State Senator John F. Kennedy (R-Macon) announced his intentions to run for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia on WDUN’s The Martha Zoller Show Monday.
The seat is currently held by Burt Jones. Kennedy is the third to announce a run for the role, joining Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) and Josh McLaurin (D-Sandy Springs) in the 2026 primary election.
Kennedy said he plans to represent conservative values and will focus on development in the state.
“We've got to keep Georgia growing. Governor Kemp has done such a good job in keeping a pro-business environment, guiding us through some dark times with COVID,” Kennedy said. "But folks want to make sure that we're going to continue to have that economic engine so folks can have good-paying jobs to take care of their families.”
Kennedy also emphasized the importance of education in Georgia, noting his involvement with SB123, which addresses absenteeism in schools.
“Very sadly, our absenteeism rate right now is 22%,” Kennedy explained. “That means there are 380,000 school children that are missing 18 days or more of school. If they're not in the seats learning, they're not going to learn to read. If they don't learn to read, they're not going to be able to graduate, and if they can't graduate, they're not going to get a chance of the American dream, or the Georgia Dream that we all want for them.”
Kennedy said he also plans to prioritize safety in schools and other public spaces and reducing state income taxes.
A link to Kennedy's campaign page can be found here.
