Steve Gooch
Georgia Republican Lieutenant Governor nominee?
$34.6K
JUN 17, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age59 years old (Feb 25, 1967)
GenderMale
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LocationGeorgia
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of North Georgia (formerly North Georgia College & State University) — BBA, Business Administration
Notable personal detailsStephen Wade Gooch is a Republican politician from Dahlonega, Georgia who has served in the Georgia State Senate (District 51) since 2010/2011 and was Senate Majority Leader from 2023 to 2025. He previously served as the sole Lumpkin County Commissioner and has also been a Georgia Department of Transportation Board member. He owns a private environmental services company and has been active on transportation, infrastructure, and broadband expansion issues in the legislature. He is a candidate for Georgia lieutenant governor in the 2026 election.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Steve Gooch supports major state tax reductions including abolishing Georgia’s state income tax and has backed legislative measures and committee work aimed at cutting income taxes and delivering tax relief to families. He has celebrated enacted tax cuts and advocated reviewing tax exemptions to lower income tax rates and reform property taxes to reduce burdens on seniors and veterans.
Healthcare
Steve Gooch has said he is not interested in a "full-blown" Medicaid expansion for Georgia but has indicated openness to alternative, limited approaches (for example, Arkansas-style plans or targeted waivers) and is looking at options to increase access without full expansion.
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Immigration & Border
Steve Gooch supports stronger border enforcement and tougher immigration measures, including backing actions to halt illegal immigration, reinstating Trump-era restrictions, and state-level steps to discourage hiring of undocumented immigrants. He sponsored a Georgia Senate resolution calling for increased protections at the Southern border and has introduced legislation tying state incentives to lawful hiring to discourage illegal employment.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Steve Gooch has supported multiple restrictions on abortion during his tenure in the Georgia State Senate, including votes for six-week and 20-week limits and backing legislation that restricts abortion drugs and promotes pro-life measures. His legislative record and sponsorship activity align with pro-life policy positions that tighten access to abortion in Georgia.
Climate & Energy
Steve Gooch, a Republican Georgia state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor, has supported policies favoring traditional energy sources and utility-aligned measures while backing legislation to regulate electric-vehicle fees and limit new taxes on fuel. His legislative activity and public record show a focus on market/utility approaches to energy (including involvement in bills on EV charging and recognition from electric cooperatives) rather than aggressive emissions-reduction or Green New Deal–style proposals.
Public Safety & Guns
Steve Gooch's legislative record in the Georgia State Senate shows support for expanding gun access and opposing new restrictive gun-safety measures while backing criminal penalties tied to firearm offenses; he has supported measures such as permitless-carry-era legislation, votes favorable to firearm-friendly bills, and proposals tied to law enforcement and criminal penalties involving firearms. His public actions align with protecting Second Amendment rights while supporting law-enforcement-oriented responses to gun crime.
News
Steve Gooch is in the news as a Georgia lieutenant governor candidate in a crowded race that has moved into the runoff stage. Recent coverage says the June 16 runoff will decide the nominees, and runoff candidates have been debating ahead of the vote. Earlier reporting highlighted him as one of 10 candidates in the contest, including several current and former state legislators.
Who is running in the June 16 election
Georgia runoff debates offer voters a final look at top candidates
10 compete to become Georgia’s next lieutenant governor
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising