Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan has announced his decision to join the Democratic Party, marking a significant political shift after years of tension with the Republican Party. This move comes after Duncan was expelled from the Georgia GOP earlier this year for alleged disloyalty, including his endorsements of President Joe Biden in the 2024 election and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Duncan described his decision as long overdue, attributing it to a growing commitment to ‘love my neighbor’ through public policies that address healthcare access, Medicaid expansion, and immigration reform.
Duncan, who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017 and as lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023, criticized the Republican Party’s approach to key social and economic issues. He argued that the GOP’s focus on individual responsibility, rather than systemic support, has left many Georgians without adequate healthcare coverage. For example, he noted that the majority of uninsured individuals in Georgia live in working households that lack access to affordable insurance options. Duncan also pointed to the Trump-backed spending bill that cut Medicaid funding, which he said will leave the program ‘in shambles,’ and criticized its impact on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports food insecurity among children.
His shift to the Democratic Party follows his involvement in the party’s 2024 presidential campaign, including endorsements of Biden and Harris. Duncan’s alignment with the Democratic Party has also drawn scrutiny from Republican lawmakers, who accuse him of undermining their candidates, including former Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and failed Senate candidate Herschel Walker. Despite his expulsion from the GOP, Duncan remained a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his policies, particularly in the wake of the 2020 election and the January 6th Capitol riot. He described his decision to switch parties as a reflection of his belief that the Democratic Party better aligns with his vision for a more equitable society, where policies prioritize the needs of everyday Georgians over partisan divides.