Former DeKalb County CEO announces candidacy for Governor
DeKalb County, Georgia – DeKalb’s Michael Thurmond has had an impressive career, serving as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993, Georgia’s Labor Commissioner from 1999 to 2011, interim Superintendent for the DeKalb County School District from 2013 to 2015, and most recently as the Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County.
Now, Thurmond is aiming to add another achievement to his résumé by running for governor of Georgia. On Wednesday, he officially announced his bid for the 2026 gubernatorial race. If Thurmond is elected, he would become the state’s first Black governor and the first Democrat in 28 years to hold the office.
Thurmond will face Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, who has also announced her 2026 candidacy. Other Democrats who have declared their campaigns so far include Olujimi Brown, Jason Esteves, and Derrick Jackson.