Nov 3, 2026 · deadline
Voters choose governors in six major open-seat races, including California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, and Georgia
Six major governorships open due to term limits in 2026: California (Gavin Newsom termed out), Florida (Ron DeSantis termed out), Michigan (Gretchen Whitmer termed out), Ohio (Mike DeWine termed out), Georgia (Brian Kemp termed out), and potentially Texas if Greg Abbott retires. Of 36 total governor races, Sabato''s Crystal Ball rates Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin as genuine toss-ups heading into the general election. Democrats already flipped Virginia''s governorship in November 2025 with Abigail Spanberger''s win. Republicans hold 26 governorships entering the cycle; Democrats hold 24.
May 19, 2026 · deadline
Georgia holds primary election for governor, with open seat after Kemp is term-limited
Georgia holds its primary election on May 19, 2026, for governor and other offices. Brian Kemp is term-limited. Democrats swept two Public Service Commission seats in Georgia by more than 25 percentage points in November 2025, raising the prospect of the governorship flipping. The race is rated a toss-up by Sabato''s Crystal Ball as of March 2026. Georgia also hosts a competitive U.S. Senate race where Jon Ossoff defends a seat in a state Trump won in 2024.
May 10, 2026 · political
Carter calls for Georgia special session to redraw maps, delay House primaries
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter publishes an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explicitly calling for a special session to redraw congressional maps and delay Georgia's House primaries if necessary.
Carter writes: \"Call a special session. Redraw the maps. Delay the House primaries if needed. Keep statewide races on track. Get it done.\"
May 2, 2026 · political
Georgia Gov. Kemp declines to delay May 19 primary for redistricting, deferring new maps to 2028
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announces on May 2, 2026, that he will not call a special session to redistrict Georgia's congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, in contrast to neighboring Alabama and Tennessee. Kemp says that with early voting already underway, disrupting the May 19 primary would be impractical, but adds that the Callais ruling "requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle." Kemp's decision is notable given that Trump's political allies had lobbied him directly. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster also announces he does not anticipate calling a special session, despite Trump pressure. The two holdouts undermine Trump's goal of maximizing GOP seat gains in the South for 2026.
May 1, 2026 · political
Rep. Buddy Carter calls on Georgia legislature to delay House primaries and redraw congressional maps
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) publishes an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explicitly calling for Georgia's Republican-controlled legislature to convene a special session to redraw the state's congressional maps and delay House primary elections if necessary. \"Call a special session. Redraw the maps. Delay the House primaries if needed. Keep statewide races on track. Get it done,\" Carter writes.
All five of Georgia's Democratic-held congressional seats are majority-Black by population. Gov. Brian Kemp pushes back the same day, saying Georgia will not attempt to redraw maps for the 2026 cycle because early voting has already begun, though he says the Callais ruling \"requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle.\"
Carter's op-ed represents the most explicit public call by a Georgia elected official to use the Callais ruling to disrupt the ongoing primary election cycle and eliminate Democratic majority-minority districts.
