Georgia voters will have a chance to shape the future of their state during this election year, with an open seat for governor highlighting the races on the 2026 ballot, with the first votes to be cast for the May 19 primaries.
Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and both Republicans and Democrats have multiple candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the general election. But the race for governor is far from the only statewide race gaining attention: Republicans are lining up for the chance to run for the U.S. Senate in November, and challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff.
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The crowded fields for these high-profile races could add a twist to how the primaries play out. Unlike in Florida, where there are not runoffs for party primaries, Georgia does require more than 50% of the vote to win a primary election. That means some races could send the top two vote-getters on to a primary runoff on June 16.
In Charlton County, the primary features a county commission race and a pair of school board races.
Charlton County Commission - District 1
Incumbent Alphya Benefield is seeking re-election. No Republicans qualified for this race.
| DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES |
- Alphya Benefield - Tax preparer
- Wanda Moody - Inside sales
Charlton County School Board - District 1
Incumbent Deborah Young is seeking re-election. No Republicans qualified for this race.
| DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES |
- Charles Brown - Missile mechanic
- Deborah Young - Deputy sheriff
Charlton County School Board - District 5
There is no incumbent in this race. No Democrats qualified for the election.
| REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES |
- John Lynn Murray - Self-employed
- Jamison Matthew Sands - Equipment utilization specialist
Read about the rest of the races in the primary in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.