Jeff Duncan Transitions to Independent Politician After Democratic Voters Reject His Candidacy
Former Georgia lieutenant governor Jeff Duncan seems to have decided to shift his political alignment to independent after Democratic voters expressed disinterest in his candidacy.
Duncan, who served nearly a decade in state office as a Republican, was part of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017 and held the position of lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He played a significant role during the contentious 2020 presidential election.
In December 2020, he openly backed Joe Biden over Donald Trump, suggesting that ongoing challenges to the election results could be detrimental to the Republican Party. He stated, “I’m very concerned that this will affect our brand of conservatism.”
By the 2024 election cycle, Duncan had evolved into a strong anti-Trump figure, not only endorsing Biden’s re-election but also supporting his successor, Kamala Harris. He even made an appearance at the Democratic National Convention, urging voters to “throw away Trump.”
In January 2025, the Georgia Republican Party officially expelled him, prohibiting his participation in party events, barring him from running for state office as a Republican again, and revoking previous campaign endorsements.
Fast forward to mid-September, Duncan announced his campaign for the governor of Georgia under the Democratic Party banner for the 2026 election.
However, the outcome was disappointing. In the Democratic primary, Duncan finished fourth, garnering a mere 7% of the votes. The primary winner, Keisha Lance Bottoms, previously had a controversial term as Atlanta’s mayor, which included dealing with the 2020 riots.
Even in his concession tweet, Duncan didn’t shy away from criticizing Trump, reaffirming his commitment to addressing the “Donald Trump crisis,” as well as issues surrounding affordability and healthcare.
In stark contrast, Trump celebrated victories, claiming success for his preferred candidates across several states, including Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Oregon.
