2026 Georgia Supreme Court election
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May 19, 2026
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| Elections in Georgia |
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The 2026 Georgia Supreme Court election was held on May 19, 2026, to elect three justices to the Supreme Court of Georgia. The elections are officially nonpartisan, though candidates may receive the support of political parties.
Since 1896, justices on the Supreme Court and judges on the Court of Appeals have been directly elected in statewide elections. Judicial elections were made non-partisan in 1983. Elections for nonpartisan state judgeships have been held on the date of the legislative primary since 2012, and were previously held on the general election ballot in November during even-numbered years.
Two of the three seats up for election are being contested by multiple candidates.
Campaign
[edit]Incumbent conservative justices Charlie Bethel and Sarah Warren, both appointed by former Republican governor Nathan Deal, are being challenged by liberal candidates Miracle Rankin and Jen Jordan respectively.[1] The election being held in the immediate aftermath of the Louisiana v. Callais decision, both liberal candidates have made voting rights central themes of their campaigns, with abortion rights, particularly their opposition to Georgia's six week abortion ban, also receiving attention. Incumbent justice Benjamin Land, appointed by Republican governor Brian Kemp, is running for his seat unopposed. No incumbent justice on the Georgia Supreme Court has lost re-election in over 100 years.[2][3]
Bethel seat
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Charlie Bethel, incumbent justice[4]
- Miracle Rankin, personal injury attorney[1]
Endorsements
[edit]Charlie Bethel
- Federal officials
- BJay Pak, former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia (2017–2021) (Republican)[5]
- Statewide officials
- Nathan Deal, former governor of Georgia (2011–2019) (Republican)[5]
- Brian Kemp, governor of Georgia (2019–present) (Republican)[6]
- Harold Melton, former supreme court chief justice (2018–2021) and associate justice (2005–2021) (Republican)[5]
- State senators
- Jason Carter, former state senator from the 42nd district (2010–2015) (Democratic)[5]
- Individuals
- Ashleigh Merchant, criminal defense attorney[5]
- Organizations
Miracle Rankin
- Federal officials
- Kamala Harris, former Vice President of the United States (2021–2025) (Democratic)[8]
- Eric Holder, former United States Attorney General (2009–2015) (Democratic)[9]
- Barack Obama, former President of the United States (2009–2017) (Democratic)[10]
- U.S. Senators
- Jon Ossoff, Georgia (2021–present) (Democratic)[6]
- Individuals
- Charlie Bailey, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia (2025–present)[6]
- Organizations
- EMILYs List[11]
- End Citizens United[12]
- Fair Fight Action[13]
- Georgia AFL-CIO[8]
- Georgia Conservation Voters[14]
- Georgia Equality[15]
- Georgia Federation of Democratic Women[12]
- Georgia National Organization for Women[7]
- Indivisible Cobb, North Metro Atlanta, Savannah, and Sweetwater[12]
- March On PAC[12]
- National Democratic Redistricting Committee[12]
- Planned Parenthood Votes[16]
- Reproductive Freedom for All[17]
- Service Employees International Union[14]
- UFCW Local 1996[12]
- Political parties
- Democratic Party of Georgia[14]
- Clayton County Democrats[12]
- Emanuel County Democratic Committee[12]
- Floyd County Democrats[12]
- Fulton County Democrats[18]
- Hall County Democratic Party[12]
- Muscogee County Democratic Committee[12]
- Pickens County Democratic Committee[12]
Results
[edit]
Bethel
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
Rankin
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Bethel (incumbent) | 990,743 | 51.11 | |
| Miracle Rankin | 947,697 | 48.89 | |
| Total votes | 1,938,440 | 100.00 | |
Warren seat
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Jen Jordan, former state senator from the 6th district (2017–2023) and Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2022[19]
- Sarah Warren, incumbent justice[4]
Endorsements
[edit]Jen Jordan
- Federal officials
- Kamala Harris, former Vice President of the United States (2021–2025) (Democratic)[8]
- Eric Holder, former United States Attorney General (2009–2015) (Democratic)[9]
- Barack Obama, former President of the United States (2009–2017) (Democratic)[10]
- U.S. Senators
- Jon Ossoff, Georgia (2021–present) (Democratic)[6]
- Individuals
- Charlie Bailey, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia (2025–present)[6]
- Organizations
- EMILYs List[11]
- End Citizens United[12]
- Fair Fight Action[13]
- Georgia AFL-CIO[8]
- Georgia Conservation Voters[14]
- Georgia Equality[15]
- Georgia Federation of Democratic Women[12]
- Georgia National Organization for Women[7]
