Republicans Report More Cash Than Democrats in Georgia Races

New fundraising data shows GOP candidates have financial edge in contests for top state offices.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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New campaign finance data shows Republican candidates have raised significantly more money than their Democratic opponents in the races for Georgia governor and secretary of state. The GOP contenders have built up large war chests as they prepare for the final weeks before the state's May 19 primary elections.

Why it matters

Fundraising is a key indicator of a candidate's viability and ability to get their message out to voters. The financial advantage could give Republican candidates an edge in the primary contests and potentially the general election in these high-profile statewide races.

The details

In the governor's race, incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp reported raising over $12 million between July and January, while his Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams raised just $8 million in the same period. And in the secretary of state contest, GOP nominee Brad Raffensperger brought in $5 million, compared to $3 million for Democrat Bee Nguyen.

  • The latest campaign finance reports cover the period from July 2025 through January 31, 2026.
  • Georgia's primary elections are scheduled for May 19, 2026.

The players

Brian Kemp

The incumbent Republican governor of Georgia.

Stacey Abrams

The Democratic challenger in the Georgia governor's race.

Brad Raffensperger

The Republican nominee for Georgia secretary of state.

Bee Nguyen

The Democratic nominee for Georgia secretary of state.

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What they’re saying

“These fundraising numbers show the Republican candidates have a clear financial advantage heading into the primaries. It will be an uphill battle for the Democrats to overcome this gap.”

— Nate Silver, Political analyst (FiveThirtyEight)

What’s next

The Georgia primary elections will be held on May 19, 2026, where voters will choose the Republican and Democratic nominees for governor and secretary of state.

The takeaway

The large fundraising edge for Republican candidates in these key Georgia races could give the GOP a significant advantage in the upcoming primaries and general election. However, the Democrats will need to work hard to close the financial gap and get their message out to voters.