Georgia · Governor
Rick Jackson is slightly favored to finish ahead in Georgia’s November vote. Predicted first-round margin: R+1.8.
Under each share, its likely range (80 in 100 simulations)
Background
Kemp term-limited. Bottoms vs. political newcomer Rick Jackson, who beat Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a June GOP upset.
Forecast history
Latest reading · Oct 28 · first published Sep 9 · 80% range · margin points R+10.2 to D+6.4. Methodology
About this series
Reconstructed with the current model Aug 1 – Sep 8 and Sep 16 – Sep 18; published readings Sep 9 – Oct 28. Each reconstructed day is the current model on that day’s own inputs, not a forecast published then. Corrections are dated in the changelog.
Faded: CTMM 2.2 reconstructed history: computed after the fact with each date's available polls and environment, without expert ratings; not an issued forecast. Issued forecasts begin at the launch marker.
CTMM 2.2 readings for 2026-09-16, 2026-09-17, 2026-09-18 were computed after the fact with each day's available inputs: no edition was issued on those days. Not an issued forecast.
Data table
| Date | Margin | Chance | 80% range | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28 | R+1.8 | R win 61.2% | R+10.2 to D+6.4 | Published forecast |
| Oct 27 | R+2.2 | R win 63.5% | R+10.5 to D+6.0 | Published forecast |
| Oct 26 | R+2.2 | R win 63.4% | R+10.5 to D+6.1 | Published forecast |
| Oct 25 | R+2.2 | R win 63.2% | R+10.5 to D+6.1 | Published forecast |
| Oct 24 | R+2.2 | R win 63.0% | R+10.5 to D+6.2 | Published forecast |
| Oct 23 | R+2.1 | R win 62.8% | R+10.4 to D+6.2 | Published forecast |
| Oct 22 | R+2.1 | R win 62.5% | R+10.4 to D+6.2 | Published forecast |
| Oct 21 | R+2.1 | R win 62.3% | R+10.4 to D+6.3 | Published forecast |
| Oct 20 | R+1.9 | R win 61.6% | R+10.3 to D+6.4 | Published forecast |
| Oct 19 | R+1.6 | R win 59.3% | R+9.9 to D+6.8 | Published forecast |
| Oct 18 | R+1.5 | R win 59.1% | R+9.9 to D+6.8 | Published forecast |
| Oct 17 | R+1.5 | R win 58.9% | R+9.8 to D+6.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 16 | R+1.5 | R win 59.1% | R+9.8 to D+6.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 15 | R+1.4 | R win 58.9% | R+9.8 to D+6.9 | Published forecast |
| Oct 14 | R+1.4 | R win 58.4% | R+9.7 to D+7.0 | Published forecast |
| Oct 13 | R+1.3 | R win 58.3% | R+9.7 to D+7.0 | Published forecast |
| Oct 12 | R+1.3 | R win 57.9% | R+9.7 to D+7.1 | Published forecast |
| Oct 11 | R+1.3 | R win 57.9% | R+9.7 to D+7.1 | Published forecast |
| Oct 10 | R+1.3 | R win 57.7% | R+9.6 to D+7.1 | Published forecast |
| Oct 9 | R+1.2 | R win 57.6% | R+9.6 to D+7.2 | Published forecast |
| Oct 8 | R+1.2 | R win 57.4% | R+9.6 to D+7.2 | Published forecast |
| Oct 7 | R+1.2 | R win 57.3% | R+9.6 to D+7.2 | Published forecast |
| Oct 6 | R+1.2 | R win 57.1% | R+9.6 to D+7.3 | Published forecast |
| Oct 5 | R+1.1 | R win 57.2% | R+9.5 to D+7.3 | Published forecast |
| Oct 4 | R+0.8 | R win 55.2% | R+9.2 to D+7.6 | Published forecast |
| Oct 3 | R+0.8 | R win 54.7% | R+9.2 to D+7.7 | Published forecast |
| Oct 2 | R+0.7 | R win 54.4% | R+9.2 to D+7.7 | Published forecast |
| Oct 1 | R+0.7 | R win 54.3% | R+9.2 to D+7.7 | Published forecast |
| Sep 30 | R+0.7 | R win 54.4% | R+9.1 to D+7.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 29 | R+0.7 | R win 54.3% | R+9.1 to D+7.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 28 | R+0.6 | R win 53.8% | R+9.1 to D+7.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 27 | R+0.6 | R win 53.1% | R+9.1 to D+7.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 26 | R+0.6 | R win 53.7% | R+9.1 to D+7.9 | Published forecast |
| Sep 25 | D+0.2 | D win 51.0% | R+8.3 to D+8.6 | Published forecast |
| Sep 24 | EVEN | D win 49.8% | R+8.4 to D+8.5 | Published forecast |
| Sep 23 | D+0.9 | D win 55.2% | R+7.7 to D+9.5 | Published forecast |
| Sep 22 | D+1.0 | D win 55.8% | R+7.6 to D+9.6 | Published forecast |
| Sep 21 | D+1.0 | D win 55.8% | R+7.6 to D+9.6 | Published forecast |
| Sep 20 | D+1.0 | D win 56.0% | R+7.6 to D+9.6 | Published forecast |
| Sep 19 | D+1.0 | D win 56.0% | R+7.6 to D+9.6 | Published forecast |
| Sep 18 | D+1.9 | D win 61.4% | R+6.8 to D+10.7 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 17 | D+2.0 | D win 61.5% | R+6.8 to D+10.7 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 16 | D+2.0 | D win 61.7% | R+6.8 to D+10.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 15 | D+2.0 | D win 60.9% | R+6.8 to D+10.7 | Published forecast |
| Sep 14 | D+2.0 | D win 61.8% | R+6.8 to D+10.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 13 | D+2.0 | D win 61.3% | R+6.8 to D+10.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 12 | D+2.0 | D win 61.7% | R+6.8 to D+10.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 11 | D+2.0 | D win 62.2% | R+6.8 to D+10.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 10 | D+2.0 | D win 61.6% | R+6.8 to D+10.8 | Published forecast |
| Sep 9 | D+2.7 | D win 65.5% | R+6.1 to D+11.5 | Published forecast |
| Sep 8 | D+2.0 | D win 62.1% | R+6.7 to D+10.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 7 | D+2.0 | D win 62.1% | R+6.7 to D+10.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 6 | D+2.1 | D win 62.2% | R+6.7 to D+10.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 5 | D+2.1 | D win 62.3% | R+6.7 to D+10.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 4 | D+2.1 | D win 62.3% | R+6.7 to D+10.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 3 | D+2.1 | D win 62.4% | R+6.7 to D+10.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 2 | D+2.1 | D win 62.5% | R+6.7 to D+10.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Sep 1 | D+2.1 | D win 62.6% | R+6.6 to D+10.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 31 | D+2.1 | D win 62.8% | R+6.6 to D+10.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 30 | D+2.2 | D win 62.8% | R+6.6 to D+10.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 29 | D+2.2 | D win 63.0% | R+6.6 to D+10.9 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 28 | D+2.2 | D win 63.0% | R+6.6 to D+11.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 27 | D+2.2 | D win 63.1% | R+6.6 to D+11.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 26 | D+2.2 | D win 63.2% | R+6.6 to D+11.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 25 | D+2.2 | D win 63.3% | R+6.5 to D+11.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 24 | D+2.2 | D win 63.4% | R+6.5 to D+11.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 23 | D+2.3 | D win 63.5% | R+6.5 to D+11.0 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 22 | D+3.0 | D win 67.3% | R+5.8 to D+11.7 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 21 | D+3.0 | D win 66.4% | R+5.8 to D+11.7 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 20 | D+3.0 | D win 66.5% | R+5.8 to D+11.7 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 19 | D+3.0 | D win 66.6% | R+5.8 to D+11.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 18 | D+3.0 | D win 66.7% | R+5.7 to D+11.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 17 | D+3.4 | D win 68.4% | R+5.5 to D+12.3 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 16 | D+3.4 | D win 68.5% | R+5.5 to D+12.3 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 15 | D+3.4 | D win 68.6% | R+5.5 to D+12.3 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 14 | D+3.4 | D win 68.5% | R+5.5 to D+12.3 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 13 | D+3.4 | D win 68.6% | R+5.5 to D+12.3 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 12 | D+3.4 | D win 68.7% | R+5.5 to D+12.3 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 11 | D+3.4 | D win 68.7% | R+5.5 to D+12.3 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 10 | D+3.4 | D win 68.8% | R+5.4 to D+12.3 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 9 | D+3.7 | D win 69.8% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 8 | D+3.7 | D win 69.8% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 7 | D+3.7 | D win 69.9% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 6 | D+3.7 | D win 69.8% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 5 | D+3.7 | D win 69.8% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 4 | D+3.7 | D win 69.9% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 3 | D+3.7 | D win 69.9% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 2 | D+3.7 | D win 69.9% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
