Seven candidates are running in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor of Georgia on May 19, 2026. Greg Dolezal (R), Steve Gooch (R), John Kennedy (R), and Blake Tillery (R) lead in polling and media attention. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) is running for governor of Georgia rather than for another term as lieutenant governor.

The Telegraph's Gabriel Kopp wrote that "[m]uch like the vice president's role in Congress, Georgia's lieutenant governor presides over the Georgia state Senate and can cast tie-breaking votes in that chamber. While they cannot sponsor legislation, the lieutenant governor appoints state senators to chair committees in the General Assembly, who guide legislative priorities during their respective terms." As of March 9, 2026, Republicans have a 32-23 majority in the chamber with one vacancy.

Heading into the primary election, the four leading candidates are campaigning on their relationships with President Donald Trump (R) and their experiences in the Georgia Senate.

Dolezal was first elected to represent District 27 in the Georgia Senate in 2018. His campaign website states that he "stood with President Trump when it mattered most." The Georgia Recorder's Maya Homan wrote that Dolezal was "among the four Republican state senators in 2020 who called, unsuccessfully, for a special session to consider officially overturning the results of the presidential election in Georgia."

Gooch was first elected to represent District 51 in the Georgia Senate in 2010. He also served as the chamber's majority leader from 2023 to 2025. According to The Associated Press, Gooch "called himself a 'die-hard MAGA supporter' having successfully sponsored a law [in 2025] creating an 'America First' license plate that will soon be offered to Georgia motorists.

Kennedy represented District 18 in the Georgia Senate from 2015 to 2025. He also served as president pro tempore of the chamber from 2023 to 2025. Homan wrote that "While other candidates for the seat emphasized their loyalty to President Donald Trump and MAGA policies, Kennedy took a different approach, focusing on his conservative values and work in the state legislature."

Tillery was first elected to represent District 19 in the Georgia Senate in 2016. He became chair of the chamber's Senate Appropriations Committee, which develops the state's budget, in 2020. Tillery said he is focusing his campaign on messages on issues "that seem to appeal to everyone": "We're talking about eliminating the state income tax. We're talking about making sure that Georgia immigration laws are followed, and that sanctuary cities don't exist. We're talking about making sure that state taxpayer dollars are not used to pay for transgender surgery."

David Clark (R), Brenda Nelson-Porter (R), and Jerry Timbs (R) are also running in the Republican primary.

Brenda Nelson-Porter (R) and Jerry Timbs (R) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

In Georgia, a primary candidate must earn a majority of the vote to win. If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff election is held on June 16, 2026, between the top two vote-getters.