This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia was March 6, 2026.

Eighteen primaries — 11 Democratic and seven Republican — are contested this year. That's the highest number of contested primaries since 2014. In total, there were 12 contested primaries in 2024, 17 in 2022, 16 in 2020, 13 in 2018, nine in 2016, and 11 in 2014.

Six incumbents — three Democrats and three Republicans — are running in those contested primaries. Among those incumbents is David Scott (D-13th), who died on April 22, 2026. Despite Scott’s death, his name will still appear on the ballot. There were three incumbents in contested primaries in 2024, eight in 2022, five in 2020, five in 2018, five in 2016, and five in 2014.

Two incumbents — Earl "Buddy" Carter (R-1st) and Mike Collins (R-10th) — are retiring to run for the U.S. Senate in Georgia. A third, Barry Loudermilk (R-11th), is retiring from public office. There was one open district in 2024, two in 2022, three in 2020, none in 2018, one in 2016, and three in 2014.

Two districts that are open this year have attracted a high number of candidates. Fourteen candidates — eight Democrats and six Republicans — are running for the 1st Congressional District, the most candidates running for a district this year. The district with the second-most candidates is the 11th Congressional District. Ten candidates — two Democrats and eight Republicans — are running in that district.

Seventy-nine candidates — 43 Democrats and 36 Republicans — are running for Georgia’s 14 congressional districts. That’s 5.6 candidates per district. There were 3.9 candidates per district in 2024, 5.9 in 2022, 5.5 in 2020, 3.4 in 2018, 3.1 in 2016, and 3.5 in 2014.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 14 districts, meaning no districts are guaranteed to either party.

Georgia and five other states — Alabama, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, and Pennsylvania — are holding U.S. House primaries on May 19, 2026. If needed, Georgia will hold runoff elections on June 16, 2026.

In Georgia, a candidate must receive a majority of votes in order to win a primary election. If no candidate wins an outright majority of votes cast, a runoff primary between the top two vote-getters is held.