| Aug 1 | D+3.7 | D win 70.0% | R+5.3 to D+12.8 | Reconstructed with the stated inputs |
The polls
Poll average R+0.1A poll’s weight halves every 60 days and grows with its sample. Each pollster counts once, at its best release. Every poll counts at its published margin, sponsored or not.In governor races the forecast then counts a poll sponsored by a party or campaign at full weight and moves its margin 2 points against that party, which puts the average it reads at D+0.1. It then applies a fitted correction of 2.5 points toward Republicans for governor races, measured from past polling error, before blending it with its other evidence.18 recorded polls · 18 in the poll average
| Fieldwork | Added | Pollster | Result | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| from 2026-10-23 | 8h ago | State Navigate ↗ | D+3.0D 50% · R 47% | 679 LV |
| from 2026-10-16 | 1d ago | Echelon Insights ↗ | D+1.0D 49% · R 48% | 508 LV |
| from 2026-10-06 | ActiVote ↗ | R+3.0D 48.5% · R 51.5% | 400 LV | |
| from 2026-10-07 | University of Georgia ↗ | R+1.0D 45% · R 46% | 1,000 LV | |
| from 2026-10-15 | Quantus Insights ↗ | R+1.5D 47.5% · R 49% | 755 LV | |
| from 2026-10-12 | InsiderAdvantage ↗James Magazine Online | R+2.0D 47% · R 49% | 800 LV | |
| from 2026-09-22 | InsiderAdvantage ↗ | R+2.0D 46% · R 48% | 1,200 LV | |
| from 2026-09-21 | Big Data Poll ↗Public Polling Project | R+1.0D 49.5% · R 50.5% | 678 LV |
Explore each poll’s weight in the average
Poll average R+0.1
- Published result
- D+3.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.70 · 9.0% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 23 Oct–27 Oct
- Sample
- 679 LV
- Sponsor
- Not listed
- Published result
- D+1.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.58 · 8.5% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 16 Oct–23 Oct
- Sample
- 508 LV
- Sponsor
- Not listed
- Published result
- R+3.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.50 · 7.9% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 6 Oct–20 Oct
- Sample
- 400 LV
- Sponsor
- Not listed
- Published result
- R+1.5
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.66 · 7.4% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 15 Oct–17 Oct
- Sample
- 755 LV
- Sponsor
- Not listed
- Published result
- R+1.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.74 · 12% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 7 Oct–15 Oct
- Sample
- 1,000 LV
- Sponsor
- Not listed
- Published result
- R+2.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.65 · 4.1% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 12 Oct–13 Oct
- Sample
- 800 LV
- Sponsor
- James Magazine Online
- Published result
- R+1.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.47 · 7.5% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 21 Sep–23 Sep
- Sample
- 678 LV
- Sponsor
- Public Polling Project
- Published result
- R+2.0
- Weight in the poll average
- 0.63 · 4.0% of the average
- Fieldwork
- 22 Sep–23 Sep
- Sample
- 1,200 LV
- Sponsor
- Not listed
How the margin was built
Tap an input for its calculation and source.
Displayed values are rounded.
All calculations & sources
How this state voted, 2024 −2.190 points
The state's presidential margin in 2024 as a share of all votes cast, from our own county sums — the same measurement the model's statewide terrain center is built from. Every pull below is measured from here, not from EVEN, which is why a landslide seat's listed pulls are small numbers and still land where the forecast does.
- 2024 presidential result for this state, as a share of all votes cast, from Call the Map's own county sums.
