Georgia state Sen. Josh McLaurin enters race for lieutenant governor

State Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Sandy Springs Democrat, announced Monday that he is entering the 2026 race for lieutenant governor.

McLaurin is serving his fourth term in the Georgia Legislature, where he’s become known as an outspoken opponent of  Republican lawmakers who he says rubber stamp President Donald Trump’s policies.

“100 days in, the Trump administration is tanking the economy and ignoring court orders. But the Republicans running the State of Georgia are silent about Trump’s needless tariffs and his violations of Americans’ basic legal rights,” McLaurin said.

McLaurin is scheduled to hold a campaign launch event at 3 p.m. Monday at Rousakis Riverfront Plaza in Savannah. 

Vidalia Republican Sen. Blake Tillery and Conyers Republican Takosha Swan, a board member of the Georgia Department of Veterans Services, have also filed paperwork to fundraise for what’s expected to be a heavily contested lieutenant governor race next year.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Butts County Republican, has not announced whether he will seek a second term in office or seek to replace the term-limited GOP Gov. Brian Kemp.

McLaurin said in a statement announcing his decision that if elected as lieutenant governor, he will continue standing up for “hard working” Georgians.

“It’s time to elect state leaders who understand how crazy this moment in history is and are ready to stand up and do something about it,” McLaurin said. “Georgia is my home and my heart. We’ve got amazing people and culture. We’ve got Waffle House. We could be a national example of how best to live, work, and raise a family.  But our state is run by Republicans who can’t find the spine to tell the truth about Trump’s chaos – or do anything at all to fight back.”

McLaurin has a reputation as a lawmaker who likes to make jokes. During this year’s session, he held up a picture of the internet doge meme to mock the DOGE government agency named after the meme. He would regularly take to the Senate well and adopt the persona of a newscaster to satirically report the news about the Trump administration.

Rep. Scott Holcomb, an Atlanta Democrat who served alongside McLaurin in the House, said his jokes belie a sharp intellect.

“I’ve known Josh for a very long time,” he said. “I’m fully supportive of his run for lieutenant governor. Josh is substantive. He’s extraordinarily smart and hardworking. He also has a terrific sense of humor. I think the people of our state will really enjoy getting to know him.”

Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat and Chair of the Senate Minority Caucus, said she thinks McLaurin’s sense of humor could be a boon for his campaign and for his potential time as lieutenant governor, presiding over the state Senate.

“Definitely with some of his – you know, shtick – and he’s been well known for a long time for having some good impersonations, I think that is found refreshing by a lot of people when a lot of the time in politics, it all just seems so dour and toxic, to have that bit of laughter brought in,” she said. “I think it’s great just for voters that might be interested, and also, were he to be presiding over a majority Republican chamber, I think it’s kind of a good way to keep, to make sure that we can all work together a little better.”

Because district lines are drawn by the party in power, it could be easier to flip a statewide race like lieutenant governor that to flip enough Senate seats to make the body majority Democratic, which means if he pulls off a win, McLaurin would likely have to deal with a Senate comprised mostly of Republicans.

“It would not be a sort of game changer in the sense of what bills ultimately pass, because the lieutenant governor has limited powers,” Parent said. “But it would be, I think, a very important sign of the transition that’s occurring across Georgia, and I think that Senator McLaurin’s kind of verve and personality would help him be able to navigate a divided chamber.”

Sen. Jason Esteves, an Atlanta Democrat, is the first Democrat to throw his hat in the ring to run for governor, but others could soon join him — former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has said she hopes to make an announcement soon, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond is seen as another likely candidate.

State Rep. Ruwa Romman, a Duluth Democrat and ally of McLaurin, quickly endorsed his bid.

“We need people who are willing to fight, do the hard work, and stand up for Georgians because the reality is that a lot of people feel left behind and this is the moment to show them who has actually been fighting for them and who hasn’t.”

This post was updated at 5 p.m. on May 5.

Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report.