“State Sen. Jason Esteves might not yet be a household name in Georgia politics, but you could be hearing plenty more about him over the next year.
The Atlanta Democrat is taking steps to prepare a campaign for governor in 2026. He’s lined up advisers, consulted with senior Democrats and set up meetings with activists and donors about a potential bid.
Esteves is staying mum for now about his plans, but his discussions are such an open secret that we regularly get calls about them. Even some Republicans are in the know.
“He is far and away the most electable of the potential Democratic candidates who have been mentioned,” said Jay Morgan, a former Georgia GOP executive director and well-connected lobbyist who has been briefed on the Democrat’s plans.
He said Esteves has all the positive attributes that made two-time gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams a national figure but “without the guile.”
Esteves won his Georgia Senate seat in 2022 after spending nine years on the board of education of Atlanta Public Schools, including as chair from 2018-2021. He’s a steadfast supporter of abortion rights and Medicaid expansion and has become a go-to expert in the chamber on education measures.
He could be a wild card in an unsettled field to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp. While the Republican race seems likely to revolve around a matchup between Attorney General Chris Carr and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Democrats are far more uncertain.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and ex-DeKalb chief executive Michael Thurmond are kicking the tires on a run. U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, could also jump in, and Abrams hasn’t ruled out a third shot.
Expect Esteves to work to raise his profile.
Today, he plans to renew his calls to update the state’s decades-old school funding formula and push back on President Donald Trump’s vow to eliminate the federal Department of Education.
I googled Esteves and I’m good. He seems like an A+ choice and looks like the kind of guy you could have a beer with. McBath is always the #1 choice but maybe we could afford to save her for another cycle. Let’s be real, we will lose one of those Senate seats someday. It’s inevitable in a red state that’s still trying to swing.
If we can move on from depending on Stacey Abrams for another gubernatorial run, I'm willing to consider either Esteves or McBath.
I'm not ready to assert it's inevitable that one of the Senate seats will go red just yet. For starters, Trump beat Harris in GA but by 2.87% points less than he did with Clinton back in 2016. Not arguing it's going to be a walk in the park for Jon Ossoff in 2026 but Trump's GA win in 2024 isn't exactly remarkable.
Georgia Democratic State Senator Jason Esteves preparing for a potential run for governor in 2026
https://www.ajc.com/politics/politically-georgia/jason-esteves-preparing-for-a-potential-run-for-governor-in-2026/QTDYNPH6UBBKXJBDYKDSVKC47Q/
“State Sen. Jason Esteves might not yet be a household name in Georgia politics, but you could be hearing plenty more about him over the next year.
The Atlanta Democrat is taking steps to prepare a campaign for governor in 2026. He’s lined up advisers, consulted with senior Democrats and set up meetings with activists and donors about a potential bid.
Esteves is staying mum for now about his plans, but his discussions are such an open secret that we regularly get calls about them. Even some Republicans are in the know.
“He is far and away the most electable of the potential Democratic candidates who have been mentioned,” said Jay Morgan, a former Georgia GOP executive director and well-connected lobbyist who has been briefed on the Democrat’s plans.
He said Esteves has all the positive attributes that made two-time gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams a national figure but “without the guile.”
Esteves won his Georgia Senate seat in 2022 after spending nine years on the board of education of Atlanta Public Schools, including as chair from 2018-2021. He’s a steadfast supporter of abortion rights and Medicaid expansion and has become a go-to expert in the chamber on education measures.
He could be a wild card in an unsettled field to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp. While the Republican race seems likely to revolve around a matchup between Attorney General Chris Carr and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Democrats are far more uncertain.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and ex-DeKalb chief executive Michael Thurmond are kicking the tires on a run. U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, could also jump in, and Abrams hasn’t ruled out a third shot.
Expect Esteves to work to raise his profile.
Today, he plans to renew his calls to update the state’s decades-old school funding formula and push back on President Donald Trump’s vow to eliminate the federal Department of Education.
He or McBath are way stronger than Thurman or Bottoms.
McBath has been battle tested in a competitive House district. Could become a credible gubernatorial candidate.
I googled Esteves and I’m good. He seems like an A+ choice and looks like the kind of guy you could have a beer with. McBath is always the #1 choice but maybe we could afford to save her for another cycle. Let’s be real, we will lose one of those Senate seats someday. It’s inevitable in a red state that’s still trying to swing.
If we can move on from depending on Stacey Abrams for another gubernatorial run, I'm willing to consider either Esteves or McBath.
I'm not ready to assert it's inevitable that one of the Senate seats will go red just yet. For starters, Trump beat Harris in GA but by 2.87% points less than he did with Clinton back in 2016. Not arguing it's going to be a walk in the park for Jon Ossoff in 2026 but Trump's GA win in 2024 isn't exactly remarkable.