Michael Thurmond Enters 2026 Georgia Governor’s Race with Focus on Unity and Experience

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | August 9, 2025

Michael Thurmond, a veteran Georgia politician with decades of public service, officially announced Wednesday that he is running for governor in 2026. The 72-year-old former DeKalb County CEO, state labor commissioner, and state lawmaker framed his campaign as a call for competence, coalition-building, and a break from “hyper-partisan politics.”

“I’m running for Governor to fight for working families, protect and expand access to healthcare, and build an education system that creates multiple pathways to success,” Thurmond said in a statement. “This campaign won’t be about promises, but performance.”

Thurmond enters a Democratic primary already featuring prominent contenders, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta, and state Rep. Derrick Jackson. The Republican field is led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Attorney General Chris Carr, both of whom are courting conservative voters with positions aligned with former President Donald Trump.

A History of Statewide Wins

Unlike some of his Democratic rivals, Thurmond has won statewide office before—serving three terms as Georgia’s labor commissioner from 1998 to 2010, including during the Great Recession. Earlier in his career, he was the first African American elected to the Georgia General Assembly from Clarke County since Reconstruction. He was later appointed by Gov. Zell Miller to head the state Division of Family and Children Services.

After leaving statewide office, Thurmond became interim superintendent of the DeKalb County School District in 2013, credited with steering the district away from the loss of accreditation. He went on to serve two terms as DeKalb County CEO, leaving office earlier this year due to term limits.

Born the son of a Clarke County sharecropper and grandson of an enslaved man, Thurmond often references his family’s story to highlight economic inequality. In his launch video, he recalled his father working two jobs in the Georgia sun and his own conversations with laid-off auto workers about vanishing livelihoods.

“I knew from a young age that you can work hard as hell and still be poor in America,” Thurmond said. “I had that thought again years later, sitting in a Ford manufacturing plant, talking to three generations of men who were realizing their jobs, retirement, and way of life had disappeared overnight.”

Challenges Ahead

Thurmond’s candidacy comes in a state where Republicans still dominate most statewide races, even as Democrats have won the last two U.S. Senate contests. He will need to overcome rivals with significant fundraising momentum. Both Bottoms and Esteves launched their campaigns months ago and have already raised more than $1 million each. Esteves has lined up endorsements from Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman, much of the city council, and the Latino Victory Fund. Bottoms is banking on strong support from Black women voters across Georgia.

Thurmond hopes to tap into his DeKalb County base while appealing to moderates and independents. He says he sees opportunity on issues such as Medicaid expansion, improving maternal and infant health outcomes, and enhancing education access.

“Georgia is underachieving,” Thurmond said. “We can do better, but we can’t do better when we are basically imprisoned in this world of hyper-partisan politics.”

Michael Thurmond: A Political Career at a Glance

Age: 72
Hometown: Clarke County, Georgia

Early Life:

• Son of a sharecropper; grandson of a man born into slavery.
• First African American elected to the Georgia General Assembly from Clarke County since Reconstruction (1986).

Career Milestones:

• State Representative (1987–1993): Served three terms during Democratic control of the legislature.
• Division of Family and Children Services: Appointed director by Gov. Zell Miller.
• Georgia Labor Commissioner (1998–2010): Won three statewide elections; guided the agency through the Great Recession; one of the few Democrats to win statewide during GOP dominance.
• Interim Superintendent, DeKalb County Schools (2013–2014): Steered the district away from losing accreditation amid financial and governance crises.
• CEO, DeKalb County (2017–2025): Two-term county executive; term-limited in 2025.

Political Stance:

• Moderate Democrat focusing on coalition-building.
• Advocates Medicaid expansion, education reform, and reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
• Calls for an end to “hyper-partisan politics.”

Campaign Notes:

• Enters a crowded Democratic primary with former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, and state Rep. Derrick Jackson.
• Will face likely GOP contenders Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Attorney General Chris Carr in the general election if nominated.
• Primary scheduled for May 19, 2026; general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

A Different Approach

Political observers say Thurmond’s coalition-building pitch is a gamble in today’s polarized climate. University of Georgia political science professor Audrey Haynes noted that while voters frustrated by political gridlock may welcome his approach, “it remains to be seen if a unifying message can win in a climate where many want their leaders to fight harder for their side.”

Thurmond has pledged to visit communities in all corners of the state and is touting his experience navigating Republican-led legislatures to pass policy. His early campaign materials feature a gospel-tinged rally song urging supporters to “get our boots on the ground” for his candidacy.

With the Democratic primary set for May 19, 2026, and the general election on Nov. 3, the race to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests in the nation.

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