ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - As the political world awaits his decision on his future plans, Gov. Brian Kemp will sign his latest legislative achievement on Tuesday, a measure his office says will deliver more than $1 billion in tax cuts and relief.

Kemp, accompanied by state lawmakers and local leaders, will sign HB 111, accelerating the largest state income tax cut in Georgia history, and HB 112, which will authorize the delivery of $1 billion in one-time special tax refunds up to $500 to Georgia taxpayer households.

Kemp is coming up on the end of his second term, having defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in a 2018 contest to replace outgoing Gov. Nathan Deal and then handing Abrams a second, solid defeat in 2022.

That means Georgia’s governor’s race is wide open in 2026, with Republican Attorney General Chris Carr the only announced candidate so far.

However, the race is certain to attract other GOP challengers, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

On the Democratic side, possible candidates include former DeKalb CEO, Labor commissioner and state lawmaker Michael Thurmond, state Sen. Jason Esteves, D-Atlanta; former one-term Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Georgia; and even former state senator Jason Carter, the latest member of the late President Jimmy Carter’s family to pursue a political career.

As for Kemp, he has been rumored to be a challenger to U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s reelection bid in 2026.

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