A total 537 people signed up to run in May 19 partisan primaries for the 236 seats in the Georgia House and Senate, where decisions are made on tax rates, health care access, gun laws, data centers, environmental protection and more.
That number of 537 is an increase from the last qualifying period for state legislative seats in 2024, when 450 candidates were approved to contest 236 seats.
Here’s what we can tell you so far about the latest set of candidates:
Both parties are contesting most Georgia races
Republicans hold a bare majority in both the state House and Senate. But most of the candidates this year are Democrats, who are keen to return to the majority in both chambers — a status they haven’t held in more than a generation. They have fielded 308 candidates.
About two-thirds of seats are contested by both parties. The remaining third will be contested by only one party or by just one candidate. A total of 53 candidates won’t face any opposition.
Most Georgia legislators want to return to their seats next year
About 86% of state House and Senate 236 members are running for reelection, which brings with it the advantages of incumbency, such as name recognition and campaign money left over from the last election.
