By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 6, 2026 | Before you know it in 2026, we’ll be in election season.
You might say we are already. After all, in 2026 candidates must qualify for running for office as early as March 2 and qualifying ends on March 6 at noon. Candidates will have only a little more than two months to campaign, for May 19, the general primary election will be held. Then it will be six months more of campaigning before the General Election on Nov. 3, 2026.
All the state constitutional offices will be voted on this year, meaning there will be open races for governor all the way to the Public Service Commission. Yes, and statewide candidates are always positioning themselves for this clash of personalities. While we can’t believe it will happen, one commentator has thrown out the idea that the year 2026 might be the year that Democrats could return to power in Georgia. We don’t think it will happen that quickly, but at some future date, the Republicans might lose their dominance in Georgia. For sure, we anticipate that Democrats will pick up seats in perhaps both the House and Senate in 2026, but a majority? Probably not yet.
This year? If enough Georgians are frustrated with the antics of President Trump, more Democrats will win. We’ve seen Democrats prevailing in several unlikely states, so it is possible.
On the local front, it’s also the year that a majority of the county commission and two members of the school board will be elected.
Presuming that they will run again, that means that on the ballot will be County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson, District 2 Commissioner Ben Ku and District 4 Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp. For the school board, the seats of members Steve Knudsen and Dr. Adrienne Simmons (the current chair) will be on the ballot this year. Note this, however: the School Board members run in non-partisan races. Note this, however: the School Board members run in non-partisan races.
And that brings us to the county judges, who are also elected during the primary. Judgeships facing the voters in 2026 are:
Superior Court:
- Div. 1, George Hutchinson (open seat); he’s retiring.
- Div. 2, Tracie Cason
- Div. 8, Tim Hamil
- Div. 9, Tracey Mason
- Div. 11, Angela Duncan
State Court:
- Div. 5, Erica Dove
- Div. 4, Ronda Colvin
The Gwinnett constitutional officers also will face voters in 2026. That includes Sheriff Keybo Taylor; Tina P. Garner, clerk of Superior Court; Christopher A. Ballar, probate judge; and Tax Commissioner Denise Mitchell.
Hold on! We’re not finished. Remember that Gwinnett has a combined 31 statehouse representatives and senators (nine senate and 22 house districts). No doubt most will seek-re-election.
Don’t forget a statewide race for a seat in the U.S. Senate, currently held by Democrat Jon Ossoff. And as normal, all U.S. House seats will be open, with the possibilities of some interesting races.
2026 will also see the Congressional mid-term elections, where if the Democrats can take the House of Representatives, the Democrats will put more pressures on Mr. Trump’s policies.
Think that’s all? In November, many of our 17 cities will hold their own city elections, too. All in all, 2026 comes along as quite a political year. Soon you’ll start seeing yard signs.
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