Georgia's Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday features an unusual field that includes a former Republican lieutenant governor running on the Democratic ticket alongside established party candidates.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, who served as Atlanta's mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic, currently leads the Democratic primary field according to polling. Bottoms, a former Biden administration official, is seeking to avoid a runoff election as her rivals work to force a second round of voting.

Geoff Duncan, who previously served as Georgia's Republican lieutenant governor, is among the Democratic candidates after leaving the GOP. Duncan's candidacy represents a notable party switch in Georgia politics, though he faces an uphill battle in the Democratic primary.

On the Republican side, the primary features billionaire Rick Jason competing against Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones for the gubernatorial nomination.

The general election is expected to favor Republican candidates in Georgia, despite the state's recent competitive races. The primary results will determine which candidates advance to represent their parties in the November gubernatorial election.

Georgia has become a key battleground state in recent election cycles, making the governor's race closely watched by national political observers ahead of the 2024 elections.