Steve Bannon took the spotlight Friday night at the Georgia Republican Convention, urging attendees to stay focused on former President Donald Trump and not get ahead of themselves thinking about the 2026 elections.
“Don’t even think about the midterms,” Bannon told the crowd. “Back President Trump right now. ’26, we’ll think about later.”
But it was clear that the future was already top of mind for many in Dalton, the northwest Georgia city hosting the convention. While delegates handled party business such as electing officers and adopting a platform, conversation buzzed around who would run for governor and U.S. Senate in 2026.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a high-profile figure in Georgia politics, had already ruled out challenging Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff but fueled further speculation about a gubernatorial bid. On Saturday, she laid out a vision centered on state-level issues: eliminating the state income tax, reforming education with “classical” principles, reopening mental health hospitals, and shifting Georgia’s economic incentives away from foreign companies and the entertainment industry.
“These are state-level issues,” Greene told the crowd, “but I want you to be talking about them.”
In a conversation prior to her speech, Greene acknowledged that running for governor remains “an option,” while expressing pride in serving her congressional district. “Every primary poll shows I’m the clear frontrunner. That gives me room to consider what’s next, but it’s a personal choice I’ll make with my family.”
While Greene weighs her decision, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is widely expected to run for governor and hinted at his intentions during his Friday remarks. “I promise you, I’ll be involved in the next election cycle,” he said.
Jones, a close Trump ally, reminded delegates of those who stood firm with the former president after the 2020 election. He also took a subtle swipe at Attorney General Chris Carr, who has already declared his run for governor but didn’t speak on stage during the convention.
“Remember who showed up for you,” Jones said. “Remember who delivers on their promises.”
Carr, who attended the convention but spent time campaigning at a local restaurant instead of addressing the full audience, emphasized building personal connections. Despite being previously targeted by Trump in 2022, Carr remains optimistic. He described himself as a “proud Kemp Republican” and intends to campaign on traditional conservative pillars like agriculture, public safety, and economic development.
“We’re focused on the issues that matter most to Georgians,” Carr said.
Meanwhile, the crowd responded most enthusiastically to one common theme: defeating Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026.
“Jon Ossoff should not be in office,” declared U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who’s already spending heavily on TV ads for his Senate campaign.
State Insurance Commissioner John King, also a Senate hopeful, framed the contest as critical for Trump’s comeback.
“President Trump needs support in the Senate,” King said. “He needs a majority to get the job done — and that starts here in Georgia.”
While former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley has shown interest in running for Senate, he did not address the convention. U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, however, took the stage to highlight the importance of taking Ossoff’s seat but remained noncommittal about his own ambitions.
“We’ll see how things shake out,” Collins said. “I’m not dying to be a senator, but we do need to take that seat back.”
Though 2026 may still be two years away, the early moves and political jockeying on display in Dalton made one thing clear: the race is already on — whether party leaders like Bannon want to admit it or not.