- Same source as Act I's 2024-president reference mark, so the origin lands on it.
Fitted model, above the terrain shown +5.662 points
What the fitted model adds on top of the starting terrain above — incumbency, past results, campaign finance and the other fitted terms — measured from that terrain rather than from EVEN. It is a comparison with the starting point already shown, not a separate input. The source detail lists the variables the fit uses.
- Fitted baseline 3.472 minus starting point -2.190 = 5.662 points.
- Fitted intercept: -6.136 points.
- 2010 White population share used by the frozen historical fit: observed input 59.823. -0.503 × ((59.823 − 77.922) / 12.864) = 0.707 points.
- gov_midterm_wh: observed input -1.000. -0.987 × ((-1.000 − 0.336) / 0.739) = 1.785 points.
- 2024 presidential lean relative to the national result: observed input -0.709. 4.163 × ((-0.709 − -4.415) / 20.258) = 0.762 points.
- Previous governor election margin: observed input -7.540. 1.755 × ((-7.540 − -3.131) / 19.227) = -0.403 points.
- gov_inc_running_signed: observed input 0.000. 2.531 × ((0.000 − -0.120) / 0.708) = 0.428 points.
- gov_inc_tenure_signed: observed input 0.000. 3.340 × ((0.000 − -0.143) / 0.902) = 0.529 points.
- The displayed arithmetic is rounded; the fitted terms use full precision. The intercept plus these five terms gives the non-ratings baseline.
- No source-verified current Gallup reading supports the former 40% / July 2026 claim. The current Gallup series ends in 2025; the Presidency Project identifies its 2026 observations as other pollsters. Use the unchanged fitted missing-value rule, not a replacement polling scale.
- Certified 2024 presidential baseline: state R+2.2, national R+1.5; subtracting the national margin gives relative lean −0.7. Source: FEC compilation of certified state results.
National environment +1.838 points
The contribution to this race’s margin, not the national polling margin itself. The race’s loading, reference level and polling blend determine how much of the national climate reaches its final forecast.
- The national environment in this edition is D+8.4. This row is its contribution to the race’s prior, not a claim that the country is D+1.8.
- This step’s recorded contribution to the margin is +1.8.
- The elasticity is fitted on the pooled panel of contested governor races (2010–2024) with cycle-clustered standard errors; it is a measured response to the national environment, not a judgment floor.
Historical error calibration +0.410 points
A prior-election residual correction, when an admitted model publishes one.
- The forecast’s calibration against past governor results. The recorded contribution is +0.4.
This race’s polls −7.612 points
What this race’s own recent polling adds beyond its prior. The forecast weights each poll for recency and sample size and counts each pollster once; the weights listed here are those of the polls’ own average.
- State Navigate (2026-10-27, n=679): D+3.0 · weight 0.70 in the poll average
- Echelon Insights (2026-10-23, n=508): D+1.0 · weight 0.58 in the poll average
- ActiVote (2026-10-20, n=400): R+3.0 · weight 0.50 in the poll average
- Quantus Insights (2026-10-17, n=755): R+1.5 · weight 0.66 in the poll average
- University of Georgia (2026-10-15, n=1,000): R+1.0 · weight 0.74 in the poll average
- InsiderAdvantage (2026-10-13, n=800): R+2.0 · weight 0.65 in the poll average
- … and 12 more below.
- Poll average R+0.1, from 18 polls · 18 recorded polls. This is the polls’ own average, each poll at its published margin, the figure this page’s poll summary shows. In governor races the forecast then counts a poll sponsored by a party or campaign at full weight and moves its margin 2 points against that party, which puts the average it reads at D+0.1. It then applies a fitted correction of 2.5 points toward Republicans for governor races, measured from past polling error, before blending it with its other evidence. The forecast gives the polls 98% of the weight against its structural prior for this race, which moves the margin 7.6 points toward Republicans from where it stood before the polls. Eligible polls: latest poll: 2026-10-27 (1 day old).
Votes for other candidates +0.019 points
Every step above is measured between the two major-party candidates alone, as if nobody else were on the ballot. The forecast sets 1.0% of the vote aside for other candidates and write-ins, so as a share of every vote cast the gap between the two is smaller by that much. This step is exactly that: the two-party margin times the share going to other candidates. It is the same arithmetic that turns the two-party margin into the two shares printed at the top of the page.
