by Ross Williams, Georgia Recorder
May 15, 2025

Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch is looking to become the state’s next lieutenant governor. Gooch announced his campaign for the 2026 race with a press release Wednesday.

“I’m running for Lieutenant Governor because Georgia deserves bold leadership that will stand up to the insanity of the Democrat Party, protect our families from the invasion of criminal illegal aliens and keep our economy vibrant and strong,” he said in the release. “I see a Georgia that is the gold standard for our great country — a state that leads the way in securing our borders, stopping violent crime, abolishing the state income tax and defending the values that make America great.”

The Dahlonega Republican has served in the Senate since 2010 and was elected majority leader in 2022. He owns a private environmental services company in Dahlonega.

The lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the governor and presides over the state Senate.

In his announcement, Gooch calls himself a “die-hard MAGA supporter,” a “MAGA champion” and a “consistent and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump” who is “unapologetically pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-school choice” and will “proudly stand with President Trump and will continue fighting to restore the greatness of our country.”

Earlier this year, Gooch was lead sponsor of a bill creating a Georgia license plate stamped with “America First,” a slogan used by Trump. The bill was recently signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.

The same American flag design on the license plate tops his campaign website and the letterhead for his press release.

Gooch’s only declared Democratic rival, Sandy Springs state Sen. Josh McLaurin, scoffed at the focus on the White House occupant.

“The Majority Leader appears to have made his MAGA license plate bill the centerpiece of his campaign launch. I think that choice makes the point about how the GOP primary is going to go: it’s going to be about who can suck up the most to Trump,” he said.

The GOP primary could be a crowded race, with several powerful Senate Republicans reportedly considering runs.

Sen. Blake Tillery of Vidalia has filed paperwork to run for the office. Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy of Macon and Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming are also rumored to be on the list of potential candidates. Any candidate will likely face pressure to appear maximally conservative in a party primary likely to attract the most committed Republican voters.

The current lieutenant governor, Jackson Republican Burt Jones, could run for re-election, but with Kemp approaching his term limit, Jones is widely expected to launch a campaign for governor. If he does, he’ll join a slate of candidates that is likely to expand but for now includes Republican Attorney General Chris Carr and Atlanta Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves.

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post Powerful Dahlonega state Sen. Steve Gooch jumps into 2026 Georgia lieutenant governor race appeared first on georgiarecorder.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Right-Leaning

The article displays a right-leaning bias through its focus on Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch’s campaign announcement, highlighting his support for President Donald Trump and his conservative stances on issues like abortion, the Second Amendment, and school choice. The use of “MAGA” and “America First” language, along with the mockup of a Trump-inspired license plate, emphasizes Gooch’s alignment with right-wing ideals. While it includes a counterpoint from his Democratic rival, the overall tone and content suggest a sympathetic portrayal of Gooch’s candidacy and the conservative political environment in Georgia.