Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent conservative figure and ally of former President Donald Trump, has announced she will not run for governor of Georgia in 2026. In a statement released on Tuesday, Greene expressed her decision to withdraw from the race, citing her dissatisfaction with the state’s Republican leadership. ‘If I was running for governor, the entire world would know it,’ she said, emphasizing her belief that a successful campaign would involve extensive state-wide campaigning and significant fundraising. However, Greene cited her disillusionment with the GOP establishment in Georgia as the primary reason for her decision not to run. She accused the party’s leadership of being a ‘men only’ organization that is not representative of the majority of Georgia voters, and blamed them for the state’s ‘slow slide from red to blue.’
Greene’s decision leaves Burt Jones, the current lieutenant governor, and Attorney General Chris Carr as the leading Republican candidates for the 2026 gubernatorial election. Meanwhile, the Democratic side is seeing a strong field of contenders, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, and state Rep. Derrick Jackson. While Greene’s exit from the race may shift the dynamics of the Republican primary, the decision was not without its implications for the broader political landscape in Georgia. Greene, who sits on the powerful House Oversight Committee and chairs the DOGE subcommittee, has faced increasing scrutiny in recent months, particularly regarding her criticism of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on artificial intelligence. Though she maintains her relationship with Trump, she has taken to publicly criticizing elements of his leadership, including the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Despite her withdrawal from the gubernatorial race, Greene remains a formidable political force in Georgia, and her potential future involvement in statewide politics cannot be ignored. She hinted at a possible future campaign, stating, ‘One day, I might just run purely out of the blessing of the wonderful people of Georgia, my family and friends, but it won’t be in 2026.’ The outcome of the 2026 election will be a key indicator of the shifting political tides in the state and the potential for the Republican establishment to adapt or face further challenges from figures like Greene.