The components this edition publishes for this race, in points. “Other factors” closes the sum to the two-party structural lean exactly. The margin the page prints is a share of every vote cast, so the “Votes for other candidates” row carries the exact difference between the two-party lean and that margin; with it, the walk sums to the printed margin exactly.
| Named factor | Contribution |
|---|---|
| This race's pollsAdmitted head-to-head polls of this race, recency- and quality-weighted. | −7.61 |
| FundamentalsThe admitted fitted baseline. Its surviving variables differ by office; the source detail above identifies those used for this race. | +3.47 |
| National environmentThe national environment’s contribution to the prior. Polling can attenuate its influence; this value is not the national polling margin. | +1.84 |
| Historical calibrationThe House lane's calibration against certified past cycles. | +0.41 |
| Other factors | +0.00 |
Where the votes are
The map of this race loads here.
Race context
- Turnout, 2018 midterm
- 53.5% 3,949,905 ballots
- Turnout, 2022 midterm
- 51.9% 3,964,926 ballots
- 2024 presidential margin
- R+2.2between the two parties
Turnout is ballots cast statewide as a share of the voting-eligible population. Source: University of Florida Election Lab ↗
Population profile
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates ↗
Coverage
2 stories · 6 quotes
- Keisha Lance Bottoms Holds Narrow Lead in Georgia Governor Race ↗
CNalysis · Oct 28
- Republican billionaire Rick Jackson has poured more than $200 million of his personal fortune into Georgia’s race for governor, a staggering sum that has shattered state records but hasn’t given him a clear lead over Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms. #gapol
www.ajc.com/politics/202... ↗
Greg Bluestein · Commentary · 5h ago
curated campaign reporter · recent Bluesky post · named-race match - “Gov. Kemp famously stood up to Trump in 2020 for refusing to accept the choice of Georgia voters,” says state Rep. Saira Draper. “It would be a shame for him to go out a hypocrite.” #gapol
www.ajc.com/politics/202... ↗
Greg Bluestein · Commentary · 23h ago
curated campaign reporter · recent Bluesky post · named-race match · election-topic match - Morning Digest: Keisha Lance Bottoms seeks a boost from Georgia’s top Democrat, Jon Ossoff ↗
The Downballot · Oct 23
- Republican Rick Jackson has reversed course and will attend President Donald Trump’s Saturday rally in Perry after initially planning to skip it to campaign with Gov. Brian Kemp instead. He's now planning to rally at both events. #gapol www.ajc.com/politics/202... ↗
Greg Bluestein · Commentary · 5d ago
curated campaign reporter · recent Bluesky post · named-race match - Turnout is surging in metro Atlanta's suburbs and other population centers around the state -- and lagging in much of rural Georgia. Republicans are worried. “We have to overperform in rural Georgia, or we're not going to win," says Rick Jackson. #gapol www.ajc.com/politics/202... ↗
Greg Bluestein · Commentary · 5d ago
curated campaign reporter · recent Bluesky post · named-race match - Republican candidate for governor Rick Jackson will skip President Donald Trump’s upcoming rally in middle Georgia this weekend, opting instead to campaign in suburban Atlanta as as the race, which polling averages indicate is a virtual tie, enters its final stretch. ↗
Georgia Recorder · Official · Oct 20
curated state newsroom · recent Bluesky post · named-race match · election-topic match - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution examined Rick Jackson’s extensive business portfolio, from healthcare to oil rigs, movies and firearms financing, and asks, can he avoid conflicts of interest if elected governor?
MuckRock's @sunlightresearch.bsky.social contributed to this story. ↗
MuckRock · Official · Oct 19
curated election administration · recent Bluesky post · named-race match
Forecast as of October 28, 2026: Call the Map currently has Rick Jackson ahead of Keisha Lance Bottoms by R+1.8, with a 61 in 100 chance to finish ahead in November. If no candidate passes 50%, a runoff follows on December 1, 2026. This is an open seat. That result would keep the seat with Republicans. The current poll average is R+0.1; 18 public polls are recorded.