Cobb County Voters Head to Polls Tuesday to Choose New Governor

Cobb County residents will vote Tuesday in the 2026 midterm elections to select a new governor and determine the outcome of a contested U.S. Senate race. Election officials state that more than 2.8 million Georgians have already cast ballots, a figure that could set a new record for turnout in the state.

The governor’s race is the only open executive seat on the ballot because Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited. Republican Rick Jackson, a first-time political candidate, is competing against former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. The contest centers on issues including taxes, economic growth, public education, and state governance, which will define Georgia’s executive direction for the next four years.

In the U.S. Senate race, Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection against U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is running in his first reelection bid. Analysts view the seat as a must-hold for Democrats. Georgia’s Senate contest is the only race in the nation where a Democratic senator is running for reelection in a state that Donald Trump won in 2024.

Voters in Cobb County will also decide the entire slate of constitutional officers, including open seats for lieutenant governor, Secretary of State, and attorney general. The ballot includes all 236 seats in the Georgia General Assembly, along with key congressional districts for Georgia’s representatives.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters who are in line before the 7 p.m. deadline may still cast their ballots. Georgia law requires voters to present an accepted form of identification, such as a Georgia driver’s license, even if the document has expired.

Voters should verify their assigned precinct before heading to the polls. The Secretary of State’s official My Voter Page portal at mvp.sos.ga.gov allows residents to locate their specific voting location online. Election officials are preparing for a final surge of voters following the high volume of early ballots.

The results of Tuesday’s vote will determine the composition of the state legislature and the leadership of the executive branch. With early voting already at record levels, the final outcome of the gubernatorial and Senate races will hinge on the turnout during the final day of voting in Cobb County and across the state.