- Indivisible Cobb, North Metro Atlanta, Savannah, and Sweetwater[12]
- March On PAC[12]
- National Democratic Redistricting Committee[12]
- Planned Parenthood Votes[16]
- Reproductive Freedom for All[17]
- Service Employees International Union[14]
- UFCW Local 1996[12]
- Political parties
- Democratic Party of Georgia[14]
- Clayton County Democrats[12]
- Emanuel County Democratic Committee[12]
- Floyd County Democrats[12]
- Fulton County Democrats[18]
- Hall County Democratic Party[12]
- Muscogee County Democratic Committee[12]
- Pickens County Democratic Committee[12]
Sarah Warren
Results
[edit]
Warren
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
Jordan
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Warren (incumbent) | 1,140,325 | 59.33 | |
| Jen Jordan | 781,748 | 40.67 | |
| Total votes | 1,922,073 | 100.00 | |
Land seat
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]Results
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Land (incumbent) | 1,717,722 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 1,717,722 | 100.00 | |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Nolin, Jill (February 24, 2026). "2 attorneys launch campaigns challenging GOP-appointed justices on Georgia's highest court". Georgia Recorder. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ↑ Kincaid, Leah (April 9, 2026). "'Last line of defense'| GA Supreme Court candidates push voter turnout to protect rights". WGXA. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- ↑ Nichanian, Daniel; Burness, Alex (May 1, 2026). "Blow to Voting Rights Act Amplifies Stakes of Georgia's Supreme Court Elections". Bolts. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- 1 2 Darnell, Tim (March 3, 2026). "LIST: Candidates who have qualified in Georgia's May primary". Atlanta News First. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Darnell, Tim (March 19, 2026). "Running for reelection, state supreme court justice announces big-name steering committee". Atlanta News First. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bluestein, Greg (April 23, 2026). "Georgia Supreme Court races turn into partisan battleground". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Nolin, Jill; Rocha, Alander (May 8, 2026). "Campaigns enter homestretch as Trump, Obama try to whip up support for Georgia candidates". Georgia Recorder. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Williams, Ross; Nolin, Jill; Alander, Rocha (April 25, 2026). "Georgia Dems push for '28 national convention, Ossoff tries to tamp down presidential talk and more". Georgia Recorder. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- 1 2 "Eric Holder Endorses Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin for the Georgia Supreme Court". National Democratic Redistricting Committee. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- 1 2 Benen, Steve (May 8, 2026). "Friday's Campaign Round-Up, 5.8.26: Fetterman says he has 'no plans' to switch parties". MS Now. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
Barack Obama this week endorsed Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin
- 1 2 "EMILYs List Endorses Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin for Georgia Supreme Court". EMILYs List. March 19, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "Voter Guide for Georgia". Blue Voter Guide. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- 1 2 "We're proud to endorse Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin for the Georgia Supreme Court". Fair Fight Action. March 31, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026 – via Facebook.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sassoon, Alessandro Marazzi (April 15, 2026). "Georgia Supreme Court challengers vow to take on corporate power". Atlanta Civic Circle. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- 1 2 Williams, Ross; Rocha, Alander; Nolin, Jill (April 17, 2026). "Georgia endorsements and fundraising: Who's in and who's out?". Georgia Recorder. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- 1 2 Homan, Maya (April 20, 2026). "Abortion debate plays out in Georgia Supreme Court race". Georgia Recorder. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- 1 2 "Reproductive Freedom for All Endorses Miracle Rankin and Jen Jordan in Georgia Supreme Court Race". Reproductive Freedom for All. April 14, 2026. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- 1 2 Fulton Democrats [@fultondems] (April 8, 2026). "The Georgia Supreme Court race in May is NOT a primary. We have two liberal candidates, Miracle Rankin and Jen Jordan. Let's get them elected!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ Bluestein, Greg (February 24, 2026). "Two liberal challengers test Georgia's entrenched Supreme Court". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Qualifying Candidate Information". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
