Republican Senator Announces Bid for Lieutenant Governor
Georgia’s Republican Senator Greg Dolezal is set to enter the race for lieutenant governor, according to sources. Dolezal, who has served four terms in the state legislature and has been a vocal advocate for protecting biological men in women’s sports, is expected to make his official announcement this week.
He plans to invest about $5 million of his own funds into this campaign, as he seeks to succeed Republican Burt Jones, who is running for governor. Dolezal has been a member of the Georgia Senate since 2019, and during his tenure, he’s sponsored legislation for a special committee aimed at investigating claims of electoral fraud linked to Fulton County’s District Attorney, Fani Willis, particularly regarding allegations surrounding former President Donald Trump.
Additionally, Dolezal has sponsored the Riley Gaines Act, which prohibits biological men from competing in women’s sports and mandates that public schools and universities in Georgia provide facilities according to biological sex.
Currently, Dolezal holds positions as the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Chief Deputy Whip for the Senate Majority. He’s also been a long-time supporter of Donald Trump, collaborating with Governor Brian Kemp in 2020 to push for a special session related to presidential electors.
As he eyes the lieutenant governor position, Dolezal has recently backed Trump’s campaign for the 2024 presidential election and has attended several of Trump’s campaign events.
His candidacy joins a growing field of Republican candidates in Georgia’s 2026 lieutenant governor race, which includes state officials like David Clark, along with Senators Blake Tillery, Steve Gooch, and John Kennedy. On the Democratic side, Senator Josh McLaurin announced his candidacy earlier this year.
Trump’s endorsement is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the upcoming Republican primary, especially given his previous support for candidates like Jones, who also sought a special session in 2020 to address election results.
Another Republican senator, Brandon Beach, who advocated for that special session, was appointed by Trump to the head of the U.S. Treasury Department last March.
