Geoff Duncan Switches To Dem Party As Georgia Gov Races Take Shape

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan has formally joined the Democratic Party, closing the chapter on a years-long rift with Georgia Republicans that began after he publicly broke with President Donald J. Trump over the 2020 election dispute.

Duncan, a former Forsyth County Republican, confirmed this week that he is switching parties after roughly a decade serving as a Republican state representative and later as lieutenant governor. His departure underscores ongoing fractures among establishment Republicans who distanced themselves from Trump-era populism and the broader America First movement.

Break With GOP Leadership

The divide first became public in 2021 when Duncan announced he would not seek a second term as lieutenant governor under Gov. Brian Kemp. Instead, he floated an effort to reshape the Republican Party through a political group he co-founded called “GOP 2.0,” according to Access WDUN.

By 2024, Duncan’s political trajectory had shifted further. He was reportedly considered a potential presidential running mate on a bipartisan “unity” ticket supported by the centrist organization No Labels, though he later ruled out a White House bid.

Earlier this year, the Georgia Republican Party made the break official.

“Geoff Duncan having been formally expelled, we ask that you refer to him as ‘expelled Republican Geoff Duncan’ or ‘ousted Republican Geoff Duncan’ when you go to him for quotes trashing President Trump and the Republican Party,” the party wrote Jan. 6.

Duncan responded publicly the same day.

“Hard to believe this is a good use of time for a party that’s only got a limited amount of time to figure out mass deportations, world peace, and global tariffs,” he wrote on X.

Public Criticism of Trump

Since early 2024, Duncan has contributed opinion columns to the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, including pieces titled “Even for Republicans, Harris is the logical step,” “Is Trump running a Ponzi scheme or a country?” and “From Republican lt. governor to Democrat: Loving my neighbor is easier now,” the latter announcing his formal party switch.

In an X post linking to that column, Duncan stated that his movement toward the Democratic Party began “well before Donald Trump tried to steal the 2020 election in Georgia.”

He also referenced his Christian faith, describing what he called a “daily struggle to love my neighbor, as a Republican.”

Duncan served as lieutenant governor from 2018 through early 2023, when Burt Jones succeeded him. He has not yet revealed his next political plans.

Georgia’s Political Landscape Shifts

The timing of Duncan’s announcement comes as Georgia prepares for competitive gubernatorial primaries on both sides of the aisle.

On the Democratic side, polling indicates former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms holds a commanding lead over former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond. A University of Georgia survey showed Bottoms at 40 percent compared to Thurmond’s 11 percent, with other candidates trailing in single digits. Duncan registered at 5 percent in that poll, while 39 percent of respondents were undecided or supported another candidate.

The Republican field, meanwhile, remains fluid. A Coefficient survey conducted Feb. 8–9 showed Rick Jackson leading with 24 percent, followed by Jones at 16 percent and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger at 9 percent. Attorney General Chris Carr posted 3 percent, while nearly half of respondents were undecided or backed another candidate.

A separate Cygnal poll showed Jones at 22 percent and Jackson at 16 percent. Earlier University of Georgia data had Jones at 22 percent and Raffensperger at 15 percent.

Across multiple surveys, Jackson and Jones have consistently posted the strongest numbers among GOP voters, though no candidate has consolidated the field.

A Broader Realignment

Duncan’s party switch reflects a broader political realignment in Georgia and nationwide, as establishment Republicans who clashed with President Trump during his first term increasingly find themselves politically homeless within a GOP base that remains firmly aligned with the America First agenda.

Whether Duncan’s move translates into electoral momentum remains uncertain. For now, his decision highlights the continued reshaping of party coalitions ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested gubernatorial race in one of the nation’s most closely watched battleground states.