Lieutenant Governor of Georgia · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Georgia lieutenant governor race?
Greg Dolezal has the strongest record in the Georgia lieutenant governor race. Greg Dolezal scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Josh McLaurin at 64, as of October 9, 2026. Greg Dolezal's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Josh McLaurin's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
Greg Dolezal
65 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
Democratic
Josh McLaurin
64 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 63
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Greg Dolezal
- On the record2026-03-04
Released a campaign video in March 2026 depicting a takeover by 'Sharia law' that ended 'keep Georgia sharia free'; Muslim lawmakers and a Republican rival in the primary criticized it.
Source: Rough Draft Atlanta (Georgia Recorder), March 5, 2026
- On the record2026-06-12
Joined an emergency suit in May 2026 seeking poll-watcher access to the state's election night reporting room; a Fulton County Superior Court judge dismissed it in June 2026.
Source: CBS News Atlanta, June 15, 2026
- Credit2026-06
Debated in the Atlanta Press Club's 2026 Republican runoff series and accepted its Oct. 12 general election debate.
Sources: WABE, June 3, 2026, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Sept. 22, 2026
- Credit2024
Rated Meets expectations by the Center for Effective Lawmaking for the 2023 to 2024 Georgia Senate, 10th in the chamber, with six bills enacted.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
- Credit2023-03
Sponsored the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, a school voucher bill the Senate passed in March 2023.
Josh McLaurin
- Credit2026-06
Debated in the Atlanta Press Club's 2026 Democratic runoff series and accepted its Oct. 12 general election debate.
Sources: WABE, June 3, 2026, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Sept. 22, 2026
- Credit2025
Cites as his work Georgia's first statewide regulation of vehicle booting and the first $1 million in the state budget for research on therapies for veterans' post-traumatic stress, passed with Republican majorities.
Source: WABE, June 3, 2026
- Credit2024
Rated Meets expectations by the Center for Effective Lawmaking for the 2023 to 2024 Georgia Senate, with one bill enacted.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Greg Dolezal. No final order of the state campaign finance commission (2020 to 2026 list) names him or his committee. No ethics or court finding found.
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, Final Orders
Josh McLaurin. No final order of the state campaign finance commission (2020 to 2026 list) names him or his committee. No ethics or court finding found.
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, Final Orders
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Greg Dolezal. No public record found.
Josh McLaurin. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Greg Dolezal. Debated in the Atlanta Press Club's 2026 Republican runoff series and is scheduled for its Oct. 12 general election debate with Josh McLaurin.
Sources: WABE, June 3, 2026, Capitol Beat News Service, September 2026
Josh McLaurin. Debated in the Atlanta Press Club's 2026 Democratic runoff series and is scheduled for its Oct. 12 general election debate with Greg Dolezal.
Sources: WABE, June 3, 2026, Capitol Beat News Service, September 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Greg Dolezal. State senator since 2019 and a business owner, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found. His March 2026 campaign video drew bipartisan criticism (see Record).
Source: Ballotpedia, Greg Dolezal
Josh McLaurin. Eight years as a state legislator and a practicing attorney, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Greg Dolezal. Sworn state senator since 2019. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded vote or legal filing to reject certified results found. His May 2026 suit seeking poll-watcher access to the state's election night reporting room was dismissed (E21, not scored).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Greg Dolezal, CBS News Atlanta, June 15, 2026
Josh McLaurin. Sworn state legislator since January 2019 (House, then Senate). No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Greg Dolezal. In his fourth term in the Georgia Senate (since 2019); co-owned the software company Renewed Vision and owns Catalyst Nutraceuticals.
Source: Ballotpedia, Greg Dolezal
Josh McLaurin. Two terms in the Georgia House (2019 to 2022) and in his second term in the Georgia Senate (since 2023); former federal appellate law clerk and airline acting general counsel.
Sources: Capitol Beat News Service, May 2025, Ballotpedia, Josh McLaurin
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Greg Dolezal. Chairs the Senate Transportation Committee and is vice chair of Senate Appropriations (2025 to 2026); campaign site lists specific proposals such as ending school taxes for homeowners over 65.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Greg Dolezal, Campaign site
Josh McLaurin. Sits on the Senate Transportation, Economic Development and Tourism, Retirement, and Veterans, Military and Homeland Security committees; campaign site lists priorities including Medicaid expansion and housing, with specifics in a UGA newsroom interview.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Josh McLaurin, Grady Newsource (University of Georgia), Oct. 8, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Greg Dolezal. Two channels documented: a published issues page and Atlanta Press Club debates. Did not respond to a UGA newsroom voter guide and has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Grady Newsource (University of Georgia), Oct. 8, 2026, Ballotpedia, Greg Dolezal
Josh McLaurin. Three channels documented: a published priorities page, Atlanta Press Club debates and an interview for a voter guide. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Priorities, Grady Newsource (University of Georgia), Oct. 8, 2026, Ballotpedia, Josh McLaurin
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Greg Dolezal. Born in Joliet, Illinois; represents Forsyth County's Senate District 27 and is a founding member of the local group Fix Forsyth Traffic. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Source: Ballotpedia, Greg Dolezal
Josh McLaurin. Lives in Sandy Springs and represents Senate District 14; a UGA voter guide lists 38 years in the community. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Josh McLaurin, Grady Newsource (University of Georgia), Oct. 8, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Greg Dolezal. Co-owned a software company and owns a nutraceuticals business; size not documented. No campaign finance commission final order names him (2020 to 2026).
Source: Ballotpedia, Greg Dolezal
Josh McLaurin. No campaign finance commission final order names him or his committee (2020 to 2026). Former acting general counsel of ExpressJet Airlines.
Source: Ballotpedia, Josh McLaurin
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Greg Dolezal. Center for Effective Lawmaking rated him Meets expectations for 2023 to 2024 (SLES 2.094, 10th in the Senate) with six bills passed into law, after Below ratings in 2019 to 2022. Sponsored the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file, Capitol Beat News Service, March 2023
Josh McLaurin. Center for Effective Lawmaking rated him Meets expectations in the Georgia Senate for 2023 to 2024 (SLES 0.287), with one bill passed into law; earlier House terms rated Above (2019 to 2020) and Meets (2021 to 2022).
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Greg Dolezal. No public record found.
Josh McLaurin. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Greg Dolezal. No public record found.
Josh McLaurin. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Greg Dolezal. No public record found.
Josh McLaurin. Cites bipartisan laws including Georgia's first statewide regulation of vehicle booting, passed in a Republican-majority legislature.
Sources: WABE, June 3, 2026, Campaign site, About
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Greg Dolezal. No public record found.
Josh McLaurin. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Georgia lieutenant governor race?
Greg Dolezal has the strongest record in the Georgia lieutenant governor race. Greg Dolezal scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Josh McLaurin at 64, as of October 9, 2026. Greg Dolezal's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Josh McLaurin's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Georgia lieutenant governor race in 2026?
Greg Dolezal (Republican), Josh McLaurin (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Greg Dolezal a good candidate for Lieutenant Governor?
Greg Dolezal scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Josh McLaurin a good candidate for Lieutenant Governor?
Josh McLaurin scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Georgia race scored, and the Georgia 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.