PHOTOS: Scenes from the 2026 Georgia Primary

Politics

Voters steadily poured through the polls during the day, and supporters rallied around their candidates at watch parties during the night.

Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson at his election night watch party for the 2026 Georgia primary elections

Jason Esteves greets supporters at his watch party for the governor's race at Scofflaw Brewing Co., in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, during the 2026 Georgia primary elections.(Bob Andres for the AJC)

Jason Esteves speaks to supporters at his watch party for the governor's race at Scofflaw Brewing Co., in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, during the 2026 Georgia primary elections.(Bob Andres for the AJC)

Keisha Lance Bottoms leads as Democrats scramble for second runoff spot for governor

State Rep. Jasmine Clark and staff react to news that she is the likely winner on the Democratic ticket for U.S. House District 13 at her election night watch party at Fresca Trattoria in Stone Mountain on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Gavin Godfrey/AJC)

(From left) Hank Stewart, Audra Cunningham, Marzelle Wallace and Al Edwards, supporters of Georgia Democratic candidate for governor Mike Thurmond, gather at the watch party headquarters at the Marriott Conference Center in Decatur Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Akili-Casundria Ramsess/for the AJC)

Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Derek Dooley greets supporters at his election night party at Park Bench at the Battery during the 2026 Georgia primary elections Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Barbara Dooley, Derek Dooley’s mother (left), talks with Clay and Stephanie Powell at Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Derek Dooley election night party at Park Bench at the Battery during the 2026 Georgia primary elections Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Allen Gruehn and his mother, Allison Gruehn, wait for Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Derek Dooley at his election night party at Park Bench at the Battery during the 2026 Georgia primary elections Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp signs a poster in support of Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Derek Dooley at his election night party at Park Bench at the Battery during the 2026 Georgia primary elections Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Gov. Brian Kemp greets Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Derek Dooley’s mother, Barbara Dooley, at her son's election night party at Park Bench at the Battery during the 2026 Georgia primary elections Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Mike Thurmond greets supporters at his watch party headquarters at the Marriott Conference Center in Decatur on May 19, 2026. (Akili-Casundria Ramsess/for the AJC)

Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Mike Thurmond addresses supporters at his watch party headquarters at the Marriott Conference Center in Decaturon May 19, 2026. (Akili-Casundria Ramsess/for the AJC)

Democratic candidate for Georgia state governor Mike Thurmond with his wife, Zola, addresses supporters at his watch party headquarters at the Marriott Conference Center in Decatur on May 19, 2026. (Akili-Casundria Ramsess/for the AJC)

Selah Quadjovie studies the ballot while voting at Friendship Community Church in South Fulton on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

A poll worker checks a voter in at the Johns Creek Environmental Campus in Alpharetta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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Supporters watch election results on the screen during gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms’ election day watch party at the Hyatt Regency on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (Natrice Miller for The AJC)

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Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

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