Geoff Duncan Polls at 12% in Dem Primary After Augusta

Geoff Duncan hits 12% in polls after Augusta church campaign stops. Pledges $1.7B poverty fight ahead of May 19 Georgia Dem primary.

Duncan Targets Faith Voters in Final Primary Push

Duncan visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street to address the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition's "Music to the Polls" group. He then stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for talks with local pastors. These events, one day before the April 20 voter registration deadline, aim to boost turnout among Black voters who make up a third of the Democratic primary electorate. WRDW News 12 covered the stops, noting Duncan's emphasis on personal faith as a bridge from his GOP past.

Augusta's Richmond County leans heavily Democratic, with 65% Biden support in 2020. Duncan needs a strong showing here to close the gap on Bottoms, who leads with Atlanta-area strength. Faith communities have mobilized voters before; in 2022, similar coalitions added thousands to early voting rolls.

Poverty Plan Anchors Bipartisan Pitch

Duncan laid out concrete proposals during the church visits. He called for reallocating $1.7 billion from state surplus funds to cut child care costs and expand temporary assistance. Other priorities include Medicaid expansion to cover 500,000 uninsured Georgians and "common-sense gun legislation" alongside economic growth for families and businesses. Those details came straight from his Augusta remarks.

This agenda nods to his Republican roots while appealing to Democrats frustrated by GOP resistance. Georgia's Medicaid refusal leaves rural hospitals strained; expansion would bring $3 billion in federal funds annually, per state estimates. Duncan's switch from the GOP on August 5, 2025, positions him as an outsider to party gridlock. Ballotpedia tracks his party change.

Fundraising Lags Behind Poll Position

Duncan's February finance report shows solid cash reserves for a Democrat in the field. He raised over $1.1 million total, leaving $609,237 after spending less than half. The broader Democratic contest stays low-dollar compared to Republicans, where Rick Jackson self-funded toward $50 million. Data from the Georgia Campaign Finance Commission underscores the spending gap.

Bottoms and others trail in cash but lead polls. Duncan's funds buy TV time during early voting, April 27 to May 15. Low overall Dem spending means his dollars stretch further in a runoff scenario.

Runoff Looms in Crowded Primary Race

A March 20/20 Insight poll put Bottoms at 32-40%, Duncan at 12%, with Jason Esteves and Mike Thurmond splitting the rest. No candidate cracks 50%, pointing to a June 16 runoff. New York Times aggregates confirm the race.

• Keisha Lance Bottoms: 32-40% (Atlanta mayor pedigree)
• Geoff Duncan: 12-13% (GOP defector)
• Jason Esteves: Mid-single digits
• Mike Thurmond: Mid-single digits

Across the aisle, eight Republicans compete, led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and self-funder Rick Jackson. Ballotpedia lists the full GOP field. The Dem nominee faces a unified GOP in November 3's general election.

Duncan's Augusta play banks on faith leaders swaying undecideds. With registration closing today, April 20, his team pushes absentees. Early voting starts in a week. The primary winner needs 50% or faces a runoff; polls show neither happening May 19. Check Georgia.gov for deadlines.