The 72-year-old Thurmond joins a Democratic field that already includes state Sen. Jason Esteves, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and others who are seeking their party's nomination in an attempt to succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who can't run again after two terms.

Democrat Michael Thurmond on Wednesday announced his 2026 bid for Georgia governor, seeking to add the state’s top office to the long list of positions he has held. Thurmond said in an interview Tuesday that he’s “going to fight for the people of Georgia every day,

Michael Thurmond won over voters three times across Georgia to become — and remain — the state's labor commissioner. He hopes to repeat history in his run for governor. Why it matters: Thurmond, who most recently served as DeKalb County CEO,