ATLANTA — Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones has officially launched his campaign for governor in 2026, ending months of speculation about his political future.

In a campaign video released Tuesday morning on YouTube, Jones said he’s ready to build on what he and fellow Republicans have already achieved.

“What do I call all that we have accomplished together? Just the start. Because our work is not done yet, and that’s why I’m running for governor,” Jones said in the video.

The announcement makes Jones the second Republican to formally enter the race to succeed Governor Brian Kemp, who is term-limited. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr previously announced his candidacy.

The Republican primary is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races in the 2026 election cycle.

On the official announcement, the Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe released the following statement:

“Today marks the first day of a nasty and divisive year-long battle for the Republican gubernatorial nomination between Burt Jones and Chris Carr — and potentially Marjorie Taylor Greene. Jones is an extremist who wants to undermine public education, champions Georgia’s dangerous abortion ban, backs the mass firing of Georgians at the CDC, and has a long record of opposing Medicaid expansion. Jones’ partisan, disastrous record could not be more out-of-touch with Georgians — and his campaign launch means that this primary will be a race to the right. No matter who wins, Republicans will be left with a deeply damaged and extreme nominee.”