’s prognosis from a recent surgery will be lengthier than initially thought, forcing her to reevaluate her unannounced 2026 bid.
“It’s a hard decision. It’s a really difficult decision to make. And right now I can’t make the decision on whether or not to run for governor,” McBath said in an interview. “I’ve always said my priorities should be where I’m supposed to be. And that’s helping my husband.”
The expectation that McBath would seek the governorship had already sparked interest in her firmly Democratic 6th district, leaving behind a coveted open seat in west metro Atlanta that might not come again for at least the next decade. State Sen. Sonya Halpern was among the Democrats to express early interest in running for the seat. But the incumbent emphasized that she has no plans to leave Congress while her husband seeks treatment.
A retired Delta flight attendant, McBath first found her political footing as a gun control activist following the murder of her teenaged son. Elected in 2018 to represent an affluent north Atlanta district, the 64-year-old has since represented different parts of the metro area due to Republican-led redistricting.
McBath’s team was hoping that her universal name recognition and compelling backstory would give her a leg up over other possible contenders, which include former Atlanta Mayor and Biden White House alum Keisha Lance Bottoms and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. Two-time gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams also has not closed the door on a third run.
But while Democrats find themselves back at square one, the Republican race to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp is already underway. Attorney General Chris Carr announced his bid last November and has since raised over $2 million. And with the state legislature wrapping up business for the year, we could be just days away from seeing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones jump into the contest — likely with a high-profile endorsement.
As for McBath, she gave no indication on when supporters can expect a final decision, leaving the Democratic field in flux.