The race:
Lieutenant governor
Party:
Democrat
The lane:
Josh McLaurin has positioned himself as a policy-focused state senator who has built his brand around directly challenging Republican leadership at the state and federal level, especially Trump-aligned politics.
The basics:
McLaurin is an attorney who is serving his second term as a state senator representing northeast Atlanta and the northern suburbs. He was first elected to the Georgia House in 2018, when he flipped a north metro Atlanta seat.
Why he’s running:
McLaurin has argued that Georgia needs leaders who are willing to “tell the truth” and push back against the state’s Republican leadership, which he says is too aligned with President Donald Trump.
What’s working:
Entering the race more than a year ago, McLaurin has established himself with Democratic voters who want a forceful contrast to Republicans. McLaurin has legislative experience and a clear ideological lane. He received the most votes in the three-way May primary election.
The challenge:
McLaurin is running against Nabilah Parkes in the Democratic runoff after Parkes turned her efforts from a campaign to be Georgia’s next insurance commissioner to eyeing the state’s second highest elected office.
What to watch:
McLaurin will need to turn his reputation as a sharp critic of Republican leadership into a broader electability argument for Democrats.
Campaign website: https://www.joshmclaurin.com/
