**In Georgia’s open 2026 gubernatorial race, Republican nominee Rick Jackson and Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms head into the November 3 general election following completed primaries and a June Republican runoff.** Brian Kemp’s term limit created the vacancy, with Jackson prevailing over the Trump-endorsed Burt Jones after the first-round primary fell short of 50 percent. Recent polls show a tight contest, with Bottoms and Jackson typically separated by low single digits and modest undecided shares. In a head-to-head matchup with negligible third-party presence, one candidate is structurally likely to secure a majority, producing the elevated trader consensus that an outright first-round winner will avoid a runoff. Upcoming campaign events and any late shifts in turnout or undecided voters remain the primary variables that could still influence the final margin.