Middle Georgians hear from candidates in Warner Robins as governor’s race kicks off

More than a year ahead of the November 2026 election, several gubernatorial candidates got an early start campaigning at a NAACP meet and greet in Warner Robins.

Over a hundred people showed up to the First Baptist Church of Garmon Street Wednesday afternoon and heard from five candidates about their beliefs and legislative priorities. 

Candidates had teams and tables with flyers, brochures and other campaign materials.

Although noted as a Q&A on its flyer, audience members were not given an opportunity to ask questions because speeches and videos from candidates took up all the time.

Gwenette Westbrooks, president of the Macon-Bibb NAACP and emcee of the event, said it was organized as a way to inform people living in Houston and Bibb County about who the candidates are and encourage them to do their own research.

She said in the future the NAACP plans on bringing the event to Macon and including a “forum” where people can ask questions.

Meet the candidates

A majority of the current candidates attended except for former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who all sent in videos highlighting their campaigns and plans for the capitol’s top spot.

Olu Brown, a former Atlanta pastor and teacher, said his “vision for Georgia” transcends any party lines. As governor, he said he would implement universal healthcare and a living wage, along with modernizing the state’s education funding formula.

Brown, who is running as a Democrat, said teachers in Georgia should be some of the “highest paid educators” in the country. He said these new initiatives can be funded by the state’s tax surplus and through reprioritizing current spending.

“We gotta make sure, regardless of a zip code, where a kid is born, they get an excellent education,” he said. 

Rep. Jason Esteves, a Democrat who represents parts of Atlanta, Cobb and Fulton counties and owns the newly-opened Flying Biscuit Cafe in downtown Macon, told attendees about his proposal to create a $1 billion fund for small businesses, which he says will offer the same opportunities afforded to big corporations such as Hyundai.

If elected governor, Esteves said folks could expect a more affordable cost of living — specifically in Middle Georgia, where he said people have craved more opportunities around education and healthcare.

Esteves sponsored legislation to update the state’s education funding formula, which he said is part of his plan to fully fund education in Georgia, starting from affordable early child care to offering “a meaningful pathway” for young adults transitioning into their careers.

“It doesn’t matter where you live or where you’re from,” he told attendees. “You deserve an opportunity to prosper.” 

Esteves was followed by Rep. Derrick Jackson, a Democrat who represents part of Fulton County and ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2022. 

Jackson noted how the Trump administration has cut federal emergency relief funds and moved to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. He likened current political activism to fighting for civil rights in the ‘5os.

“We’re at war,” he said. “Because Project 2025 was very clear what they were going to do, but we didn’t pay attention.” 

Democratic candidate Michael Thurmond, former CEO of DeKalb County, played a short campaign video, which underlined issues important to his campaign like healthcare and inflation, before taking the stage.

Thurmond was elected as the state’s labor commissioner in 1998 and previously served as superintendent of DeKalb County. He said he wants to bring “quality education” to every child in Georgia and spoke about the importance of work opportunities for young men to be able to support their families.

“We’re going to build a coalition, a coalition of the willing so that we can stand up to Trump,” Thurmond said. “Because right has no color.” 

All of the candidates raised issues with the presidential administration and talked about how they might push back, even the sole republican candidate, Ken Yasger, a member of the Georgia National Guard from Savannah.

Yasger said that as a “huge states rights advocate,” he doesn’t want the federal government — regardless of party affiliation — “meddling” in the state of Georgia. He said some have labeled him as a RINO, or Republican in Name Only, and said too many Republicans “suck it up or tiptoe” around Trump.

Yasger said he almost gave up on campaigning a few weeks ago due to a lack of interest in his campaign.

He told reporters he wants to do away with Georgia’s income tax, an effort being weighed by a state Senate committee. He added that he wants to legalize marijuana. 

The winner of the  Nov. 3, 2026, election will replace Republican Gov.  Brian Kemp, who is serving his third and final term as governor. Should Georgia elect a Democratic governor, it would be the first one since Roy Barnes was elected a quarter century ago.

The primaries are set for May 19, 2026, according to the secretary of state’s website.