Geoff Duncan, the former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, has hinted at a potential bid for a higher political office.
This comes after his departure from the Republican Party and subsequent switch to the Democratic Party, a move he attributes to long-standing policy disagreements and a political shift that has been brewing for years.
According to Breitbart, Duncan, who served as Georgia's Lieutenant Governor from 2019 to 2023 under the Republican banner, is contemplating a run for a higher office. He revealed to WSB-TV that a decision regarding his political future might be made "in the next few weeks or months."
Duncan stated, "I think Georgians want people who can speak truth to power in the middle." While he has not specified which position he might seek, speculation is rife that he could be eyeing the governor's seat in 2026, following the end of Kemp's term due to term limits.
Duncan's political career includes a stint in the Georgia House from 2013 to 2017. The race for the governor's seat already features prominent candidates such as former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who served in the Biden administration, and Republicans Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and state Attorney General Chris Carr.
In a recent op-ed, Duncan shared that his transition to the Democratic Party was initiated before President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. He highlighted his disagreements with the GOP on issues such as health care, Medicaid expansion, gun control measures, immigration policy, and programs for low-income families.
"My journey to becoming a Democrat started well before Donald Trump tried to steal the 2020 election in Georgia," Duncan explained. "My decision was centered around my daily struggle to love my neighbor, as a Republican."
Duncan has been vocal in his criticism of recent cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as the mass deportation policies under the Trump administration. He advocates for border security, deportation of individuals convicted of felonies, and a path to citizenship for other illegal immigrants.
Duncan's political shift follows his expulsion from the Georgia Republican Party earlier this year. This was due to his endorsement of President Joe Biden in the 2024 election, his subsequent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, and his opposition to certain GOP candidates, including Jones and 2022 Senate nominee Herschel Walker. Duncan also publicly supported Harris at the Democratic National Convention.
In response to Duncan's announcement, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon told WSB-TV, "Geoff Duncan has finally said out loud what any person with eyes has known for years: He is a Democrat." President Trump, on his Truth Social platform, labeled Duncan a "total loser," adding, "We didn't want him in the Republican Party any longer, so I'm told he became a Democrat. Good riddance Geoff."
Duncan, who has been a consistent critic of Trump since January 6, 2021, has previously urged the GOP to "move on" from the President, whom he described in interviews as "a horrible human being." He also called for the party to "purge" itself of "Trumpism."
Duncan believes that his tenure in office has taught him that public policy is the best way to "love your neighbor." He cited his work on Georgia's rural hospital tax credit program and bipartisan hate crimes legislation as examples. "The list of reasons why I'm now a Democrat continues to grow," Duncan wrote. "Most importantly, my decision puts me in the best possible position each day to love my neighbor."
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